It’s the never-ending debate that has divided wine lovers for decades. Does vino taste better from a bottle with a cork or a screw top?
Corks have been used to close bottles since the 1400s, but modernists argue that metal screw caps are better, as they reduce the risk of the cork “tainting” the wine and allow for easy opening.
Now, British scientists at Oxford University are about to put a stop to the argument, once and for all.
And the best part? Members of the public can take part in the boozy experiment that will use brain-scanning technology to test how the sounds, aromas and sensations associated with opening a wine bottle influence their taste buds.
Sounds like a Friday experiment we would definitely be down for.
Participants will also be fitted with brain-scanning head wear, monitoring their pleasure receptors as they take part in a further series of tests.
Charles Spence, head of experimental psychology at the Crossmodal Research Laboratory, said the experiment marked the first effort by scientists to definitively prove which closure – natural or synthetic cork, screw cap or even the latest screw cork – provided the best drinking experience.
“Our brains have a powerful hold over our taste buds and it will be interesting to see the differing effects the multi-sensory aspects of wine drinking have on our perception of taste,” he said.
The experiment is taking place this week in London and the results will be released later this year.