You are handed a random glass of wine at a gathering of unfamiliar people

[FP]

I have always enjoyed a glass of wine. Some more than others but I definitely don't have a nose for it. However I do consider myself more than your average wine consumer. I have been to a few tasting courses and can usually identify a wine by type.

I was recently at a friend's party and was handed a glass of wine by the host. He mentioned I would enjoy the glass and walked away to mingle with the guests. Turns out the bottle it was poured from was from the late 70s and worth quite a bit (>$500/bottle). To be honest I couldn't tell the difference between that glass and my customary Napa valley wines from 2005-2008.

I thanked the host but was disappointed I couldn't tell the difference.

Have you ever had a wine that was outstanding and priced accordingly?

 

[mugs]

You are handed a random glass of wine at a gathering of unfamiliar people

You're about to be date raped

 

[lxskllr]

I don't think I could tell the difference, but I'm not a wine fan. On the rare occasions I get wine, I generally buy from a MD vineyard. I like to support the local guys, and it tastes good enough to me.

 

[FP]

Originally posted by: mugs

You are handed a random glass of wine at a gathering of unfamiliar people

You're about to be date raped

Done and done honey

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Win snobs could not possibly be more full of shit[PDF] to be quite honest. Most people fail blind wine tests miserably. Most studies show that when a truly blind test is performed, normal non-expert wine drinkers actually enjoy the higher-rated and more expensive wines LESS than cheaper wines. When the drinkers know only the price of a bottle and nothing else, they invariably perceive the wine to taste better, even compared to exactly the same bottle with a different price tag.

I don't want to go and offend wine drinkers, but from what I have read you're all really full of shit (although in your defense you don't know it, it's human nature).

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Win snobs could not possibly be more full of shit[PDF] to be quite honest. Most people fail blind wine tests miserably. Most studies show that when a truly blind test is performed, normal non-expert wine drinkers actually enjoy the higher-rated and more expensive wines LESS than cheaper wines. When the drinkers know only the price of a bottle and nothing else, they invariably perceive the wine to taste better, even compared to exactly the same bottle with a different price tag.

I don't want to go and offend wine drinkers, but from what I have read you're all really full of shit (although in your defense you don't know it, it's human nature).

so that's like saying people who don't know what they're doing can't tell the difference between wines? That's surprising.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Win snobs could not possibly be more full of shit[PDF] to be quite honest. Most people fail blind wine tests miserably. Most studies show that when a truly blind test is performed, normal non-expert wine drinkers actually enjoy the higher-rated and more expensive wines LESS than cheaper wines. When the drinkers know only the price of a bottle and nothing else, they invariably perceive the wine to taste better, even compared to exactly the same bottle with a different price tag.

I don't want to go and offend wine drinkers, but from what I have read you're all really full of shit (although in your defense you don't know it, it's human nature).

so that's like saying people who don't know what they're doing can't tell the difference between wines? That's surprising.

I shouldn't have to know what I'm doing to enjoy a beer.

I tried Coca-cola once. It was tasty. Didn't take months of convincing myself.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Win snobs could not possibly be more full of shit[PDF] to be quite honest. Most people fail blind wine tests miserably. Most studies show that when a truly blind test is performed, normal non-expert wine drinkers actually enjoy the higher-rated and more expensive wines LESS than cheaper wines. When the drinkers know only the price of a bottle and nothing else, they invariably perceive the wine to taste better, even compared to exactly the same bottle with a different price tag.

I don't want to go and offend wine drinkers, but from what I have read you're all really full of shit (although in your defense you don't know it, it's human nature).

so that's like saying people who don't know what they're doing can't tell the difference between wines? That's surprising.

No, he's saying that people don't know why they're supposed to think one wine is better than another will fall back on choosing based on which one they think actually tastes better.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Win snobs could not possibly be more full of shit[PDF] to be quite honest. Most people fail blind wine tests miserably. Most studies show that when a truly blind test is performed, normal non-expert wine drinkers actually enjoy the higher-rated and more expensive wines LESS than cheaper wines. When the drinkers know only the price of a bottle and nothing else, they invariably perceive the wine to taste better, even compared to exactly the same bottle with a different price tag.

I don't want to go and offend wine drinkers, but from what I have read you're all really full of shit (although in your defense you don't know it, it's human nature).

so that's like saying people who don't know what they're doing can't tell the difference between wines? That's surprising.

No no no, I'm talking about people who drink wine regularly but aren't experts (think wine enthusiasts, but not at the level where they're judging contests). Having said that, experts have been shamed terribly in the past too, like in this trial where wine experts were asked to review a red and a white wine. The red was actually exactly the same wine as the white, but with food colouring in it. Not a single one of the 50+ experts even realised it wasn't a red wine, and obviously none of them realised it was the same plonk as the white.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Win snobs could not possibly be more full of shit[PDF] to be quite honest. Most people fail blind wine tests miserably. Most studies show that when a truly blind test is performed, normal non-expert wine drinkers actually enjoy the higher-rated and more expensive wines LESS than cheaper wines. When the drinkers know only the price of a bottle and nothing else, they invariably perceive the wine to taste better, even compared to exactly the same bottle with a different price tag.

I don't want to go and offend wine drinkers, but from what I have read you're all really full of shit (although in your defense you don't know it, it's human nature).

so that's like saying people who don't know what they're doing can't tell the difference between wines? That's surprising.

No, he's saying that people don't know why they're supposed to think one wine is better than another will fall back on choosing based on which one they think actually tastes better.

Exactly

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Win snobs could not possibly be more full of shit[PDF] to be quite honest. Most people fail blind wine tests miserably. Most studies show that when a truly blind test is performed, normal non-expert wine drinkers actually enjoy the higher-rated and more expensive wines LESS than cheaper wines. When the drinkers know only the price of a bottle and nothing else, they invariably perceive the wine to taste better, even compared to exactly the same bottle with a different price tag.

I don't want to go and offend wine drinkers, but from what I have read you're all really full of shit (although in your defense you don't know it, it's human nature).

so that's like saying people who don't know what they're doing can't tell the difference between wines? That's surprising.

No, he's saying that people don't know why they're supposed to think one wine is better than another will fall back on choosing based on which one they think actually tastes better.

Right, but that still doesn't necessarily mean that wine snobs are full of shit. It could just mean that as you drink more and more wine, your taste for wine may develop/change. Or they're full of shit.

I skimmed through the study, and i guess I wish I had an idea of the distribution of wine prices. They just give the price range and number of different wines.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Win snobs could not possibly be more full of shit[PDF] to be quite honest. Most people fail blind wine tests miserably. Most studies show that when a truly blind test is performed, normal non-expert wine drinkers actually enjoy the higher-rated and more expensive wines LESS than cheaper wines. When the drinkers know only the price of a bottle and nothing else, they invariably perceive the wine to taste better, even compared to exactly the same bottle with a different price tag.

I don't want to go and offend wine drinkers, but from what I have read you're all really full of shit (although in your defense you don't know it, it's human nature).

so that's like saying people who don't know what they're doing can't tell the difference between wines? That's surprising.

No, he's saying that people don't know why they're supposed to think one wine is better than another will fall back on choosing based on which one they think actually tastes better.

Right, but that still doesn't necessarily mean that wine snobs are full of shit. It could just mean that as you drink more and more wine, your taste for wine may develop/change. Or they're full of shit.

I skimmed through the study, and i guess I wish I had an idea of the distribution of wine prices. They just give the price range and number of different wines.

That doesn't explain why tests consistently show that wine drinkers will rate a bottle higher if they are told it has a bigger price tag, and will rate an identical drop lower if it's in a cheap bottle. I was a bit harsh when I said that wine drinkers were full of shit - these are examples of how the human brain works in interesting and unexpected ways. But I pick on wine drinkers because they take their tasting sessions and reviews so insanely seriously, and will be willing to WAY overpay for a drop because of it.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: mugs

You are handed a random glass of wine at a gathering of unfamiliar people

You're about to be date raped

the value of the wine still stands - it'll tell you whether they'll be a gentlemen and take the front door or a menace and go through the back alley.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: Goosemaster

Originally posted by: mugs

You are handed a random glass of wine at a gathering of unfamiliar people

You're about to be date raped

the value of the wine still stands - it'll tell you whether they'll be a gentlemen and take the front door or a menace and go through the back alley.

Or if they'll run around the block.

a.k.a they poured red and white wine together.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: IAteYourMother

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Win snobs could not possibly be more full of shit[PDF] to be quite honest. Most people fail blind wine tests miserably. Most studies show that when a truly blind test is performed, normal non-expert wine drinkers actually enjoy the higher-rated and more expensive wines LESS than cheaper wines. When the drinkers know only the price of a bottle and nothing else, they invariably perceive the wine to taste better, even compared to exactly the same bottle with a different price tag.

I don't want to go and offend wine drinkers, but from what I have read you're all really full of shit (although in your defense you don't know it, it's human nature).

so that's like saying people who don't know what they're doing can't tell the difference between wines? That's surprising.

No, he's saying that people don't know why they're supposed to think one wine is better than another will fall back on choosing based on which one they think actually tastes better.

Right, but that still doesn't necessarily mean that wine snobs are full of shit. It could just mean that as you drink more and more wine, your taste for wine may develop/change. Or they're full of shit.

I skimmed through the study, and i guess I wish I had an idea of the distribution of wine prices. They just give the price range and number of different wines.

That doesn't explain why tests consistently show that wine drinkers will rate a bottle higher if they are told it has a bigger price tag, and will rate an identical drop lower if it's in a cheap bottle. I was a bit harsh when I said that wine drinkers were full of shit - these are examples of how the human brain works in interesting and unexpected ways. But I pick on wine drinkers because they take their tasting sessions and reviews so insanely seriously, and will be willing to WAY overpay for a drop because of it.

yeah, I understand where you're coming from. I still believe there's probably some merit to why some wines are absurdly expensive, but I'm one of those people that doesn't really care.

I do think it'd be interesting to see the differences in perception between $5 and $20 dollar wines.

 

[Fritzo]

Just because it costs a lot, doesn't mean it is good. If it wasn't properly stored, or if it was crappy wine to begin with, it isn't going to be good.

Aged redmwines will have a smokey smoothness. Unless you're really into wine, you won't be able to tell the difference. Expensive wine is usually just a way of showing you're snooty.

 

[Mojoed]

Other than a couple of sips here and there, I've never had wine. Just not a fan at all. I guess I'm not cultured!

 

[XZeroII]

I'm not a big fan of wine. I've had some good Port though.

 

[olds]

White wine, I wouldn't drink it.
Red wine, I could probably tell if it was a decent wine but I couldn't tell you the value/cost.

 

[ConstipatedVigilante]

Originally posted by: mugs

You are handed a random glass of wine at a gathering of unfamiliar people

You're about to be date raped

That's what I thought this thread was about until I saw the subtitle.

 

[biggestmuff]

Reminds me of a movie a watched recently about French wine snobs.

Bottle Shock

 

[Babbles]

My wife just read a book about expensive and ultra-rare wine collecting: The Billionaire's Vinegar. The highlight was some story about a bottle of wine originally owned and stored by Thomas Jefferson. The few parts she read to me was really interesting. Apparently there are real fundamental changes to wine that is old, and it is not all just showing off the bottle (in many cases it was). However I think one has to spend a lot of money to learn how to distinguish those sorts of wine.

 

[lxskllr]

Wine goes to quick to spend big money on it. I could justify buying a $500 bottle of scotch. That'll keep for months, if not years after opening the bottle. Wine you need to finish after opening. That's an expensive night.

 

[Pheran]

Originally posted by: GodlessAstronomer
Win snobs could not possibly be more full of shit[PDF] to be quite honest. Most people fail blind wine tests miserably. Most studies show that when a truly blind test is performed, normal non-expert wine drinkers actually enjoy the higher-rated and more expensive wines LESS than cheaper wines. When the drinkers know only the price of a bottle and nothing else, they invariably perceive the wine to taste better, even compared to exactly the same bottle with a different price tag.

I don't want to go and offend wine drinkers, but from what I have read you're all really full of shit (although in your defense you don't know it, it's human nature).

I am a wine drinker but you are not offending me, because I don't give a crap about the price, only how it tastes. If an $8 bottle of wine tastes good, I am all for it. I'm certainly not going to spend $500 on a bottle either, that is ridiculous.

 

[meister]

I have a few reds that I like ( 15 or so per bottle ). I go up and down on price from there and sometimes I like them more, some less.

Good book out recently on double blind tastes and it was proven that if people thought the bottle was expensive, they rated it tastier, same with cheaper = less quality.

I have tried this myself. ( of course since I'm paying for it, I know what it costs ) I have found myself 'trying' to appreciate the expensive stuff ( never over 100 per bottle ). Sometimes I really like it, but usually my 15-25 is just fine.

Mark