Mention of Soil Types Influences Taster's Flavor

Despite the lack of impact of different soils on wine taste, the simplification of terroir to soil type in wine marketing is becoming increasingly common, especially with German Riesling. To investigate the effects of this marketing strategy on sensory perception, the researchers had twenty German Riesling wines from four commonly promoted soil types - sandstone, loess, shell limestone, and slate - described by a panel of twenty wine experts. They evaluated aroma, taste, and mouthfeel. In the first round, the tasters received no information about the soils; in the second round, they received data on the respective soil types.

While the ratings from the first tasting without information highlighted the basic differences between the individual wines, providing information about the soil type led to a more intense differentiation of the wines - especially regarding attributes associated with minerality. These included earthy, chalky, maritime, flint-containing, and salty. The Neustadt scientists interpret this change in ratings as follows: The different perceptions of the tasters of each soil type shape the expectations of the panel and significantly influence their perception.

Further research is needed to determine whether non-professional consumers would also be influenced by soil information in a similar way. For the classification of wines by soil types to represent a viable marketing strategy, winemakers must convey a clearly defined image of each soil to consumers. Only in this way can they ensure that they set expectations so that the desired sensory properties are perceived by customers. Even if this may represent a simplification of terroir, stating soil types can be a valuable strategy in wine marketing.

(uka / Source: OenoOne)