The Australian Wine Research Institute > Services to Industry > Winemaking > Sensory assessment > Sensory difference methods > Triangle

Triangle


Test Triangle
Min. Tasters1 5
Use Multi purpose
Samples Three coded test samples

Two are the same wine (A), (but are coded differently)

One is a different wine (B)
Tasting sheets Click here
Basic method Tasters assess all three samples then pick the sample which is different from the other two, or the odd one out.

Possible serving orders3: AAB, ABA, BAA, BBA, BAB, ABB
Example:

Results:

  • Correct responses = 4
  • Total responses = 5
  • Significant difference for 4/5 = yes
Example:

Results:

  • Correct responses = 8
  • Total responses = 10
  • Significant difference for 8/10 = yes
Results Are the wines significantly different?

Correct response – Taster picks the odd one out.
Significance – Required no. of correct/total responses2:
Single tasting: 4/5 5/6 5/7 6/8
Repeated tasting: 7/10 8/12 9/14 6/16
Notes:
1 Indicates the minimum number of tasters required for testing to achieve a statistically significant result (p < 0.05).
2 Figures denote minimum number of correct responses required out of the total number of responses to conclude the wines are significantly different from each other.
3 Serving orders denote possible arrangements of the samples to be presented randomly to tasters.