added to the protocol to increase interstimulus interval
and to minimize sample carryover effects from sample
retasting. The power of the test chosen was 90% with α =
0.05. Given this criteria, a higher number of participants
were recruited, 70 per test, to ensure test conclusions
were statistically valid.
The protocol for each of the three test days was the
same, with consumers each day completing two triangle
tests, one with the Chardonnay samples and one with the
Merlot. The participants were first given a set of three
Chardonnay samples of which two were from the same
bottle and closure type and the third was from a different
bottle and closure type. They were provided 118 mL (4 oz)
of pectin rinse, 236.4 mL (8 oz) of water, and two crackers
and told they could use them to cleanse their pallet as
needed, but to drink or rinse with water before tasting the
wine samples. Participants were instructed to taste all
three samples in the order presented and to indicate
which one of the three samples was the odd sample. Upon
completion of the first triangle test, they were given a 5-
min break, and then given a set of three Merlot samples
with the pectin rinse, water, and cracker. Again, two of
these samples were the same and one was different and
they were to choose the odd sample. The order in which
the samples were presented within the sample set was randomized
every 10 participants. After the two triangle tests
with each wine type, the participants were asked additional
demographic questions regarding their wine consumption
habits: how frequently they consumed both red and white
wine; what varieties of red and white wine they typically
purchased; the price ranges of the red and white wine
they typically purchased; and the places they typically
purchased their wine. Participants were compensated
$10.00.