Combining polarized sensory positionning and pivot profile© : what can we expect for wines ?

International audienceOver the last 50 years, vine researchers have developed innovative grape varieties with resistance to disease in our environmental context. Although these grape varieties are already marketed, there is still little information about the sensory profile of the wines produced. The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and efficient method to position and characterize resistant grape varietal wines by direct comparison with French well-known grape varietal wines. We combined two reference-based methods. First a Polarized Sensory Positioning (PSP) was performed, with 13 wine experts (winemakers, oenologists), on a set of 17 wines with three groups of varietal wines as poles (Chardonnay, Riesling, and Sauvignon). Data were analyzed using MFA coupled to HAC for PSP. Secondly, Pivot Profiles© (PP) were carried out separately for each group emerging from the HCA, with 10 wine experts. The pivot in each group was the pole closest to the group. PP Data were analyzed with a Correspondence Analysis. PSP results revealed the existence of three groups corresponding to the three styles illustrated by the poles. PP data provided a precise sensory description of the wines in each group and highlighted the diversity of resistant grape varietal wines within each style. This characterization permitted to complete the sensory proximity data and builds a global sensory image of resistant grape varietal wines. Combining those two methods provided a better understanding among resistant grape varietal wines within reasonable time compared to classical methods. It represents a promising tool for future wine industry questions