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Heard Through the Grapevine

Can Music Alter the Taste of Wine?

In the realm of SYV Buzz, where wine and music harmonize, the question arises: Can the right musical pairing amplify the gustatory essence of the wine in your glass and add an extra dimension to your tasting pleasure?

A study conducted by Oxford University revealed that imbibers can experience a 15% increase in pleasure from their wine when sipping and listening to well-matched music. Who knew!

The study group paired taste elements like sweetness and sourness with specific sound and music properties such as pitch and tempo. Researchers found that the brain — and consequently taste — is influenced by external surroundings during eating and drinking. In other words, if you wish to elevate the taste of your wine or accentuate specific flavor traits, don't forget the music!

As music and wine enthusiasts, SYV Buzz frequently finds itself discovering musical nuances in wine. Let's riff on a few examples:

The 2019 Pinot Noir from Foxen Vineyard & Winery's Bien Nacido Vineyard Block 8 Clone 2 is a journey in charm and prettiness with a classical structure, reminiscent of song choices by local singer-songwriter Arwen Lewis.

While my musical predilections lean towards Americana and jazz — speaking of which, doesn't Carharrt Family Wines’ entire lineup taste even better on first Thursdays? — I acknowledge the allure of immersing oneself in the heavy metal genre while enjoying a dark, inky red like Lucas & Lewellen's 2020 Petite Sirah or Rusack's 2109 Zinfandel — cherished by Colonel Angus (local AC/DC tribute band) enthusiasts.


The Les Rose Quartet

Growing up enamored with dad's 1960s and 1970s tunes, I discovered later on that this genre seemed better suited for substances other than wine, but that's a whole other story. That said, local powerhouse rock legends The Treehouse Family Band and Out of the Blue both offer subtlety to complement wines of their own intricate nature.

While some wines evoke classical composers like Mozart and Beethoven, more often it's a sultry vocal cadence that captivates my mind. Take Margerum Wine Company's 2021 Grenache for instance — a treasure not to be overlooked. Bright, fresh, with fine soft and resolved tannins. Sip on this while listening to singer-songwriter Teddy Jack. That delicious, evolved voice!


Jonathan McEuen & Frank Palmer

The dulcet tones of higher-pitched instruments, like violins, align seamlessly with dry, crisp, white wines, such as Fiddlehead Cellars Sauvignon Blanc or Greg Brewer's Chablis-style Chardonnay — both would pair nicely on a sunny winter afternoon with violinist Chris Murphy.

On the contrary, richer, textured voices or reeds pair well with oak-aged Chards, like the ones in the Fess Parker library. Venture forth and pair the latter with Ashley Parker Snider and the Harmony Allstars rendition of Chris Stapleton's "Starting Over."


The New Vibe

Music transcends the realms of mere auditory encounters. It embodies a spectrum of attributes such as richness versus clarity, intricacy versus plainness, delicacy versus strength, harmony versus discord, sweetness versus bitterness, and the balance between rhythm and fluidity. These descriptors can be applied to both wine and music, guiding the choice of a wine to savor, offering an immersive auditory adventure.

So if i were to crack open a bottle of Hitching Post Merlot, the strategic tones of singer-songwriter Jonathan McEuen would undeniably grace the juice in the glass. A sheer manifestation of beauty in the high range, resonating with silkiness and attitude akin to the wine itself.

Where will your next enological and musical odyssey unfold? Check out the SYV Buzz calendar for inspiration, and do let us know which virtuoso musician you paired with your chosen elixir. The possibilities are endless!

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See our complete list of upcoming music and wine events in the Santa Ynez Valley.