IMN Content - Lifestyle and Consumer Content

Lack of Wine Knowledge Leaves Brits Feeling Ripped Off

New research reveals our discomfort when ordering wines and our tenancy to bluff.
Food & Drink, Lifestyle - 9 June 2010   Download IconContent available for download:  
Audio | Interview with Pip Martin and Richard Bates| Login to Download

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  News Hooks:

Latest research reveals that on average 62% of UK adults consume alcohol on a weekly basis and 12% of us drink it everyday. The UK is now the largest importer of wine throughout the world but despite this 60% of us wrongly believe that all wine enhances with age and 87% stated that Champagne can only be made from white grapes, when it can actually be made from red.

22% of single men in the UK embellished their wine knowledge to impress their dates with 35% refusing to let their dates choose a wine at dinner. However a quarter of us still just choose the cheapest bottle and 39% have no method to choosing a wine in a restaurant.

95% of diners rely on restaurant staff for wine suggestions but 66% said they "bluff their way through" interactions with the sommeliers. Despite the average spend on a bottle of wine in a restaurant being just £12.64, 84% still feel that they are being ripped off with their wine selection.

. Introduction:

Depending on your wine knowledge, being handed a wine list can make you feel rather uncomfortable, less than ideal if you’re out to impress. Latest research reveals that despite believing that we’re fairly good when it comes to telling one bottle from another, most of us are only bluffing. In a bid to create an air of sophistication and impress our dinner companions, the majority of us will opt for the second bottle down on a wine list. However, if we do ask for advice from the restaurant staff more than eight in 10 of us are left feeling ripped off.

So, why do so many of us feel the need to bluff when it comes to our wine selections?

Joining us to discuss this further is award winning International Sommelier, Pip Martin and Richard Bates from Butlins.

. Suggested Questions:

What percentage of people in our area consume alcohol on a weekly basis?

What are the most common wine faux pas in restaurants?

What can restaurants do to help people feel more comfortable about their wine choices?

Have wine lists improved in recent times?

How can we best improve our wine knowledge?

Where can we find out more information?