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Wine experts’ unique nasal microbiome may affect their smell and taste

People who work in the wine industry may have fewer and less diverse bacteria in their nose compared with non-vocational wine drinkers, which could affect their sense of smell and taste

By Christoph Schwaiger

13 April 2023

People who frequently smell wine as part of their job may have an altered nasal microbiome

gilaxia/E+/Getty Images

Working in the wine industry may alter the levels and diversity of bacteria in a person’s nose, potentially affecting how they perceive the drink’s aroma and flavour.

Previous research suggests that the bacteria and other microorganisms in our mouth, known as our oral microbiome, influence our perception of flavours. Given the close connection between taste and smell, Lucía Pérez-Pardal and Albano Beja-Pereira at the Research Centre in Biodiversity and …

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