Using check‐all‐that‐apply to evaluate wine and food pairings: An investigation with white wines

Abstract

AbstractGrowing consumer interest in food and wine pairing leads to a need for more studies to be conducted evaluating consumers' perception of food pairings. Many studies have used trained panelists to evaluate food and wine pairings; however, this study sought to determine how consumers evaluate food and wine pairings using the check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA) method. The participants (n = 112) were asked to evaluate five white wines for their liking of the wine, their sensory perception of the wines and identify which food items they would pair with the wine using a CATA question. The participants separated the wines based on their sweetness and dryness, as well as their acidity. The participants liked sweet, citrus, fruity and floral white wines, and disliked earthy and sour attributes. When the participants paired the wine with hard cheeses and chocolate their liking increased; however, when the wines were paired with French fries, steak, and lemon pie, it detracted from their liking. Future research should ask participants to explain their pairing choices using open‐ended comment questions.Practical ApplicationsVery few studies have explored consumers' food and wine pairing preferences. This study identified which food consumers pair with different white wines and how food items can positively or negatively impact consumers' liking of the wine. The results of this study are important to those working in the food and wine service industry. The findings of this study contribute to the gap in knowledge of consumers' preferred food pairings and investigate the use of a check‐all‐that‐apply question to evaluate food and wine pairings. Future research should ask consumers to explain their food pairings, as well as evaluate how wine knowledge and familiarity with wine impact their pairing decisions.