Where do spices and savory notes in wine come from

When a wine smells like pepper, cinnamon, or vanilla, it doesn’t mean spices were added. These aromas come from several natural sources:

1️⃣ Grape variety
Some grape varieties naturally produce spicy notes.
For example:
Syrah — black pepper
Gewürztraminer — spices and rose

2️⃣ Oak aging
Oak barrels can add notes of vanilla, clove, cinnamon, and caramel

3️⃣ Fermentation processes
Yeast creates complex aromatic compounds.
That’s why wine can have dozens of different aromas, even though it’s made only from grapes.