Macrowine 2021
IVES 9 IVES Conference Series 9 Effect of culture and familiarity on wine perception: a study with spanish and british wine experts

Effect of culture and familiarity on wine perception: a study with spanish and british wine experts

Abstract

AIM: Wine perception results from the interaction between the wine and its intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics and the experience [1], background and beliefs of the consumer [2,3]. Among all of the factors affecting wine perception, in this study we focused on culture and cognitive processes, working under the hypothesis that higher familiarity with wines would induce higher perceived quality. Furthermore, we hypothesised that culture would influence the verbalisation of wine properties associated with the different experiences of consumers from different cultures.

METHODS: A total of 18 white wines from two countries and four different grape varieties (Vitis vinifera cvs Bacchus and Ortega from the United Kingdom and Vitis vinifera cvs Verdejo and Albariño from Spain) were sensorially assessed by 32 wine experts (16 from La Rioja, Spain, and 16 from East Sussex, England). In each country, all participants were invited to describe the wines according to a labelled free sorting task and to evaluate wine quality using a categorisation task with five pre-established quality categories viz; very low, low, average, high and very high. The order of presentation of tasks was randomized in each country.

RESULTS: Two-way ANOVA with the country of origin of experts (CO) and wines (W) as independent variable showed a significant interaction effect (CO*W) for quality judgements (F = 2.019; P < 0.01), suggesting that quality scores of wines depended on the country-of-origin of experts. It was observed that only four out of the 18 wines evaluated showed significant differences in quality scores. Three of them were Spanish wines that were perceived to be of higher quality by Spanish experts, and the fourth wine was a British wine perceived to be higher in quality by British experts. These results could only partially confirm our initial hypothesis related to the impact of familiarity on increasing the perception of quality.

With regard to the groups formed through the sorting task (non-verbal strategy), both groups of experts used a similar strategy with the wines mainly separated by grape variety. Regarding the differences in the description of the wines overall, they used similar terms. The only difference observed was associated with increased use of the term “floral” by Spanish experts, while the term “flat wine” appeared more constantly in British descriptions.

CONCLUSIONS:

The present work improves our knowledge of the cognitive factors and cultural aspects influencing wine perception. Familiarity with the product can affect perception of quality and the verbalisation of sensory properties among wine experts.

DOI:

Publication date: September 24, 2021

Issue: Macrowine 2021

Type: Article

Authors

Alejandro Suárez,  Nicolas DEPETRIS-CHAUVIN, María Purificación FERNÁNDEZ-ZURBANO, IGregory DUNN, María-Pilar SÁENZ-NAVAJAS.

Instituto de Ciencias de la Vid y del Vino (CSIC-UR-GR), Spain,Heber RODRIGUES, UK Centre for Excellence on Wine Education, Training and Research, Plumpton College, United Kingdom  Samantha WILLIAMS, UK Centre for Excellence on Wine Education, Training and Research, Plumpton College, United Kingdom

HES-SO Haute École de Gestion de Génève, Switzerland  

nstituto de Ciencias de la Vid y del Vino (CSIC-UR-GR), Spain  

UK Centre for Excellence on Wine Education, Training and Research

Plumpton College, United Kingdom  

Instituto de Ciencias de la Vid y del Vino (CSIC-UR-GR), Spain

Contact the author

Keywords

cross-cultural, quality, sensory, categorisation, labeled sorting task

Citation

Related articles…

Increasing microalgae biomass feedstock by valorizing wine gaseous and liquid residues

Global warming due to greenhouse gases (GHG) has become a serious worldwide concern. The new EU Green Deal aims t0 achieve GHG emissions reduction by at least 55% by 2030 and a climate neutral EU economy by 2050. The deal strongly encourages GHG reducing measures at local, national and European levels. The REDWine project will demonstrate the technical, economic and environmental feasibility of reducing by, at least, 31% of the CO2 eq. emissions produced in the winery industry value chain by utilizing biogenic fermentation CO2 for microalgae biomass production

Influence of ‘pinotage’ defoliation on fruit and wine quality

Among the different management techniques in Viticulture, which have
been developed with the purpose of optimizing the interception of sunlight, the photosynthetic capacity of
the plant and the microclimate of the clusters, especially in varieties that show excess vigor, the management of defoliation presents great importance. The defoliation consists of the removal of leaves that cover or that are in direct contact with the curls, which can cause physical damages in the berries, and aims to balance the relation between part area and number of fruits, providing the aeration and insolation in the interior of the vineyard, as well as reduce the incidence of rot in order to achieve greater efficiency in phytosanitary treatments and quality musts.

Correlation between skin cell wall composition and phenolic extractability in Cabernet sauvignon wines

The phenolic component of red wine is responsible for important elements of flavor and mouthfeel, and thus quality of the finished wine. Additionally, many of these phenolics have been associated with health benefits such as reduction of the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis and preventing Alzheimer’s disease. While the origins, concentrations, and chemistries of the phenolics in a finished red wine are well known, the fundamental mechanisms and kinetics of extraction of these phenolics from grape skins and seeds during red wine fermentation are poorly understood. This lack of knowledge regarding the extraction mechanisms of phenolics during red wine fermentation makes informed manipulations of the finished wine’s phenolic composition difficult.

Promoting sustainability in Mediterranean agriculture: insights from the Portuguese vine & wine sector

Agroecology is an integrated approach that simultaneously applies ecological and social concepts and principles to redesign and manage food and agricultural systems, promoting agroecosystems with the necessary biological, socio-economic, and institutional diversity and alignment to support greater efficiency. Thus, several studies have been carried out at promoting the adoption of more agroecological practices among farmers and a wider audience concerning soil conservation and health maintenance.

Revealing the aroma profile of Greek wines from indigenous grape cultivars

The indigenous Greek grape varieties Assyrtiko, Malagousia, Moschofilero and Roditis are used to produce white wines that are attracting the interest of wine producers and consumers due to their aromatic characteristics [1]. In addition, the Agiorgitiko and Xinomavro varieties are Greece’s most prominent red grape varieties.