Understanding If Differences in Salivary Flow Rate and Total Protein Content Triggered by Biological Factors (Sex and Age) Affect Aroma Perception and the Hedonic and Emotional Response of Wine Consumers.

The relationship between oral physiology (e.g., salivary protein content) and aroma perception over wine consumption was investigated in previous work. However, the relationship between oral physiology and the consumer's response to wine is unknown. Additionally, age-gender differences might affect oral physiology and, therefore, inter-individual differences in the consumer's enjoyment of wine. The aim of this work was to study the effect of biological individual factors such as sex and age on salivary flow rate and total protein content, on wine retronasal aroma perception and on the hedonic and self-reported emotional consumer response to wine. Additionally, the relationship between saliva composition, aroma perception and liking was also assessed. Results showed that age and sex influenced saliva composition and aroma perception in wine consumers in the case of red but not white wines. Younger females reported higher aroma intensity of the black pepper descriptor compared to older females. Correlation analysis confirmed the relationship between salivary flow rate and aroma perception and between the salivary protein content and wine acceptability. The interactions between wine polyphenols-saliva-aroma that occurred in the mouth during the oral processing of wine might partially explain these results, although further research will be required to confirm this hypothesis.

Insights on the effect of age and gender on in-mouth volatile release during wine tasting.

This study focus for the first time, in looking for age-gender effects on in vivo volatile release during wine consumption, also considering oral physiological differences (e.g. saliva composition). To do so, the in-mouth Head Space Sorptive Extraction technique was used, which allowed monitoring the oral release of twenty-four different types of volatile compounds from white and red wines. Thirty-two individuals (n = 32) males and females, belonging to two different age groups: young (18-35 y.o) and senior (>55 y.o.) participated in this analytical in vivo study. Results showed differences in volatile release among age-gender groups, which also depended on the volatile compound and wine type. Senior groups (SM, SF) showed a similar release behaviour among them. Contrarily, young males showed a higher release (between 10 and 29%) of alcohols and esters indistinctly of the wine type, while young females showed the lowest oral volatile release among the four age-gender groups. Gender differences in volatile release were more evident in young than in seniors. A higher release of furanic compounds (furfural and 5-methyl furfural) in seniors was likely related to differences in their saliva composition (total protein content, minerals (Mg, Zn) and α-amylase activity).

Exploring young consumers' attitudes and emotions to sensory and physicochemical properties of different red wines.

To gain deeper understanding on young consumers' attitudes and preferences to wines is needed to connect wine industry with the youth. The aims of the present study were (i) to define 'trendy wine' for young consumers and (ii) to identify chemical drivers of liking in red wines for the youth. The study was divided in two phases: phase I explored young consumers' attitudes towards wines using an online survey, and phase II studied the relationship between hedonic and emotional responses elicited by 12 red wine samples and their physico-chemical characteristics. Consumers' responses and physico-chemical data were related using Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Results of the online survey showed that trendy wines were associated to: sparkling, soft, fresh, fruity, sweet, light, and balanced wines. Also, young consumers reported that, although flavor was considered the most important attribute, price and Protected Designation of Origin could be valuable attributes. PCA results of phase II showed that wines with a lower ratio [total polyphenol index/polysaccharides] were more liked and elicited more positive emotions than wines with higher total polyphenol index, color intensity, volatile acidity, and alcohol content. Liking and positive emotions were positively related to higher Odor Activity Values of the volatile compounds from the organic acids group. The presence of benzenoids and lactones, and the lower presence of terpenoids & norisoprenoids were associated with negative emotions. In conclusion, red wines should be soft (described as lower ratio [total polyphenol index/polysaccharides]), and have floral, and fruity aromas to better connect with young consumers.

Sustainable and health claims vs sensory properties: Consumers' opinions and choices using a vegetable dip as example product.

New foods development is always challenging, and including consumers' opinion during the design process is crucial to increase a successful welcome of the product in the market. During the present study, a whole product design and development process is described, including consumers' insights collected from focus groups, a national online survey, and a final sensory consumer study of the developed vegetable dip. The aim of the study was to determine if some of the extrinsic properties of a product developed using discarded parts of fruits and vegetables had an impact on the final product acceptance, or if the intrinsic properties were the main drivers of the acceptance. The experimental design included four focus groups to study consumers' ideas about products made with sustainable ingredients and which may have health benefits. Then, a national survey was conducted to test the best messages associated to the new food. A vegetable dip was developed, using consumers' insights, and a consumer study was conducted to test the impact of three different messages associated with the product. Results of the survey showed three consumers' segments with different interests on the concepts associated with the products, being two of the clusters potential consumers of the new vegetable dip. Results of the consumer study showed that, although consumers belonged to these segments in which the extrinsic properties seemed to be important, the 3 tested messages were similarly accepted.

Effect of saliva composition and flow on inter-individual differences in the temporal perception of retronasal aroma during wine tasting.

In order to determine if inter-individual differences in saliva composition and flow influence the perception of specific aromatic stimuli elicited by esters after wine consumption, ten individuals were selected and instructed in the recognition of four aromatic stimuli elicited by four ester compounds, which were added to a rosé wine. The whole panel was firstly characterised by their salivary flow, composition (pH, total protein content, macro- and micro- minerals) and rheological properties (viscosity), and secondly, the panellists were trained in a dynamic sensory method for the evaluation of retronasal aroma intensity at discrete time intervals (5, 60, 120, and 180 s) after wine expectoration. Significant inter-individual differences (p < 0.05) in saliva composition were found in most salivary parameters. Differences in the intensity ratings among individuals were also found for the four aroma attributes. Spearman correlation analysis between saliva parameters and aroma intensity over time showed a strong positive correlation between salivary flow and aroma perception for some aroma and time points. This correlation was higher in the immediate than in the long lasting perception and greater for aroma attributes elicited by short chain length esters (isoamyl acetate, ethyl butanoate and ethyl hexanoate) (than for attributes elicited by larger esters (ethyl decanoate).

Individual differences and effect of phenolic compounds in the immediate and prolonged in-mouth aroma release and retronasal aroma intensity during wine tasting.

To explore the role of phenolic compounds in oral aroma release during wine tasting, four rosé wines supplemented with three types of commercial phenolic extracts and a control wine were evaluated. Wines were aromatized with a mixture of six target aroma compounds. -In vivo oral aroma release was monitored in six volunteers at two different times after wine rinsing, just after spitting of the wine (immediate release), and four minutes later (prolonged release). To check the sensory meaning of these changes, descriptive analysis using a trained panel (n = 10) was also performed. Results showed a strong individual effect on total oral aroma release at the two sampling points. After the oral exposure to wines with phenolic extracts, a lower release of most target aroma compounds was also determined. Lower intensity scores for some aroma attributes in wines with phenolic extracts were found, showing a good agreement between the two scientific approaches.

Internal preference mapping of milk-fruit beverages: Influence of color and appearance on its acceptability.

The individual preferences of 100 consumers between 20 and 30 years old for the color of 16 milk-fruit juice beverages (MFJB) were investigated by preference mapping technique. Consumers were asked to evaluate, just by looking at the samples, how much they liked them (from "Extremely dislike" to "Extremely like"). The color of the samples was analyzed by two different instrumental techniques. Results obtained from the instrumental color measurement showed the wide diversity in hues of the beverages available in the market, and correlations between techniques proved that both of them were appropriate to analyze color. Results showed that participants preferred samples with orangish appearance instead of those with a whiter look. Anyway, punctuations given by the consumers suggest that generally, color of these products is not highly evaluated by consumers, as the best mean punctuation was 6.6.