The tongue map is a tongue lie!

This month on Wine Corrections we're celebrating the age of misinformation.

Feb 10, 2023

Wine Corrections

Exploring myths, misconceptions, and debatable truths in wine.

Did you know that the tongue map is a myth?

It is widely believed and taught that we perceive the five tastes (bitter, sour, salty, sweet, and our dear umami) on these localized areas of the tongue. Lies!

How did this happen? In the age of information, of all the ages? The myth is due to a mistranslation of a study in 1901 that explored minor sensitivity differences in different areas of the tongue.

German scientist David P. Hänig meant well. All he wanted to do was find out more about the tongue’s sensitivity. Can’t a man map a tongue anymore?

He found that certain parts of the tongue do, indeed, have higher thresholds for specific tastes, but we now know that those differences are so minor, they don’t really matter for our purposes.

Hänig presented his findings, in German of course. Then Harvard psychologist Edwin Boring made a graph based on them in the 1940s. Can’t a man make a graph from another man’s tongue map anymore?

Well, the way he presented it made it look like specific areas of the tongue were assigned to different tastes, rather than representing subtle differences in sensitivity. As is typically the case, a woman stepped in and solved our little mishap in the 1940s. Virginia Collins, a scientist at the University of Pittsburgh, was the first to identify that the differences were insignificant and that all of the taste receptors in the mouth are able to detect different tastes.

But people still teach the tongue map. That’s the funny thing about misinformation: it prevails. In wine, we misunderstand things all the time. We draw conclusions using the information we have, and then later we discover new information. This is the way of the world. Stay humble and willing to change your mind; it’s a skill that translates.

Some things to focus on instead.

Instead of worrying about what area of your tongue to put the salt, focus on the smell and appearance of the wine. These play a major role in how you’ll assess the wine when you taste it. It’s not cheating to look at the wine and allow that to influence your interpretation of it. In the same way that your nose is an extension of your tasting experience, so are your eyes.

Give that wine a swirl. This releases the aromas which you’ll perceive with your nose. When you drink the wine, your tongue is only picking up on sour, bitter, salty, sweet, or umami. Your nose is what categorizes that into lime, tealeaf, prosciutto, honey, or mushroom.

Happy tasting. If you’re in Charlotte and you’d like to practice with me, check out the events I have coming up!

CLT Upcoming Events

Pretty In Pink: A Molly Ringwald-Inspired Valentine’s Day Tasting

When: Saturday Feb 11th 7-9pm Where: Summit Coffee on the Plaza

Join me at Summit Coffee on the Plaza for a pink and red flight of wine inspired by Molly Ringwald and Pretty in Pink. If you know me, you know that I have an explanation for why each wine pairs with Molly and the movie. Come find out! Andie-inspired attire encouraged!

Tickets: $30/person (Ticket sales have closed, walk-ins welcome)

Wine Tasting 101

When: Saturday March 11th, 3-4pm Where: Corkscrew Wine & Shop at Kingsley Town Center

You know you love wine, now let’s find out why you love it! Learn the fundamentals of wine tasting: look at it, smell it, taste it, and become familiar with the basic components of wine: acidity, tannin, body, alcohol, and sweetness. You’ll be a pro in no time. This is an intimate, educational wine tasting that seats 10 people. Includes 6 wines and cheese to accompany.

Tickets: $40/person (Only 10 seats available)

Ancient Wines

When: Saturday March 25th, 3-4pm Where: Corkscrew Wine & Shop at Kingsley Town Center

Where does wine come from? Italy? France? Actually, the earliest evidence of winemaking dates to 6000 BC in the Republic of Georgia. Ancient civilizations of West Asia started it all, and then the Phoenicians and the Greeks brought wine to Europe.

In this educational wine tasting, we explore regions that have been making wine since the dawn of time and learn a little bit about the ancient civilizations who fell in love with wine and kept it alive, creating many of the styles that we know and love today.