In "Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal," author Mary Roach highlights the distinction between the perceived complexity of wine descriptions and its actual quality. She cautions against the common assumption that more elaborate and intricate vocabulary used in wine marketing necessarily translates to a superior experience. Instead, she emphasizes that these flowery descriptions often serve marketing purposes rather than providing true sensory evaluation.

Roach suggests that the abundance of descriptors on wine labels and in publications can mislead consumers. Instead of relying on such complexity to judge a wine's quality, she advocates for a more straightforward and sensory-based approach, focusing on the actual taste and experience rather than the marketing jargon that can clutter the perception of wine.