
Buying Wine? How To (Maybe) Outsmart Your Brain: Special Replay
From Wine Behind The Scenes by Laurel Simmons
April 22, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 100
About this episode
Laurel Simmons and Dr. Antonia Mantonakis discuss the psychological factors influencing wine purchasing decisions.
This week, we're revisiting the Wine Behind the Scenes Archives and bringing back one of our most popular episodes. In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sits down with Dr. Antonia Mantonakis, also known as The Wine Psychologist, to explore how celebrity culture and subtle psychological triggers shape our wine choices, whether we realize it or not. From wine-tasting experiments with Olympic athletes to the endowment effect (a real thing!) and why we're more likely to buy something we've physically touched, Antonia shares her fascinating research into the subconscious forces behind buying and enjoying wine. This is a conversation that's as playful as it is eye-opening, especially when the person on the label might be altering your taste buds. Plus, Judith Lewis joins us at the end for a spirited take on the wonky wine term "firm finish." What does that even mean, anyway? What You'll Learn: How celebrity endorsements change how wine tastes The psychology behind touching a bottle and wanting to buy it Why marketing matters more than most people think when it comes to wine How our expectations shape the way we smell and taste wine What the "endowment effect" is…
People in this episode
Host: Laurel Simmons
Guest: Dr. Antonia Mantonakis
Topics covered
- wine psychology
- celebrity culture
- consumer behavior
- marketing
- wine tasting
- subconscious influences
Keywords
- wine choices
- celebrity endorsements
- endowment effect
- wine tasting experiments
- consumer psychology
- marketing influence
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Brock University, Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute, CNN, The New York Times
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