Hardscrabble Journal

Petrichor

This afternoon we were working the vines and got caught in a rain shower. It was warm, so we didn’t mind getting a little wet. Then there was that familiar smell that made me smile. When a light rain falls on dry soil there is a distinct earthy, stony scent that is called petrichor. Most of us have this hidden somewhere in our organoleptic memory. I’ve also experienced it crossing a city street. It seems most pungent with the first warm spring shower in April.

The word was apparently coined by a couple of Australian researchers in an article in the journal Nature fifty years ago.

They described it as some sort of metabolic by-product. They go into great detail as scientists often do. But we really shouldn’t let facts get in the way of a good story.

It smells like minerals. Those aromas are in certain wines. Especially Linden white wines from cooler vintages. And it is wonderful. We’ve been using the word petrichor to describe some of our whites for several decades. Sometimes even on our tasting notes. It requires explanation, but most people get it eventually. They just have to dig deep into their scent memory. This is what I love about wine.

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Linden Vineyards / Learn More / Latest at Linden | Journal: April 7, 2020