Champagne tastes much better with music

American Susan Lin became Master of Wine in 2021, as one of 419 in the whole world. But she has many other 'master skills'. Like a master's degree in classical piano and musicology. Previously, besides piano, she played trumpet and baritone in orchestras. She also worked for Google and as a professional dancer. For her Master of Wine thesis, she did a super tasty study on the influence of classical music on the taste experience of champagne. - TEXT KARIN LEEUWENHOEK | IMAGE SUSAN R LIN

The last straw: Q&A with Susan R Lin MW

Music and wine; a great combination...

'Yes - I even wrote my Master of Wine thesis on it. I investigated among 71 subjects whether classical music affects the taste experience of a Brut NV Champagne, the Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label. 70 of them thought they were tasting a different wine five times, when in fact it was the same wine five times! If the music they heard was exciting, they also thought the champagne tasted more exciting, effervescent and lively. The same champagne tasted much less good in silence than with classical music! Two 'fast' pieces by Saint-Saëns and Brahms proved to be the best match with the Brut NV for the test subjects. And this was true for connoisseurs and occasional drinkers alike'.

Do you share that experience?

'Yes, and I see it happening all the time at the events I organise for my work. Playful, fast-paced music like Mozart's Piano Concerto No 23 makes people perceive a wine as livelier, lighter, finer and fresher. And a quiet, gentle piece like Debussy's Danse Profane makes a wine rounder and fruitier, and it also makes a champagne taste softer. People's experience is that music makes a wine much more interesting - and I love that!'

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Make this festive month also memorable with music and champagne, with This online playlist by Susan R Lin on Apple Music ? !

Curious about Susan Lin's other questions and answers? You can read them in the new Winelife edition 74. You can order this one here!

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