People come to me and say, ‘My wine stinks. What…
““People come to me and say, ‘My wine stinks. What happened?’” Langstaff can read the stink. Off-flavors—or “defects,” in the professional’s parlance—are clues to what went wrong. An olive oil with a flavor of straw or hay suggests a problem with desiccated olives. A beer with a “hospital” smell is an indication that the brewer may have used chlorinated water, even just to rinse the equipment. The wine flavors “leather” and “horse sweat” are tells for the spoilage yeast Brettanomyces””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Sensory flaws in food and drink act as diagnostic clues about production errors.
In simple terms: Flaws reveal production problems.
Key Takeaway
Use sensory cues to troubleshoot.
Themes
food safety
sensory analysis
quality control
Mood
analytical
educational
Type
practical
technical
When to use this quote
- winemaking
- brewing
- olive oil production
- culinary arts
Key Concepts
defect detection
diagnostic reasoning
Questions to Reflect On
- What other methods complement sensory inspection?
- How can producers prevent common defects?
A Different Perspective
Not all defects are easily detectable by smell alone.