{"id":308,"date":"2019-01-08T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-01-08T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.wtso.com\/blog\/index.php\/2017\/01\/26\/2017-1-26-why-some-wines-cost-more-than-other\/"},"modified":"2022-08-02T14:41:02","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T18:41:02","slug":"why-some-wines-cost-more-than-other","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wtso.com\/blog\/why-some-wines-cost-more-than-other\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Some Premium Wines Cost More Than Others"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every so often, a new article will make its way around the internet claiming that a scientific study has \u201cproven\u201d there\u2019s no difference between cheap and expensive wine<\/a>. The typical example references a group of \u201cnormal\u201d people who are given blind tastes of various wines<\/a> and are unable to tell which are more expensive. Sometimes the group\u2019s favorite wine ends up being the least expensive. While the results of such studies may be accurate, the conclusions they draw are overly simplified and don\u2019t take the nuances of wine and human nature into account. <\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we will discuss personal preferences, quality<\/a>, and price. As you will see, these subjects are related, but distinct from one another.<\/span><\/p>\n

Personal Preferences<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s often repeated that \u201cthe only thing that matters with regard to a wine is whether or not you like it.\u201d This phrase implies that the quality<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/em>of wine and the enjoyment<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/em>of the wine are the same, and that both are totally subjective and dependent on personal taste. In reality, it is possible to create a set of criteria with which to judge the quality<\/a> of a wine. These determinations do not – and should not – dictate enjoyment. <\/span><\/p>\n

Think about how this idea applies to the subject of food or music. I, for one, occasionally enjoy fast food, cheap candy, or cheesy songs. I don\u2019t claim that these things are of exceptional quality simply because I like them. On the other hand, there are some pieces of music and foods that I can recognize for their excellence without personally enjoying them. Should I condemn braised lamb or Bruckner symphonies simply because they are not to my taste? The simple fact that people enjoy inexpensive wines as much as expensive ones does not mean that they are all of the same quality. <\/span><\/p>\n

Next, we will discuss some criteria that will help define the characteristics of a high quality wine – aside from the simple question of personal taste.<\/span><\/p>\n

Quality<\/strong><\/h3>\n

There are many lenses through which one might judge quality in wine. Here are a few ways in which a professional might assess quality:<\/span><\/p>\n