South Africa Wine Research Projects

3. OENOLOGY RESEARCH PROJECT IN PROGRESS

DETERMINING CROSS-CULTURAL WINE QUALITY DRIVERS: A CHEMICAL, SENSORIAL AND DATA FUSION APPROACH

SAGWRI JB 23-01 Dr Jeanne Brand, South African Grape and Wine Research Institute, Stellenbosch University Start date: 2023

AIM AND INDUSTRY RELEVANCE: Knowledge and data about how South African consumers with different cultural contexts (language groups, e.g. Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho and rural- vs urban raised) relate to and perceive different wine styles are scarce. Relating these perceptions and liking parameters to the quality and typicality perception of industry professionals, sensory descriptors, and chemical profiles can be valuable to the wine industry regarding style and product development. This study aims to shed light on the perception of different cultivar wines of South Africa by diverse consumer cultural groups. Differences and similarities between the consumer groups’ preferences will be highlighted. The study will also provide a better understanding of the differences between consumers’ liking and experts’ quality perception regarding the chemical and sensorial drivers of quality and liking. Wine education tools and vocabulary will be generated, e.g., for communication with consumers.

SOUTH AFRICA WINE RESEARCH 2024

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