Research shows that playing music change the taste of the wine by up to 60%. Two glasses of wine from the same bottle may taste differently. The difference? Music.
Here's the facts...
- Playing a certain type of music can enhance the way wine tastes, research by psychologists suggests.
- The Heriot Watt University study found people rated the change in taste by up to 60% depending on the melody heard.
- The researchers said cabernet sauvignon was most affected by “powerful and heavy” music, and chardonnay by “zingy and refreshing” sounds.
- Professor Adrian North said the study could lead retailers to put music recommendations on their wine bottles.
- The research involved 250 students at the university who were offered a free glass of wine in exchange for their views.
- The white wine was rated 40% more zingy and refreshing when that music was played, but only 26% more mellow and soft when music in that category was heard.
- The red was altered 25% by mellow and fresh music, yet 60% by powerful and heavy music.
- Four types of music were played – Carmina Burana by Orff (”powerful and heavy”), Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky (”subtle and refined”), Just Can’t Get Enough by Nouvelle Vague (”zingy and refreshing”) and Slow Breakdown by Michael Brook (”mellow and soft”)
- The results were put down to “cognitive priming theory”, where the music sets up the brain to respond to the wine in a certain way.
I personally need to close all music and distractions when I taste wine, juste to make sure there's no factors that could influence my observations.
How about you, how do you pair your music with your favorite wine? Have you observe a difference?
Thank you for reading.
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