How does telling your dinner party guests a few details about the wine you're serving dramatically change their perception of its taste? How does the shape of a restaurant table impact how much you eat, and which types of songs can make your Pinot Noir or other wines tastes more acidic?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with journalist Nell McShane Wulfhart.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks

Highlights

What’s the difference between taste and flavour?

How do supertasters experience taste and flavour differently from others?

What impact does our knowledge of a specific wine have on the tasting experience?

What simple strategy can we use to improve our dinner party guests’ experience? How do extrasensory cues impact flavour and enjoyment?

Why does Nell recommend adding a squeeze of limes or lemons to food or water?

Why do ice cream companies add certain scents inside their packaging?

What effect does loud music or noise have on your sense of taste?

Should you serve your best wine first or last at a dinner party?

Why should you consider serving two wines at the same time?

How can you help guests to feel more comfortable at a gathering?

How can you use lighting throughout a party to influence guests’ experiences?

What fun activity can you try with wine tasting and different types of music?

Why does music have a bigger impact on complex beverages like coffee and wine?

How can you use your music playlist to complement your menu?

Why do our palate and preferences change when we’re on a plane?

Can we hear the difference between various types of beverages just from the sound of the pour?

Why are white wine glasses better than flutes for drinking bubbly?

How does the shape of the table in a restaurant affect our dining experience?

What should you consider when selecting a glass for a particular beverage?

How do the shape and texture of food affect how satisfied you feel?

What’s the relationship between weight and perception of quality?

Which wine bottle characteristics make the most impact on wine buyers?

How do health claims on food and wine packaging influence our perception?

How is scent marketing being used outside of the food and beverage industry?

About Nell McShane Wulfhart

Nell McShane Wulfhart is a journalist from Philadelphia, currently based in Uruguay. She's a former New York Times columnist and frequent contributor. Nell also writes for Travel + Leisure, Bon Appétit, Condé Nast Traveler, The Wall Street Journal, and T Magazine, to name just a few of many.

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/blog/podcast/the-shape-and-sound-of-taste-with-nell-mcshane-wulfhart/.