Wine At Altitude Continued...

[wineo]

To continue from http://wines.com/ubb2/Forum37/HTML/002946.html

Well, I found this out since...

The flight attendant was quite right but did not go nearly far enough. The aromas and flavours of wines vary sometimes drastically not only on flights but at very high or even extremely low altitudes while we are still in touch with the planet. Aromatic and flavour differences are due largely to two broad factors, the first of these being that the volatile essences of wine react vastly differently at high than at near sea-level altitudes and the second being that our palates (literally in this case, the taste buds) react differently to stimuli at extreme altitudes.

With regard to the taste buds, it is easily demonstrable that these tend to become less porous and thus less receptive to sensations at high altitudes, this also accounting for why airline food is so outrageously seasoned that it would be considered nearly inedible on the ground. Several studies carried out by the United States Air Force and by NASA demonstrate nicely the negative impact of altitude on the ability to discriminate taste sensations. I do not know of any controlled studies carried out specifically with regard to taste perceptions and wine at varying altitudes.


[This message has been edited by wineo (edited 07-21-2004).]

[winoweenie]

Hi Wineo and a belated welcome to the board.I carried out a 20 year experiment on high altitude wine-drinking at 7200' in the 60s' & 70s'. I lived in Denver, Co during that time and found my buds opened ever so slightly the more I drank. Can assure you within the 1st year 'twere smooth sledding. WW [img]http://wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]

[This message has been edited by winoweenie (edited 07-22-2004).]

[Bucko]

Well, even if it isn't true, it is a damn good excuse for why the sorry wine that they serve on airlines tastes sorry as well.

[Thomas]

...or an excuse to sell yet another wine-enhancing product that won't do anything!

[Innkeeper]

I wonder if Southwest will let me bring my tote onboard next August. Can't see flying across the country without a decent glass of wine.

[wineo]

LOL, I am sure they won't mind! Just tell them that everything taste bland up there, food included.

Sharing something I heard... Some airlines, arrange their wine tastings at altitude to ensure the wine tastes good onboard. But I think that most times this still doesn't help...



[This message has been edited by wineo (edited 07-22-2004).]

[Thomas]

what's with this free online database thing? where are the moderators?

[wineo]

What can't I have a signature? It's free and no one is making any money from it! It is for the wine community to share their wine experiences in...



[This message has been edited by wineo (edited 07-22-2004).]

[Thomas]

I'm asking because:

1. I thought it was only in the Moderator section where one could get a link to work.

2. It might be free, but we have an advertising section and in my view, that's where it belongs.

[Drew]

I think the other problem is that your "signature" advertises a wine forum that you moderate, which is not good manners while posting in others same type forums. I would not advertise the Wine Board while posting in your forum.

Drew

[winoweenie]

Wineo as the others have pointed out this forum has a place for everything and everything in its' place. You must surely have noticed none of the other posters had a signature, much less one that was a personal plug. Happy to have you on board but request you stay withing the parameters set out by the board. WW

[wineo]

I am not advertising a forum! But I will remove it anyway.

[img]http://wines.com/ubb2/wink.gif[/img]