Wine News

Researchers at the Barcelona Institute of Microelectronics are currently developing their 'e-tongue' which is already able to tell the difference between certain grape varieties and vintages.

Using tiny synthetic membranes, each sensitive to different chemical components in a wine, the e-tongue can already distinguish the differences between the Chardonnay, Malvasia, Macabeu and Airen grape varieties. It can also tell whether the same wine is from the 2005 or 2004 vintages.

The e-tongue works in the same way as the human tongue and is sensitive to sweet, salty, acidic, sour and savoury tastes. It can also 'be used to detect frauds committed regarding the vintage year of the wine, or the grape varieties used', according to Dr Jiménez-Jorquera told Royal Society of Chemistry journal The Analyst.

Source: Decanter.com