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The Château de Sannes winery in the French wine region of Luberon (Provence) has recently started offering guided wine tastings under hypnosis. According to Château, the aim is to "make the enjoyment of wine an intense, inner journey." To achieve this, the organizers combine wine tasting with modern mindfulness techniques.
Under the guidance of hypnotherapist Nathalie Chambert, participants enter a state of heightened mindfulness. "The goal is to free tasters from external distractions and fully focus on the present moment and the sensory impressions of the wine," explains Soizic Percher, responsible for the wine tourism offerings at Château de Sannes.
At the beginning, participants close their eyes, concentrate on their breathing, and visualize a place of comfort to create a sense of security. After some mindfulness exercises, the actual tasting begins: the eyes are slightly opened to grasp the glass, and then closed again to consciously and intensely experience the wine.
After the hypnotic tasting, participants are gently brought back to a waking state to taste the wine again. This allows for a direct comparison of the differences between the sensory impressions under hypnosis and in a conscious state. It is important that during hypnosis, there is a conscious decision not to talk about the wine to avoid influencing perception.
Many participants report intense memories and emotions that are awakened during hypnosis – so-called "Proustian Madeleine" effects. For example, one participant recalled a childhood afternoon at her grandmother's when tasting orange notes. According to Nathalie Chambert, this innovative tasting method not only helps overcome sensory blockages but also alleviates the fear of "wrong" impressions. It elevates the enjoyment of wine to a new, emotional level.
(ru / Vitisphere)