Yes, the Smells of Your Food—and Everything Else in the Room—Make a Difference When You’re Drinking Wine

Numerous aromatic interferences act as roadblocks to appreciating fine wines. The smell of food when dining out is a big one. bbernard/shutterstock

I renamed it the “unhappy hour,” even though the thought was appreciated.

The hotel put out two wines at 4 p.m. in its lobby, a white and a red. A sign invited guests to help themselves. Ignoring that the wine wasn’t exciting, I nonetheless poured two glasses and we sat on a couch.