Refer to the following passage to answer questions below: The process of making wine is one that is as old as history itself. For some wineries, the process has been the same for hundreds of years and is a highly valued and heavily guarded secret. Every winemaker has his or her own materials, ingredients, and processes that lend to the creation of a unique product. Modern research has taken place to look at the connection between the science behind winemaking and the resulting artwork. Some wine aficionados prize the flavor of oak, usually imparted to the beverage through aging in... Show more Refer to the following passage to answer questions below: The process of making wine is one that is as old as history itself. For some wineries, the process has been the same for hundreds of years and is a highly valued and heavily guarded secret. Every winemaker has his or her own materials, ingredients, and processes that lend to the creation of a unique product. Modern research has taken place to look at the connection between the science behind winemaking and the resulting artwork. Some wine aficionados prize the flavor of oak, usually imparted to the beverage through aging in wooden barrels. An alternative process, aging in metal casks with macerated wood chips, provides a stronger wood flavor in less time and therefore is less expensive. To test consumer preferences for wines processed in this manner, a survey of 618 people living in several East Coast cities was conducted early last year. Participants took a blind taste test of three samples of Oregon Pinot Noir. One sample was aged using macerated wood chips, one sample was aged under oak, and a third sample, the control, was aged in a metal tank. A questionnaire asked subjects to rate the wines and then asked a variety of other questions aimed at categorizing their consumption habits. Although a variety of factors influenced wine preference, the test exposed a pattern concerning a preference for strongly wood-flavored wines. A large proportion of those persons interviewed (45%) did not care for the tannic wines. However, a sizable minority of 25% liked them very much, and preferred the tannic wines to the other samples. Younger consumers particularly fell into this category. Connoisseurs reported greater appreciation for wines aged 'under oak,' or in normal oak barrels. Many high-quality wines are aged under oak today. Nonetheless, this process is time consuming; as a result, it makes wines more expensive. This survey demonstrated that price is very important in the buying decision, especially for people without extensive knowledge regarding wine. Many consumers are more concerned with price differences than with subtle differences in flavor. This trend defines a market segment that might be well served by wines aged with wood chips. Although wine making has been a generally unchanging tradition, modern research and practices may be able to change the standard methods of wine making. In turn, these new methods make the process more efficient and will help to make unique and high-quality wine available for everyone at a much lower cost. Show less
Refer to the following passage to answer questions below:
The process of making wine is one that is as old as history itself. For some wineries, the process has been the same for hundreds of years and is a highly valued and heavily guarded secret. Every winemaker has his or her own materials, ingredients, and processes that lend to the creation of a unique product. Modern research has taken place to look at the connection between the science behind winemaking and the resulting artwork. Some wine aficionados prize the flavor of oak, usually imparted to the beverage through aging in wooden barrels. An alternative process, aging in metal casks with macerated wood chips, provides a stronger wood flavor in less time and therefore is less expensive. To test consumer preferences for wines processed in this manner, a survey of 618 people living in several East Coast cities was conducted early last year. Participants took a blind taste test of three samples of Oregon Pinot Noir. One sample was aged using macerated wood chips, one sample was aged under oak, and a third sample, the control, was aged in a metal tank. A questionnaire asked subjects to rate the wines and then asked a variety of other questions aimed at categorizing their consumption habits. Although a variety of factors influenced wine preference, the test exposed a pattern concerning a preference for strongly wood-flavored wines. A large proportion of those persons interviewed (45%) did not care for the tannic wines. However, a sizable minority of 25% liked them very much, and preferred the tannic wines to the other samples. Younger consumers particularly fell into this category. Connoisseurs reported greater appreciation for wines aged 'under oak,' or in normal oak barrels. Many high-quality wines are aged under oak today. Nonetheless, this process is time consuming; as a result, it makes wines more expensive. This survey demonstrated that price is very important in the buying decision, especially for people without extensive knowledge regarding wine. Many consumers are more concerned with price differences than with subtle differences in flavor. This trend defines a market segment that might be well served by wines aged with wood chips. Although wine making has been a generally unchanging tradition, modern research and practices may be able to change the standard methods of wine making. In turn, these new methods make the process more efficient and will help to make unique and high-quality wine available for everyone at a much lower cost.
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