title: Exploring American and Italian consumer preferences for Californian and Italian red wines.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To increase the market share of Californian wines in other countries, wine preferences need to be explored in potential markets. This work studied the preferences of American and Italian consumers for red wines produced in California and Italy, focusing on wines made from the same varieties in each location. Descriptive analysis and consumer preference tests were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Americans scored each of the Californian wines significantly higher in preference than the Italian wines. In contrast, the Italian consumer preference scores for many Italian and Californian wines overlapped. By external preference mapping of the American consumer segments, the ideal flavour of one cluster was closest to the Californian Zinfandel, Merlot and Syrah, which had the 'most balanced' flavour profiles. Another cluster of Italians also preferred the Californian wines. In addition, one Italian cluster was driven by a dislike of the leather, band-aid and medicinal aromas of the Italian Merlot and Refosco.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provided information that can contribute to wine marketing research necessary for successfully exporting Californian red wines to Italy and vice versa.
authors.affiliation: University of Gastronomic Sciences, I-12060 Bra (CN), Italy. l.torri@unisg.it
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torri
authors.forename: Ann Curtis
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Noble
authors.forename: Hildegarde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heymann
mesh_terms: D003258:Consumer Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D009812:Odorants; D013649:Taste; D014481:United States; D014920:Wine / Q000145:classification*