Abstract: The flavor wheel of Chinese yellow rice wine was presented first in this study. Six types of typical Chinese yellow rice wines with different characteristics were evaluated by two evaluation panels consisting of national judges and consumers respectively. The sensory descriptors defined by the evaluation panels were selected and classified with reference to the flavor wheels of beer, wine and sake, and the flavor wheel of Chinese yellow rice wine was completed. From the descriptors in the flavor wheel of Chinese yellow rice wine, the important and typical taste and smell descriptors were chosen by multivariate statistical method and ISO 11035 international standards, including sweet, bitter, astringent, sour, umami, alcoholic aroma, caramel aroma, fruity, herbal, incense smoke, Qu and honey, as the main characteristics of Chinese rice wine to construct primary flavor profile. These descriptors used in wine descriptive analysis by judges and consumers, can characterize the main sensory profile of Chinese yellow rice wine.

Key words: Chinese yellow rice wine, descriptive sensory evaluation, descriptor terminology, flavor wheel, flavor profile