Food & life · 2002
Can the same wine smell stronger or weaker in different glasses?
Yes, but the difference was limited in this experiment. Blindfolded nonexperts rated one California Cabernet Sauvignon’s overall aroma as less intense in a Bordeaux glass than in three other glasses. This was the only statistically significant difference in aroma intensity ratings, so the findings do not show that every change of glass noticeably changes a wine’s smell.
Details
Researchers tested how the glass affected people’s perception of wine aroma. Nonexpert participants wore blindfolds and assessed the same wine in four vessels: specialty crystal glasses designed for Chardonnay and Bordeaux/Cabernet Sauvignon, a restaurant-style wine glass, and a leaded crystal goblet. They rated overall aroma intensity, fruitiness, vinegariness, oakiness, mustiness, and liking.
The Bordeaux glass received lower overall aroma-intensity ratings than the other three glasses. No other differences in aroma intensity ratings reached statistical significance. Several associations between aroma-attribute ratings and physical characteristics of the glasses were also statistically significant, but those associations do not establish which features caused the differences.
The authors interpreted the findings as suggesting a limited, subtle influence of the glass on wine aroma. The abstract reports only one wine and gives neither the participant count nor the size of the rating difference, leaving its practical importance and applicability to other wines uncertain. It also does not report the liking results, so weaker aroma cannot be taken to mean less enjoyment.
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