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…

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