Embodiments of the present invention are directed to nanowire-based systems for performing surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. In one embodiment, a system comprises a substrate having a surface and a plurality of tapered nanowires disposed on the surface. Each nanowire has a tapered end directed away from the surface. The system also includes a plurality of nanoparticles disposed near the tapered end of each nanowire. When each nanowire is illuminated with light of a pump wavelength, Raman excitation light is emitted from the tapered end of the nanowire to interact with the nanoparticles and produce enhanced Raman scattered light from molecules located in close proximity to the nanoparticles.