We Taste Wine Differently | Creating Consumer Loyalty with Unforgettable Wine Experiences

Dr. Andreea Botezatu, Associate Professor of Enology at Texas A&M, joins host Isabelle Lesschaeve to discuss her unique journey from commercial winemaking in Europe and Canada to academic research and supporting the Texas wine industry as its sole Extension Enologist. We discuss sensory science, training future winemakers, low- and high-alcohol trends, and the future role of AI in the wine ind...

Clear communication is essential in any successful wine business. Yet, the language we use to describe what we taste in a glass of wine is often imprecise, inconsistent, and confusing—even among professionals. In this episode of  We Taste Wine Differently , host Isabelle Lesschaeve, an experienced wine sensory scientist, discusses the common challenge of developing a meaningful sensory vocabu...

In this episode, we tackle a big question: Do wine aromas really matter, or should we focus solely on taste and structure, like some professionals suggest? Inspired by a candid chat with a winemaker and my experience as a sensory expert, I dive into the debate around wine language—from its cultural quirks to the challenges many of us face in describing aromas. I unpack why aromas are crucial not j...

Meet today's guest, Dr. Hildegarde Heymann, a trailblazing sensory scientist and Distinguished Professor at UC Davis. Dr. Heymann shares her unique journey from growing up with wine in South Africa, breaking gender barriers as the first woman to earn an enology degree at Stellenbosch University, to her discovery of sensory science at UC Davis, with Dr. RoseMarie Pangborn. She discusses her two-ste...

In this episode, host Isabelle Leschaeve welcomes Canadian wine media expert Barb Wild, the “Good Wine Gal.” Together, they explore how to make wine tasting accessible, fun, and meaningful for everyone. Barb shares her journey from hospitality entrepreneur to respected wine educator, including her refreshing approach to tasting and teaching wine. Discover why listening to consumers, avoiding intim...

We're tackling a big controversy: Can wine tasting ever be truly objective? Or is it always colored by personal bias and background? In this episode, Isabelle walks you through the difference between traditional expert tastings and sensory science–backed methods, sharing real stories from inside the wine industry about how our genetics, training, and even the order we taste wines can affect what w...

This week, host Isabelle Lesschaeve welcomes Amandine Fournier, founder of Vinesthesia, to explore bold new ways to taste and appreciate wine. Amandine, born in the heart of Bordeaux, grew up surrounded by traditional winemaking but always felt there was more to wine than classic rituals and rigid descriptions. Together, Isabelle and Amandine challenge traditional wine education, highlighting how...

Are you ready to rethink your tasting room experiences? In this episode, I share why putting guests—not just your wine—at the heart of the experience can reignite your ability to build long-lasting relationships with these customers and energize your business. Discover actionable ways to create memorable wine encounters, collect valuable consumer insights, and boost loyalty If you’d like to acces...

I'm often asked “what is sensory science?” and I can’t believe that it’s still so underused in the wine industry. People often think that wine tasting is too subjective, but the truth is, if you start to implement the use of sensory science in your wine business, you’ll find your data is much more objective – which means it can support your business decisions in a strategic way! In today’s episode...

You might think the Wine Aroma Wheel is so simple, that it’s not really even worth using more in your business. You’d be wrong! In today’s episode, I’m sharing three ways you can start to use the Wine Aroma Wheel more effectively in your business – whether that’s with your guests, or even internally with your staff. You’ll also hear directly from the maker, Dr. Ann Noble herself, so you can learn...

Bonjour! In this first episode of “We Taste Wine Differently”, I’m sharing with you the three main behaviors I identified that needs to be changed if you want to start reconnecting with your consumers more in your winery or tasting room. The industry faces a significant challenge in connecting with and staying relevant to today’s wine consumers. Drawing on 30 years of experience as a sensory and c...

Why do some wine experiences create lasting memories, while others fall flat? Is traditional wine education truly connecting with today's consumers? Hi, I'm Dr. Isabelle Lesschaeve. For over 30 years as a sensory and consumer scientist, I've seen how the wine industry can build deeper connections by focusing on what people actually experience. On We Taste Wine Differently, we bridge the gap betwee...