Consumer acceptance of fungus-resistant varieties in red wines blends: Insights from the consumer rejection thresold method
Résumé
Fungus resistant varieties (FRV) offer a promising solution to reduce pesticide use in viticulture. However, their incorporation into traditional red wine blends may affect consumer acceptance due to higher acidity, lower tannin content, and stability issues. This study applied the Consumer Rejection Threshold (CRT) method to assess FRV acceptability in red wine blend. Detection thresholds for untrained panellists were 24.9 % for Artaban and 14.1 % for Vidoc, while lower values were observed for experts. Artaban blends were less preferred below 60 % of incorporation, while Vidoc blends were neutrally perceived. Consumers’ segmentation revealed that 21 % of them significantly preferred Merlot. Overall, results support FRV wine integration into red blends or their use in single cuvées.