Taste-Driven AI Algorithms Enhance Wine Selections

For wine enthusiasts, choosing a bottle of wine can be challenging when scanning unfamiliar labels, while shopping. Questions that come to mind: What does it taste like? What was the last one I bought that tasted so good? Vivino, Hello Vino, Wine Searcher and other apps let wine buyers scan labels to get information about the wine and read reviews of others. These apps have been built from artificially intelligent algorithms.

Using taste or other sensory inputs as data sources is entirely new.

Now, scientists from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the University of Copenhagen and Caltech have shown that you can add a new parameter to the algorithms that makes it easier to find a precise match for your own taste buds: Namely, people’s impressions of flavour.

“We have demonstrated that, by feeding an algorithm with data consisting of people’s flavour impressions, the algorithm can make more accurate predictions of what kind of wine we individually prefer,” says Thoranna Bender, a graduate student at DTU who conducted the study under the auspices of the Pioneer Centre for AI at the University of Copenhagen.

More accurate predictions of people’s favourite wines
The researchers held wine tastings during which 256 participants were asked to arrange shot-sized cups of different wines on a piece of A3 paper based upon which wines they thought tasted most similarly. The greater the distance between the cups, the greater the difference in their flavour. The method is widely used in consumer tests. The researchers then digitized the points on the sheets of paper by photographing them.

The data collected from the wine tastings was then combined with hundreds of thousands of wine labels and user reviews provided to the researchers by Vivino, a global wine app and marketplace. Next, the researchers developed an algorithm based on the enormous data set.

“The dimension of flavour that we created in the model provides us with information about which wines are similar in taste and which are not. So, for example, I can stand with my favourite bottle of wine and say: I would like to know which wine is most similar to it in taste – or both in taste and price,” says Thoranna Bender.

Professor and co-author Serge Belongie from the Department of Computer Science, who heads the Pioneer Centre for AI at the University of Copenhagen, adds:

“We can see that when the algorithm combines the data from wine labels and reviews with the data from the wine tastings, it makes more accurate predictions of people’s wine preferences than when it only uses the traditional types of data in the form of images and text. So, teaching machines to use human sensory experiences results in better algorithms that benefit the user.”

Thoranna Bender points out that the researchers’ method can easily be transferred to other types of food and drink as well:

“We’ve chosen wine as a case, but the same method can just as well be applied to beer and coffee. For example, the approach can be used to recommend products and perhaps even food recipes to people. And if we can better understand the taste similarities in food, we can also use it in the healthcare sector to put together meals that meet with the tastes and nutritional needs of patients. It might even be used to develop foods tailored to different taste profiles.”
The researchers have published their data on an open server and can be used at no cost.

“We hope that someone out there will want to build upon our data. I’ve already fielded requests from people who have additional data that they would like to include in our dataset. I think that’s really cool,” concludes Thoranna Bender.

Key Facts:
1. Wine apps are using AI algorithms to assist users in selecting wines based on labels and reviews.
2. Researchers integrated people’s flavor impressions into the algorithms for more accurate wine recommendations.
3. This approach can be extended to beer, coffee, and personalized food recommendations, benefiting various industries.

Source: Neuroscience News

Wine News: Trade in Wine and Vine Products Continues to Raise

The first edition of the Vine and Wine World Trade Forum was held a few weeks ago in Dijon, France. It has revealed that international trade in wine and vine-related products has grown significantly over the past two decades.

The market has also become more diversified as consumer tastes have changed. While traditional winemaking economies, such as France, Italy and Spain, maintain their dominance in wine exports, “new world” winemakers, such as Australia, Chile and the United States, are also making major inroads. However, the share of China as an importer has declined following a period of growth, possibly due to global disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the World Trade Organization, International trade in wine and vine products, have almost tripled over the past two decades. Its value steadily rising from US$ 17.7 billion in 2000 to over US$ 50 billion in 2021 and 2022. Wine accounted for the majority of this trade (76 per cent in 2022), while the remaining 24 per cent consisted of fresh and dried grapes and grape juice.

The “old world” continues to dominate wine exports with France, Italy and Spain holding the top three positions in both value and volume. From the “new world,” Australia, Chile and the United States are the main suppliers in terms of value, although their shares in the international market remain smaller than those of the top three.

On the imports side the primary wine-importing countries include Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States. They are closely matched in terms of volume, but the United States takes a clear lead in value. A surge in China’s wine imports began in 2005 and peaked in 2017, but it has more than halved since then. This decline may be due to short-term disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as longer-term structural shifts, such as increased domestic production and possible changes in consumer preferences.

For further stats and details: https://www.wto.org/english/blogs_e/data_blog_e/blog_dta_20oct23_e.htm

Source: World Trade Organization

No + Low Category Surpasses $11 Billion

The no and low alcohol categories grew over 7% in volume across 10 key global markets in 2022 to surpass a market value of $11bn, a new report from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis has revealed

Category consumption is expected to increase by a third by 2026, with the pace of growth forecasted to grow by a CAGR of 7% between 2022 and 2026, an increase on growth of 5% CAGR between 2018 and 2022.

Among the 10 examined markets, Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the market value of no- and low-alcohol products surpassed $11 billion, up from $8 billion in 2018.

“The dynamic no/low-alcohol category presents opportunities for incremental sales growth as consumers are recruited from drinks categories such as soft drinks and water. Brand owners have an opportunity to recruit non-drinkers of alcohol,” said Susie Goldspink, head of no- and low-alcohol, IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

“As more people opt to avoid alcohol on certain occasions – or abstain from it altogether – no-alcohol is steadily increasing its share of the no/low category.”

No-alcohol volumes grew by 9% in 2022, a CAGR it is expected to maintain between 2022 and 2026, and now accounts for 70% of the no- and low-alcohol segment, up from 65% in 2018.

No-alcohol beer and cider is expected to contribute nearly 70% of the overall category growth between 2022 and 2026.

“No-alcohol is growing faster than low-alcohol in most markets,” said Goldspink.

“The countries where this does not apply, such as Japan and Brazil, are early-stage low-alcohol markets with a small volume base.”

Germany remains the world’s largest market for the category followed by Japan, Spain, the US, and the UK.

Source:  IWSR

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US [on-premise] Wine Sales Total $14.8 Billion

Wine sales in the US on-premise sector totaled $14.8 billion in the 52 weeks ended October 8, 2022 according to CGA Strategy by NielsenIQ.

Latest data from the market research firm CGA Strategy reflects a 22% increase over the same period in 2021, but growth is slowing as the on-premise market recovery continues.

Sparkling wine continues to stand out with sales up 34% in the recent period to $2.6 billion. Total domestic wine sales came to $9.2 billion, up 20%, while imports totaled $5.5 billion. Sales of white wine came to $7.2 billion followed by red at $6.5 billion. Happy to say that rosé sales grew 27% to $904 million.

The growth comes in a competitive market marked by fewer outlets and fewer choices for drinkers. CGA reports the number of fine dining outlets has decreased 4.1% between October 2021 to October 2022, while consumer surveys found 21 % of diners report they have noticed fewer menu items and 40 % of those say there are fewer wine options.

In a webinar last week, Andrew Hummel, CGA client Solutions Director for North America, said surveys of on-premise consumers consistently find 50% report they drink something different at restaurants and bars than what they enjoy at home. “It’s really important to understand the on-premise consumer and segment them differently from the off-premise consumer,” he further states.

In terms of the different types of on-premise wine consumers, 37% of those surveyed by CGA who are wine drinkers fall into the company’s “curious and on a budget” category which represents about 30% of all consumers. These restaurant and bar patrons are “moderately engaged,” typically visiting in the early evening and enjoying trying new drinks yet are price sensitive and attracted to values.

To help wine producers navigate a changing market, CGA developed a new report that offers a “360-degree view” of wine in the on-premise sector. This new report blends market data with consumer surveys and “user” data as well as a channel strategy analysis into what the firm describes as its most comprehensive analysis of the on-premise market for wine. “Whether teams are considering a new brand launch in the market or managing a portfolio of legacy wines, the report will provide a robust set of insights across relevant topics to help drinks suppliers win in the on-premise,” states Matthew Compton, CGA’s regional director of North America.

Sources:
NielsenIQ
Wines Vines Analytics

#wine #whitewine #winenews #winelovers #redwine #rosewine #sparklingwine #champagne #USAwinemarket #wineeconomics #winetrends #winemarketing #winesales #winebusiness

“World of Zero” to dominate Hall 1 at ProWein 2023

Alcohol-free or “zero” wines are a trending topic with quite some potential. Kylie Minogue is launching her first non-alcoholic sparkling rosé wine of the same name, to be sold in British Tesco supermarkets, among other locations. “Zero” is also playing an increasingly important role in food service.

Increased health awareness and changing consumer behavior among Generation “Z,” i.e. 26- to 37-year-olds, are the main reasons for the trend. Growing health awareness may be a factor, with consumers opting for alcohol-free options on visits to pubs and bars as part of a moderate approach to drinking. Equally, generational shifts play a role, with 65% of members of Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) expressing a desire to moderate their alcohol intake, according to a survey.

With its “World of Zero”, ProWein (March 19 – 21, 2023 in Düsseldorf, Germany) is picking up on this trend and proactively setting the stage for it. Whereas the non-alcoholic products were previously distributed throughout the exhibition halls at the stands of the corresponding producers, importers, and exporters, they will now be concentrated in one area in Hall 1.

“For our trade visitors from food service and retail this is the ideal platform to comprehensively, and above all efficiently, gather information on this segment,” explained Michael Degen, Executive Director Messe Düsseldorf, and adds: “This provides exhibitors with easier access to new buyers for their new products and allows visitors, in turn, to locate this new product group faster.” Thus, on the one hand, companies are represented in the “World of Zero” that are located in other halls with their main stand and are now additionally presenting themselves in this theme world. These include Schlumberger, Peter Riegel, and Schloss Wachenheim, to name a few examples. On the other hand, there are also exhibitors in the “World of Zero” who are exclusively represented there – such as Kolonne Null from Berlin or Manufaktur Jörg Geiger.

#nonalcoholicwines #prowein #proweintradefair #winebusiness #wineprofessionals #winetasting #wineshop #winetrends #tradefair #winetradefair #winenews #worldofzero #Alcoholfree #wineinfluencer