The main purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a connection between the degree of abstraction in the decision structure and the emotions evoked by consumption, focusing on a particular food and using techniques based on the means–end chain theory. First, a sample of wine consumers was segmented by perceived emotions and then, given the direct relationship between emotions and values, the decision structure of each of the predefined segments was tested for structural differences.
The fact that two clearly distinct groups (“sentimental leisure” and “social leisure”) emerged, each reporting different perceived emotions, is an indication of the potential usefulness of the emotions evoked by wine drinking to inform the differentiation process. This variation in consumer responses might therefore prove useful in saturated markets where the ability to identify distinct consumer segments can help firms to improve the positioning of their product and thereby their economic performance.