Bright people know more about wine: How higher intelligence is reflected in deep domain knowledge

Intelligent individuals often excel academically and professionally, as numerous research studies have demonstrated. However, this advantage can also be observed in specialized domains where incentives such as academic grades or financial rewards are absent, and socioeconomic status plays a minimal role. Wine expertise serves as a prime example.

Intelligence researcher Maximilian Krolo from Saarland University investigated whether intelligence can predict the acquisition of deep knowledge in a specific field. The study, co-authored with Professor Timothy C. Bates of the University of Edinburgh, has now been published in the journal Intelligence & Cognitive Abilities.

Intelligence assessments can predict academic and professional performance, but these environments are often linked to socioeconomic factors. Krolo chose wine knowledge as the subject, as it is not typically taught in schools and rarely required in occupations. Wine knowledge demands familiarity with grape varieties, winemaking processes, and various wine styles.

The study involved 525 participants who completed intelligence tests and answered 68 multiple-choice questions about wine, based on the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualification syllabus.

The findings revealed that intelligence accounted for over 9% of the differences in participants' wine knowledge scores. Higher intelligence enhances learning in structured environments, such as professional wine settings, where feedback and repetition reinforce knowledge. However, simply tasting numerous wines does not lead to comprehensive understanding.

Krolo concludes that intelligence facilitates learning even in fields lacking external pressure, emphasizing the importance of structure, repetition, and feedback in acquiring deep knowledge.