Understanding the effect of saliva composition depending on gender and age on wine aroma perception: oral aroma release, dynamics of sensory perception and consumer preferences and liking

In order to determine the relationship between saliva composition depending on age and gender on wine oral aroma release and the impact this might have on aroma perception over consumption and on consumer preferences and liking, a large study comprising three different approaches was performed based on (a) determining oral aroma release during wine intake; (b) rating the perceived retronasal aroma intensity over wine consumption by time-intensity assays and (c) checking the consumer’s hedonic and emotional response to wines. Participants belonged to two different age groups (younger (18-35 y.o.) and seniors (>55 y.o)) and they were gendered balanced. Their saliva samples were collected in order to relate saliva composition to instrumental and sensory measurements. Significant differences (p < 0.05) on aroma release and aroma perception between age-gender groups were found, which also depended on the wine type. Total protein content and salivary flow were the two salivary parameters more related with this. Additionally, differences in some emotional response among groups were found, which will be explored in future works in the aim to elaborate more personalised wines for target consumers in order to increase their acceptance of wine