Wine Consumption Research Articles

Incorporating preference uncertainty in best worst scaling.

In this paper, we enhance the Best-Worst Scaling (BWS) method by incorporating participants' preference uncertainty into the conventional BWS, known as case 1. In this context, respondents are tasked with making trade-offs among a set of items of interest. Applying this novel extended BWS method to a sample of Argentinian wine consumers (n = 342), we aim to a) provide a more informative elicitation of consumers' relative preferences for 16 wine attributes; b) identify the level of uncertainty with each of the attributes, exploring differences between the most and least important wine attributes influencing purchasing wine; and c) compare the results of the extended BWS with the standard BWS. Our findings indicate variability in uncertainty levels on the importance of wine attributes when purchasing wine within and across attributes. Moreover, accounting for participants' preference uncertainty can alter the ranking of preferences obtained through the standard approach. This alteration is due to both accounting for preference uncertainty itself as well as the uncertainty indicator used. Although this approach is a way to mitigate biases associated with respondents' preference certainty, it is recommended that preference uncertainty heterogeneity is investigated using different indicators.

Unveiling wine and cannabis consumption motivations: a segmentation study of wine consumers in Germany

Purpose Wine consumption is declining, while cannabis use among young adults in Germany has surged. With new laws partially legalising recreational cannabis, advocates claim it could replace alcohol, offering health benefits and cost savings. However, concerns remain that cannabis might increase alcohol consumption and associated health risks. Despite recognition of both substitute and complementary relationships between cannabis and alcohol, data on the cannabis–wine relationship is scarce. This study aims to understand the motivations behind wine and cannabis consumption, segment wine drinkers by those motives, profile wine drinkers who also consume cannabis and determine whether wine and cannabis act as substitutes or complements across distinct consumer groups. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted an online survey using random sampling and used cluster analysis to identify consumer segments based on motivations for wine consumption. Exploring various variables, including consumption motives, behavioural patterns and socio-demographics, the authors also examined cannabis consumption among wine drinkers. Findings This study surveyed 523 German wine drinkers aged 20–60 years, including 215 cannabis users. Four consumer segments emerged: “adaptive conformists”, “expansive strategists”, “self-conscious hedonists” and “ambivalent drinkers.” Three segments preferred wine for social and enhancing effects. “Adaptive conformists”, the group with the most cannabis users, sought negative reinforcement like conformity or coping. The “adaptive conformists” and “expansive strategists” show the tendencies of a complementary cannabis–wine relationship. Originality/value This study pioneers the use of the Marijuana Motives Measure scales, developed by Simons et al. (1998), within the motivational framework by Cox and Klinger (1988) and Cooper et al. (2015), for wine drinkers. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is also the first to categorise wine drinkers into segments based on MMM scales for both wine and cannabis and segment wine consumers using cannabis.

Alcohol consumption and incident heart failure in men and women.

Regular heavy alcohol consumption may lead to the development of alcohol-related cardiomyopathy and symptomatic heart failure (HF) later in life. However, the dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption and risk for incident HF, and whether these associations vary by sex and type of alcoholic beverage remains unclear. A total of 407 014 participants (52% women, age 56 years) from the UK Biobank who completed alcohol-related questionnaires and without a history of HF at baseline were included in the study. Competing-risk model and cubic spline regression analyses were used to calculate hazard ratios of the association between alcohol consumption and incident HF in men and women. The associations were adjusted for an extensive set of potential confounders. During a median follow-up of 12 years, 11 735 (34% women) cases of incident HF were identified. Total alcohol consumption was higher in men than in women (median consumption: 16 vs. 8 drinks/week, p < 0.001). A J-shaped association was observed between total alcohol consumption and incident HF in both men and women. Drinking alcohol <28 units/week was associated with a lower risk for developing HF, with a ~20% maximum risk reduction at 14 units/week in men and 7 units/week in women, independent of common confounders. Similar trends were observed in wine consumption. However, the risk of incident HF increases with beer consumption, particularly in women (p for sex interaction = 0.002). Consuming 7-14 units/week of beer was associated with a 29% increased risk of incident HF in women. Alcohol consumption was higher among men compared with women. Although low to moderate total alcohol consumption appears to be associated with a reduced risk of developed HF, beer drinkers, particularly women, were at higher risk of developed HF.

Consumption Trends, Trading Patterns and Economic Development in Italy Across Centuries: Data Analysis of Roman Amphorae in a Long-Term Perspective

This paper presents novel insights into the long-term chronological patterns related to the distribution and consumption of amphora-borne foodstuffs in Italy. The study specifically focuses on the consumption of wine, olive oil and fish sauces, which exhibit diverse provenances. Notably, it contributes significantly to our understanding of the Roman economy by utilising an open dataset and a replicable research method. The analysis reveals a pronounced growth pattern during the late Republican to early Imperial period. Importantly, quantitative evidence demonstrates that the diverse consumption pattern observed in the capital city of Rome is less exceptional than previously believed. The study draws upon a substantial dataset comprising 28,851 diagnostic amphora fragments excavated and documented from 28 different urban and rural settlements in the North Adriatic and Central Italy, spanning the period from the 4th c. BCE to the 7th c. CE. The analytical approach employs a probabilistic aoristic method, evenly distributing amphora frequencies across relevant date ranges.

Pour decisions: Unveiling the allure of French wine – A tale of personality, occasions, and gender

This research investigates the nexus between country wine brand personality (CWBP), wine consumption occasion preferences, and perceived wine gender, with an ancillary focus on gauging the moderating role of wine involvement. We adapted an existing brand personality scale tailoring it for French wine, surveying regular wine consumers across Canada through an online platform. French wine embodies high Status, moderate Arrogance and Sincerity, and minimal Freneticism. It is perceived as more feminine. The preference for French wine is for special occasions like intimate dinners or gift exchanges, contrasting with its limited appeal for casual outdoor activities such as BBQs or picnics.

Beverage consumption modifies the risk of type 2 diabetes associated with ambient air pollution exposure.

Evidence on how beverage consumption modifies associations between air pollution (AP) exposure with the type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk remains scarce, which we aimed to investigate in this study. A total of 77,278 adults from the UK Biobank cohort were enrolled. Annual average concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NO2 and NOX) were estimated to represent the long-term AP exposure using the land use regression model. The consumption of beverages (alcoholic beverages, juice, sugar-sweetened beverages [SSB], coffee, and tea) was estimated with the 24-hour dietary assessment. The AP-T2D and beverage-T2D risks were assessed using Cox regression models. Modifying effects of beverage consumption on AP-T2D associations were evaluated through stratified analysis and heterogeneity test. During a median follow-up of 12.19 years, 1486 T2D events were recorded. One interquartile range increase of PM2.5, NO2, and NOX raised the T2D risk with the hazard ratios (HR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) being 1.09 (1.03, 1.16), 1.14 (1.06, 1.21), and 1.09 (1.04, 1.15), respectively. For beverages, compared with non-consumption, daily consumption (>0 cup) of red wine, > 0-3 cups of white wine, ground coffee, and herbal tea, and > 0-1 cup of spirits were associated with a 13 %-37 % reduced T2D risk, while > 0 cup of SSB were associated with a 21 %-122 % elevated T2D risk. Beverage consumption modified AP-T2D associations, as compared with non-consumption, > 0-3 cups of red wine, white wine, ground coffee, and herbal tea had a lower attenuated T2D risk associated with NO2 and/or NOX. Conversely, those with > 1 cup of SSB had a higher T2D risk associated with both NO2 and NOX (Pheter <0.05). This study highlights the significant role of beverage consumption in mitigating or exacerbating the T2D risk associated with long-term NO2 and NOX exposure.

Red Wine: Poison or the Secret to Eternal Youth?

Red wine has been the subject of extensive research due to its complex polyphenolic composition and potential health effects on the human body. This review examines the cardioprotective effects of red wine, highlighting the role of polyphenols in promoting cardiovascular health, increasing insulin sensitivity, and offering protective benefits against type 2 diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Despite these potential benefits, red wine consumption is also associated with several adverse effects, including liver damage, headaches, and increased risk of depression. This duality highlights the importance of moderation in alcohol consumption..

Connected wine packaging in retail: quantifying customer interaction and preferences for wine information

PurposeThis research explores wine customer interaction with connected packaging in retail, offering insights for wine producers to enhance customer behavioural engagement strategies. The study aims to understand patterns of customer visual attention and information preferences in the context of connected packaging.Design/methodology/approachThe research adopts an empirics-first (EF) approach, including a two-study mixed-method research design. EF is particularly suited to exploring emerging customer behaviours in innovative technological contexts. Study One uses Google Analytics and Tag Manager to measure connected packaging users’ visual attention and behavioural engagement. Study Two uses maximum difference scaling to assess user preferences for wine attributes in retail.FindingsStudy One reveals distinct patterns of user behavioural engagement. Highly engaged users exhibit deeper interaction with product, brand and sustainability information, often revisiting content. First-time users focus on top-of-page content before disengaging. Study Two results corroborate the importance of product information (grape variety, wine style and region of origin), with highly involved wine consumers showing greater interest in connected packaging.Originality/valueThis research advances the understanding of connected packaging user interaction and information preferences, an area previously underexplored. It demonstrates the potential of connected packaging for enhancing ongoing customer behavioural engagement and providing additional product information. The study’s innovative EF approach, combining real-world behavioural data with preference analysis, supports and extends existing research on wine attribute preferences while demonstrating the potential of connected packaging as an ongoing value co-creation tool.

Urinary tartaric acid as a biomarker of wine consumption and cardiovascular risk: the PREDIMED trial.

Moderate wine consumption has been associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in older populations. However, wine consumption information through self-reports is prone to measurement errors inherent to subjective assessments. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between urinary tartaric acid, an objective biomarker of wine consumption, and the rate of a composite clinical CVD event. A case-cohort nested study was designed within the PREDIMED trial with 1232 participants: 685 incident cases of CVD and a random subcohort of 625 participants (including 78 overlapping cases). Wine consumption was registered using validated food frequency questionnaires. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to measure urinary tartaric acid at baseline and after one year of intervention. Weighted Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of CVD. Tartaric acid was correlated with self-reported wine consumption at baseline [r = 0.46 (95% CI 0.41; 0.50)]. Five categories of post hoc urinary tartaric acid excretion were used for better representation of risk patterns. Concentrations of 3-12 and 12-35 μg/mL, which reflect ∼3-12 and 12-35 glasses/month of wine, were associated with lower CVD risk [HR 0.62 (95% CI 0.38; 1.00), P = .050 and HR 0.50 (95% CI 0.27; 0.95), P = .035, respectively]. Less significant associations between self-reported wine consumption and CVD risk were observed. Light-to-moderate wine consumption, measured through an objective biomarker (tartaric acid), was prospectively associated with lower CVD rate in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk.

Wine consumption and cardiovascular health: the unresolved French paradox and the promise of objective biomarkers.

Wine consumption and cardiovascular health: the unresolved French paradox and the promise of objective biomarkers.

Big data analysis of Spanish wine consumers reviews

PurposeWine is a complicated and difficult product to know, which makes it extremely difficult for people with little knowledge to choose the wine they want. This study aims to analyze whether the vocabulary used in reviews on wine written by experts and amateurs on the specialized website is useful for those consumers who wish to search for information on this website to choose a wine.Design/methodology/approachThe analysis combines text mining, Natural Language Processing and the Biterm Topic model applied to 25,847 reviews, evaluating a total of 13,263 Spanish wines made by 17 selected users of a specialized wine website.FindingsThe results show that wine consumers and users of the specialized wine website who write reviews can be divided into expert users and amateur users. Both experts and amateurs use a specific vocabulary related to the wines they review. Unlike amateurs, experts have a broader and more precise vocabulary, and greater consistency in the use of words with the aspects of the wine. For the revised wines, they address fewer and more specific aspects of wine (such as vintages), but they do so with more depth and rigor.Originality/valueThe originality and value of this research work lie in addressing two aspects that have hardly been analyzed: the reviews of experienced consumers and amateur consumers, and the textual information referring to the Spanish language, which distinguishes this analysis from other similar analyses carried out on the English language.

Uncorking the delights: deciphering Indian wine consumers’ tastes with a multi-method approach and consumer insights

Purpose Alcohol consumption trends in India have undergone a significant shift in recent years. While spirits like rum and brandy have traditionally dominated the Indian alcohol industry, wine is now gaining popularity with a commendable compounded annual growth rate. This presents a significant opportunity for wine marketers to develop effective strategies for targeting Indian consumers. To capitalise on this evolving market scenario, it is crucial to understand the attributes that consumers seek in their preferred wines. Therefore, this study aims to identify the specific wine attributes that significantly influence the purchasing behaviour of Indian consumers. Design/methodology/approach The study used a mixed-methods approach to comprehend the wine preferences of Indian consumers. The methods included tweet analysis, word cloud, sentiment analysis and conjoint analysis. Findings The study reveals that Indian millennials’ wine consumption is driven by health and sustainability concerns, particularly the appeal of organic and low-alcohol options. However, wine, especially red wine, is also strongly associated with socializing, luxury and pleasure. This dual motivation highlights wine’s versatility in fulfilling both health-conscious and indulgent desires. Originality/value This study examines Indian wine consumers and their purchasing decisions using a multi-method approach. In addition, it compares gender preferences, addressing a gap in limited research on the Indian wine industry.

Motivators of the Intention of Wine Tourism in Baja California, Mexico.

The present study aimed to analyze which variables have the most significant effect and importance in analyzing wine tourism intention in Baja California, Mexico, using the stimulus-organism-response model. An exploratory and cross-sectional study collected a sample of 728 adult wine consumers from Baja California. Data analysis was carried out using structural equation modeling by partial least squares and analysis of the importance--performance map. Traditional gastronomy was the main predictor of wine tourism intention in Baja California, Mexico, and according to the importance-performance map, it is the most essential variable in the analysis. In addition, the study results showed that identity mediates the relationship between electronic word of mouth and wine tourism intention and between traditional gastronomy and wine tourism intention. The study employs an importance-performance mapping analysis that has yet to be used in wine tourism analysis and proposes a stimulus (electronic word of mouth, traditional gastronomy)-organism (identity)-response (wine tourism intention) model to broaden understanding of the phenomenon. Its findings and methodology can serve as a valuable template for future research, offering a blueprint that can be replicated in regions like Baja California. This research has significant consequences for creating marketing plans in the wine tourism sector.

Willingness to pay of Portuguese sparkling wine consumers: Econometric and machine learning approaches

Abstract Understanding consumer choices and their drivers of willingness to pay (WTP) for a bottle of wine has been a research challenge in wine economics, particularly in niche markets such as sparkling wine. This study investigates the determinants of WTP for sparkling wine based on data from Portuguese consumers. The results provided by two alternative methodologies are compared: a traditional econometric model, based on the estimation of an ordered probit model; and a modelling approach based on data-driven and using machine learning algorithms. Both approaches present similar results, highlighting the relevance of some determinants including income, Champagne brand, not being a protected designation of origin and being a red wine consumer as main predictors of WTP for sparkling wine in Portugal.

Changes in Wine Consumption in Palestine, c. 600–1100 CE: The Ceramic Evidence

Changes in Wine Consumption in Palestine, c. 600–1100 CE: The Ceramic Evidence

Drivers of brand love for organic wine brands: moderating role of ethnocentrism

PurposeThe consumption of organic wine has witnessed exponential growth, mainly because of changing lifestyles, rising disposable income, modernity aspects and claimed health benefits. Understanding the motivations and attributes affecting organic wine consumption (OWC) provides a limited perspective on consumption and behavioral patterns.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a set of screening criteria to arrive at the final choice of fine-dining restaurants and bars that serve wine in their outlets. Based on the selected locations, we gathered responses from 558 consumers aged 18 years and above with prior experience of buying organic and non-organic wine. The hypothesized model was validated using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). From the perspective of organic wine consumption, the research findings exhibit significant links between the drivers.FindingsThe findings underscore the moderating impact of ethnocentrism toward shaping consumers’ attitudes and brand love. Additionally, gender and consumption frequency indicated significant variations among consumers of organic wine. Female consumers strongly believe that consumption of organic wine provides health benefits, societal acceptance and moments of joy. Additionally, men usually associate wine consumption with enhanced their affective, convivial and sensory pleasure.Originality/valueThis study examines the drivers and marketing outcomes of organic wine consumption using Behavioral Reasoning Theory (BRT) and the Theory of Hedonic Asymmetry (THA).

Chemosensory vocabulary in wine, perfume and food product reviews: Insights from language modeling

Chemosensory sensations are often hard to describe and quantify. Language models may facilitate a systematic understanding of sensory descriptions. We accessed consumer and expert reviews of wine, perfume, and food products (English language; about 68 million words in total) and analyzed their sensory descriptions. Using a novel data-driven method based on natural language data, we compared the three chemosensory vocabularies (wine, perfume, food) with respect to their vocabulary overlap and semantic properties, and explored their semantic spaces. The three vocabularies primarily differ with respect to domain specificity, concreteness, descriptor type preference and degree of gustatory vs. olfactory association. Wine vocabulary primarily distinguishes between white wine and red wine flavors and qualities. Food vocabulary separates drinkable and edible food products and ingredients, on the one hand, and savory and non-savory products, on the other. A salient distinction in all three vocabularies is between concrete and abstract/evaluative terms. Valence also plays a role in the semantic spaces of all three vocabularies, but valence is less prominent here than ingeneral olfactory vocabulary. Our method allows a systematic comparison of sensory descriptors in the three product domains and provides a data-driven approach to derive sensory lexicons that can be applied by sensory scientists.

Associations of alcohol intake with gut microbiome: a prospective study in a predominantly low-income Black/African American population

BackgroundAlcohol intake can alter gut microbiome, which may subsequently affect human health. However, limited population-based, prospective studies have investigated associations of habitual and recent alcohol intake with the gut microbiome, particularly among Black/African American individuals. ObjectiveWe examined the association of alcohol intake with gut microbiome in a predominantly low-income Black/African American population. MethodsWe investigated the dose- and type-specific associations of habitual and recent alcohol intake with the gut microbiome among 538 Black/African American adults (150 males and 388 females). Habitual and recent alcohol intakes were assessed at cohort baseline (2002–2009) and stool collection (2018–2021), respectively. Gut microbiome was profiled using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Generalized linear models were employed to evaluate the associations between alcohol intakes and gut microbiome composition, with adjustments for sociodemographic characteristics, other lifestyle factors, and comorbidities. False discovery rate (FDR) <0.1 was considered statistically significant. ResultsThe mean age at enrollment was 53.2 ± 7.7 y, with a mean interval of 13.8 y (range: 9.0–18.1 y) between baseline and stool sample collection. Recent alcohol intake was not significantly associated with microbial taxa abundance. However, habitual alcohol intake, both total amount and types of alcoholic beverages, showed significant associations with several microbial taxa abundance, primarily in males, including species within classes Clostridia, Bacilli, and Mahellia within Firmicutes. Specifically, total alcohol, beer, and red wine intakes were all inversely associated with genus MGYG-HGUT-02719 within class Clostridia (β = −2.26 to −0.09 per 1 drink/d increase). Red wine consumption was also inversely associated with the abundance of genera CAG-110, Oscillibacter, and Gemmiger within class Clostridia (β = −3.88 to −2.69), whereas positively associated with genus Absiella (β = 1.81) within class Bacilli. Most of these associations remained significant after additionally adjusting for BMI and baseline comorbidities. ConclusionsWe identified gut microbial taxa associated with habitual alcohol intake among Black/African American males, although the magnitudes of these associations were generally small. Further research is needed to determine if these bacteria modify alcohol-disease relationships.

Differences in Associations of Three Types of Alcoholic Beverages with Age-Related Cognitive Decline in Men.

To investigate the influence of wine, beer, and spirits consumption, respectively, on non-pathological, age-related cognitive decline from young adulthood to late midlife in a large follow-up study of Danish men. The study includes 2456 middle-aged Danish men from the Lifestyle and Cognition Follow-up study 2015, with information on adult-life consumption (from age 26) of wine, beer, and spirits self-reported in late midlife and age-related cognitive decline assessed using the same validated intelligence test administered in young adulthood and late midlife. Associations were adjusted for consumption of other alcoholic beverages, year of birth, age at follow-up, retest interval, education, young adulthood intelligence, and personality. Most of the men had wine (48%) or beer (42%) as their preferred beverage type. For all three alcoholic beverages, consumption of more than 14 units weekly was associated with a greater decline in unadjusted analyses, but this trend was only significant for wine. In contrast, adjusted models showed that moderate wine and spirits consumption was associated with less decline than abstention for these alcohol types (p = 0.03 for 8-14 units/week of wine and p = 0.03 for 1-7 units/week of spirits). Statistical tests suggested a difference between the estimated effects of consumption of 8-14 units/week of wine and beer on cognitive decline. While patterns of associations were similar across beverages, moderate wine and spirits consumption may mitigate cognitive decline, in contrast with beer. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to inherent differences between men with different alcoholic beverage preferences.

Red Wine Consumption and the Impact on Cardiovascular Health: The Methodological Barriers of Observational Study Design.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and its prevalence is going to rise even more by 2030. The discovery of different "functional" foods containing a plethora of bioactive compounds is considered an ally in the effort to reduce the global CVD burden in the context of primary prevention. It has been about 3 decades since the observation that red wine consumption in French population could lead to lower coronary heart disease risk despite the high dietary consumption of saturated fats, known as the "French paradox." Since then, numerous epidemiological studies, mainly observational, have emerged in order to investigate this association with great enthusiasm. However, due to the nature of these studies, the scientific community has raised concerns about the methodological approach of the studies and thus the generalization of their results. Therefore, the current review aims to summarize some of the major methodological issues deriving from observational studies on the association between red wine consumption and cardiovascular health and to highlight the importance of higher quality study design in the general effort of drawing safer conclusions on this topic.