Relationships among the subjective quality, magnetic resonance spectra, and price of wine: A randomized trial

Rationale and Objectives.: We sought to discriminate among wines on the basis of three techniques: physical properties such as smell, taste, and quality; market price; and chemical analysis using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy. Methods.: A randomized, double-masked, controlled crossover wine-tasting trial was conducted. Participants included seven men and seven women affiliated with an urban academic medical center, half of whom were physicians. The interventions consisted of eight red and eight white wines, including two respective, lower priced control wines. Each subject sampled all wines. Participants rated the overall quality of wine samples on a 5-point scale. The outcome measures were mean wine quality score, market price, and visual analysis of proton nuclear MR spectra. Results.: One subject dropped out. Three white wines (ps = .0245, .0275, and .0425) and two red wines (ps = .0072 and .0128) were rated significantly higher than their respective, lower priced control wines. The mean wine quality score was not significantly correlated with market price (white wine, ρ = .371, p = .326; red wine, ρ = -.072, p = .8492). Visual analysis of proton nuclear MR spectra from the highest scoring wines and their respective control wines revealed more similarities than differences. Conclusion.: Quality assurance of wine may best be left to the discriminating palate rather than market price or visual analysis of proton nuclear MR spectra.