No two people taste wine the same way, and science is starting to show us why. Sensory scientist Qian Janice Wang explores why experts and beginners experience complexity so differently — revealing that what makes a wine great may have less to do with what’s in the glass and more to do with what’s happening in your brain. (Recorded at TEDxNoVA on October 10, 2025)
Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:
Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.
Watch more:
TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at
#TED #TEDTalks #Science
@Technosciencelab
May 10, 2026 at 11:08 am
Great 😊
@youngsukcho6
May 10, 2026 at 11:17 am
Glass and fire
@SAWAN-KUMAR-q8n
May 10, 2026 at 11:16 am
I couldn’t wait to taste some 😅
@ZeroTrustGaming
May 10, 2026 at 11:21 am
Please on Auto Dubbing
@nathanroberson
May 10, 2026 at 11:46 am
I think I have a wine complex.
@leafgreenbeast
May 10, 2026 at 12:53 pm
what makes a wine complex? the pricetag
@jinacio
May 10, 2026 at 1:31 pm
Muito bom comoRar as impressões. Musica e vinho têm ambos seu nichos. Ainda assim se pode prestar atenção na impressão de suas variações
Estou agora com um tinto seco genérico italiano. A experiência de mantes por 30s nas papilas mudou muito a percepção. Não ficou apenas o amargo e o tanino. Começaram a subir aromas e after tastes que não havia percebido durante o almoço.
O que faz pensar que um tanto da satisfação de vinhos seja uma percepção artificial e elitista.
BTW
I’m Brazilian and did not watch it in dub or subtitled
@MDTALKIES
May 10, 2026 at 1:50 pm
Great video
@RikyPerdana
May 10, 2026 at 2:58 pm
WINE Is Not Emulator
@roberts8783
May 10, 2026 at 3:11 pm
11:10. I drank some expired old apple juice once and it also tasted more complex
@qwaqwa1960
May 10, 2026 at 4:50 pm
NoVA? North Virginia??? WTF?
@qwaqwa1960
May 10, 2026 at 4:52 pm
1795 Madeira—best thing ever to pass my lips…
@maxinedowns8013
May 10, 2026 at 9:15 pm
As the old saying goes: Have some Madeira, my dear-a.
@roberthenderson2580
May 10, 2026 at 6:27 pm
It all tastes the same to me.