Just like wine, we get better with age ;) So do our tastebuds. Our sense of taste is constantly evolving over time, from the day we’re born until we… Well, you know. We learn to appreciate certain food and beverage types that we once hated, and vice-versa. And wine is no exception to that rule. If you’ve suddenly found yourself going from preferring a sweet and jammy Zinfandel to a delightfully light and fruity Pinot Noir, then you and I have one thing in common. As we educate ourselves with the intricacies of certain food types and various beverages, our palate evolves and becomes more adventurous. Do our taste buds change with age? How does that work? Does it happen to everybody? And how is it affecting the way we drink wine? Let’s ponder!
Do taste buds change with age? Yes, they do! And it happens to everybody. In my case, I’d say that my palate has evolved and increased my food and beverage options rather than decreased them. Even as a kid, I was never a picky eater but I had my share of food items that I couldn’t bear to eat. Take oysters, for example, a swift gander at these slimy sea creatures was enough to make me queasy. And now, I can’t get enough of them! Conversely, I noticed a gigantic change in my cravings for sweets since my younger days. I no longer care for cakes or overly sweet desserts, and I always drink my coffee black. And that right there is proof that our tastes can change significantly throughout our lifetime – so why should our wine preferences be any different?
Does Our Wine Consumption Style Change With Age?
My recent aversion to sweets is very indicative of the way I choose the wine I drink. When I first started drinking wine, I favored wines with less tannins, without much acidity, and therefore with a sweeter approach. And to be completely frank, price was also the main driving motion of my wine selection process. I think my late-teenage self thought I was pretty refined (I wasn’t). And it seems I was not unique or special – it turns out that most wine drinkers follow a fairly predictable pattern over a lifetime of drinking – and the wine industry knows it far too well ;)
In our early days of drinking wine, my wife and I used to drink a semi-sweet red blend from Apothic. Coincidentally, this wine was referenced in a wine research study from Sonoma State University. Led by Dr. Liz Thach, a team of scientists wanted to research the deep-rooted belief that as consumers age, their taste preferences change over time.
The online survey listed a total of five questions, the main one being: “Have your wine preferences changed since you first started drinking wine?” The results showed that 69 percent of the respondents’ wine preferences had changed over time, but 31 percent stayed pretty set in their ways.
In fact, those whose tastes were unchanged remained satisfyingly committed to sweet and semi-sweet wines. The others developed a strong preference for dry red wine. The final results suggest that the change is primarily a conversion from sweet and semi-sweet wines to drier styles. To that effect, wineries should have an entry-level wine that is sweeter in style for the unseasoned wine consumer, and should also provide both semi-sweet and dry reds, as these two styles seem to be more popular with the more versed and accomplished wine drinker.
Semi-sweet red blends score high in consumer preferences and have captured a large market share in the United States. Despite this, many wineries do not seem that concerned about consumer tastes and only produce the types of
wine that they prefer, or that their “terroir” delivers. And those are the wineries we (Steve and I) favor before all.
Does Wine Education Affect Our Taste Over Time?
As a subsequent question, the research survey asked: “Does consumer wine knowledge level have an impact on wine changes over time?” I am convinced that our palate constantly evolves due to the increasing levels of education we accumulate. And according to another report that came out last year, it also increases the wine consumption rate. Appreciating wine is to be aware of its properties via various modalities such as taste, smell, and tactile impressions in the mouth. In other words, we must understand wine to fully appreciate it.
So Do Our Tastes Buds Change As We Get Older?
Yes, the results of Dr. Liz Thach’s research support and confirm that taste preferences do change over time for a large portion of the wine consumer population. Moreover, medical researchers have verified that genetics and receptor genes strongly impact a person’s ability to taste bitterness as we get older, such as that found in wine tannins, making us prone to more tannic and dryer reds. That is scientific proof –as well as a solid explanation– that tastes change as people age.
Our Taste Buds Evolve, And So Do Our Habits…
So, are we all destined to become sophisticated wine snobs in our later days? Absolutely not! As Steve said in a recent Wine Ponder exclusive article about rosé wines, “As my palate changed, I became more adventurous with trying new wines.”
Alright, stick with me on this… There are over 10,000 grape varieties cultivated in the world, AND we’re born with over 10,000 taste buds. I mean, is that just a coinkydink? Nooo! Au contraire mon frère… It’s a sign! A sign that we should live our life on the edge and try as many varietals to our heart’s (and liver’s) content. You don’t have to remain loyal to Pinot Grigio or Malbec just because they are the only varietals you can pronounce correctly.
Wine is so broad and creative in its style. Steve and I taste a lot of wines across many varieties and price points. More often than not, those are enjoyable wines we would choose to drink at home, and they’re always what we believe is a good recommendation.
I love to see how my palate evolves and changes, and how different places, food, and people affect the style of wine I am attracted to. And, for what it’s worth, I still have a sweet spot for sweet wines – though it’s more likely to be a delicious dessert wine than a Zinfandel blush.
Don’t limit yourself to only the wines you like. Always stay open to trying new varietals. And you’re in luck, there are a few out there… 10,000 according to the internet. Who knows? You might find your new favorite wine… So go out there and have a great time! Just remember our Wine Ponder motto, regardless of changing taste buds, “Wine is only as good as the people with whom it is being shared.”
Now, Let’s Hear Steve’s Personal Experience
My taste buds have changed dramatically since I was a kid. When I was younger, I didn’t like anything spicy. As an adult, I love spicy food. That might actually be the case for a lot of people. So when it comes to wine, I can assure you my taste buds have ‘matured’ over the years. For one thing, I am a lot more adventurous today than I have ever been when it comes to wine. Early on, I was a bit hesitant trying varietals I couldn’t even pronounce, as Laurent so mischievously mentioned ;) Easy for him, he’s French!
And today, winemakers seem to be a lot more adventurous when it comes to creating blends – using lots of varietals that are not necessarily from the same region – like this Bordeaux-style blend for example… Dave Phinney broke the mold when he created The Prisoner, blending Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon (along with other wines). I mentioned in a recent Wine Ponder post that I was not interested in Rosé wines for several years… And frankly, I wasn’t interested in Sauvignon Blanc wines either. But I kept tasting various Rosés and Sauvignon Blancs and eventually started liking them. Maybe one day, I’ll find a Merlot that I actually like. Then again…
Do our taste buds change with age?
Reference material for Dr. Liz Thach’s study and other publications can be found here: