The SAQ’s pastille de goût system offers wine and spirits shoppers in Quebec a simple, visual guide to flavor profiles. Translated as taste dots, these colorful labels classify beverages based on body, acidity, sweetness, and aromatic intensity. Designed to demystify the experience of selecting wines and spirits, the pastilles help consumers find products that match their preferences and food pairings. This intuitive system bridges the gap between complex tasting notes and everyday decision-making, making it easier and more engaging to explore SAQ’s diverse offerings.
What Are Pastilles de Goût?
Introduced in 2007 by the SAQ, pastilles de goût are visual indicators printed on product labels that reflect the sensory character of a wine, cider, or spirit. Each color and description corresponds to a category such as délicat et léger, fruité et généreux, or aromatique et rond. A guide created by SAQ outlines eight distinct categories for red wines and four for whites, ranging from the lightest to the most robust
Purpose and Benefits
- Helps consumers quickly identify flavor profiles that match their taste.
- Assists in food and wine pairing with straightforward visual cues.
- Educates users in an accessible manner, reducing overwhelm in aisle selection.
Pastille Categories Explained
The system includes both descriptive labels and colors to cover a broad range of flavor experiences:
White Wine and Cider Pastilles
- Délicat et léger: Pale, crisp, and refreshing ideal for seafood or summer sipping
- Fruité et extra-doux: Sweeter, tropical, and honeyed often found in dessert wines and ciders
Red Wine Pastilles
- Fruité et léger: Light red wines with fresh fruit notes easy to enjoy and versatile
- Fruité et généreux: Medium-bodied with forward fruit SAQ’s most popular red category
- Aromatique et souple: Smooth, balanced reds with spice and soft tannins
- Aromatique et rond: Fuller-bodied reds with intense aromas, toast, or pepper notes
How to Use the Pastille System
The pastilles are featured on shelf tags and bottle labels, making it easy to scan and interpret. SAQ offers a graphic guide showing color codes and descriptions useful for restaurants and retail spaces
Shoppers can pair the pastilles with food or personal taste preferences. For example:
- Fish or light fare: Look for délicat et léger.
- Weeknight dinners: Choose fruité et généreux.
- Roast meat or rich dishes: Explore aromatique et rond.
Reception and Limitations
While the pastille system has won praise for its clarity, some wine experts view it as simplistic or potentially confusing particularly when colors like fruité et généreux don’t intuitively match their perceived intensity
Availability and Application
All SAQ locations and online listings display the pastilles de goût alongside product details. The system is also licensed to restaurants, where it can appear on menus to assist diners. A PDF guide outlining proper usage and color standards ensures consistency across commercial venues
The SAQ’s pastille de goût system makes it easier and more enjoyable to explore Quebec’s vast selection of wines and spirits. By translating tasting notes into intuitive, color-coded visuals, the system empowers both novice shoppers and experienced enthusiasts to choose confidently. While not without critics, its function as a quick reference tool remains valuable especially for everyday purchases and meal planning. Whether you prefer crisp whites, juicy reds, or aromatic ciders, the pastilles offer a practical, informative guide at the shelf.