The Art and Science of Wine Tasting | Qian Janice Wang | TED (Level 1)

Imagine you are drinking a glass of wine. Someone says, "This wine is very complex." What does that mean? A scientist wanted to understand this. She did two tests. First, she looked at the drink itself. She mixed different wines together. She thought the mixed wine would taste more complex. But people did not agree. Instead, they thought wines from wooden barrels tasted more complex. Second, she studied the drinker's mind. She tested how flavors change in the mouth over time. She gave young and old wines to beginners and experts. The experts felt the older wines were more complex. They noticed the flavors changing. The beginners did not notice this as much. In the end, complexity is not just in the glass. It is also in your mind. Next time you eat or drink, pay attention to how the taste changes!