Male researchers have tested a theory that predicts people’s wine preferences and categorises them into four types of wine drinker. Anyone else got deja vu? Isn't this a bit like when researchers try and reduce our personality types to the colour lipstick or nail varnish we prefer?
They surveyed over 300 students of Midwest University with an average age of 22, to find out if they could predict novice wine drinker’s preferences based on what they already eat and drink.
According to these categories, 70% of sweet wine drinkers were women, people who like strong coffee and cheese are more likely to enjoy intensely flavoured whites and full-bodied reds, and if you were an easy birth for your mother (yes, really) you might enjoy a full range of wines, from dry white wine to a wide range of reds.
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The vinotype idea was created by Tim Hanni, this research just tests out the categories of wine drinkerhe came up with.
Helping people find wines they like is a great idea, but we really don’t need any more stereotypes about women and wine, please.
The traits written under these four categories are bordering on sexist; the sweet category has things like ‘picky’ ‘sensitive’ and mentions you might be very particular about your choice of linens. While the ‘tolerant’ category has things like you ‘can't quite understand how other people drink "wimpy" wines’ and that you always want to thermostat turned down.
This research could mean that the traditional wine pairing rules no longer apply, ya know the whole light red wine with fish thang.
The lead author of the study, Carl Borchgrevink, says that this new ‘vinotype’ method will help people find wines they like, instead of sommeliers suggesting something that goes well with your meal, but not your taste buds: ‘They shouldn’t try to intimidate you into buying a certain wine,’ he said, according to the Independent. ‘Instead, they should be asking you what you like.’
But for those of us who haven’t been in recent contact with a sommelier (just me?!) the researchers hope these findings will allow businesses like supermarkets to sell wine to customers based on their likes and dislikes and allow customers to buy wines they are already predisposed to enjoy the taste of.
So get ready to have supermarkets categorising wine by taste preference, let’s just hope they don’t start categorising using gender stereotypes.
OK I know you’re curious to find out your wine type, so here you go:
Pick an answer to these three questions…
Which of these statements best describes you?
A: You’re super picky about literally everything
B: You stick to what you know and love
C: You struggle with making big decisions
D: You’re flexible and adaptable
What are you most likely to complain about?
A: Itchy jumpers and uncomfortable fabrics
B: The TV being too loud
C: Rules being too rigid, and not having enough freedom
D: The thermostat being too high
Which of these things do you regularly do?
A: Tell people to be quiet
B: Lead a sports team or play solo sports
C: Moderate between family members that don’t get on
D: Drink strong black coffee
Results
Mostly As: Sweet, you’ll enjoy sangria, White Zinfandel and dessert wines
Mostly Bs: Hypersensitive, you’ll also enjoy sweet wines, but are a little more adventurous
Mostly Cs: Sensitive, you’ll enjoy everything from delicate to full-bodied, dry white wines to a wide range of reds, especially those that are very rich, smooth but not too oaky
Mostly Ds: Tolerant, you’ll enjoy oaky, full-bodied Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.