Professor Barry Smith was brought up in a hotel and, as a child, was fascinated by the aromas that surrounded him. Now a distinguished academic philosopher, he’s also the founder of the University of London’s Centre for the Study of the Senses. Listen to us chat about his views on the objectivity of taste, how COVID has changed our understanding of anosmia, his favourite wine and why smell is the least appreciated of our senses.

To read more about Barry, have a look at the University of London website. You can also follow him on Twitter @smithbarryc and watch his TED talk here.

Don’t forget, Cork Talk is now available on Spotify. You can listen to this week’s episode, plus my back catalogue of interviews with some of the world’s most extraordinary wine figures.