Music and Wine: The New New Pairing

Music and Wine: The New New Pairing

Clark Smith, founder of the California wine consultancy Vinovation, believes that music enhances the taste of wine. The tannins in cabernet sauvignon, he says, can be smoothed out with dark, raging tunes whereas light classical music may destroy the wine.

Sound a little like the singing-to-your-plants theory gone too far?

Well, Smith thinks that music creates mood, and mood influences our perception of wine. He tested his theory on more than 150 wines and 250 songs. The result?

He believes that music actually changes the flavor of wines by affecting areas of the brain responsible for taste. Could it be related to synthesthia, where one sense is experienced through another, such as seeing musical notes as colors? Smith doesn't think so, but his theory has yet to be proven with scientific research.

His pairing advice aside from big reds with dark music, such as Metallica? Try pinot noir with seductive music like Mozart and avoid polkas with everything except white zinfandel. Now if only he could suggest a wine to improve the taste of my uncle's homemade plonk.

Does music affect the way you taste (or feel about) wine?