Britain’s Wine Faux Pas Revealed

Posted on the 11 June 2015 by 72point @72hub

Millions of Brits are ripping up the wine rulebook with almost half admitting to regularly making vino faux pas.

A study of 2,000 adults saw many confess to committing wine faux pas for the sake of their love for the drink.

And 40 per cent of those surveyed put personal enjoyment before etiquette when it comes to wine, admitting they don't mind making these mistakes.

Nearly 30 per cent Brits have confessed to 'necking' their wine, rather than savouring the taste and flavour.

Ten per cent of them have tried to open a screwcap with a corkscrew at least once, while about 20 per cent of the wine drinkers surveyed said they drink it out of a tumbler rather than from a wine glass.

A further 36 per cent of wine drinkers surveyed admitted to storing red wine in the fridge.

Joe Wadsack, from the International Wine Challenge which commissioned the survey said: "Of course, there are certain guidelines that should enhance your enjoyment of wine, but people should worry less about embarrassing themselves with vino.

"There still seems to be a lot of confusion amongst drinkers about the 'rules' of wine and whether they think they are making a wine faux pas.

"While many people believe putting red wine in the fridge is completely wrong, certain light fruity reds for example from Beaujolais and the Loire Valley are often served chilled.

"Rules surrounding food and wine pairings also aren't as rigid as people believe.

"People tend to match red wine with red meat, and white wine with white meat and fish, but finding the perfect pairing is also influenced by the flavours and sauce present.

"A dish such as rustic tomato chicken stew would work well with a fruity red, whereas a fragrant Greek lamb dish with lemons and olives would naturally suit a white wine."

Brits also believe they are regularly making poor food and wine pairings such as drinking white wine with red meat and pairing red wine with fish.

The nation's love of wine can sometimes cause Brits to forget their manners, with 46 per cent of Brits confessing to filling their own glass before their guests.

And 13 per cent also admitted to greedy wine guzzling by filling their glass to the brim in order to get as much as possible. One in twelve even admitted to drinking straight from the bottle.

As much as Brits love their wine, 61 per cent of those quizzed would rate their knowledge of wine as 'beginner', with half admitting to feeling daunted when trying to choose wine in restaurants.

While a quarter of those polled said it was embarrassing when slipping-up in a social situation due to wine ignorance, a more laid back third of the population thought wine faux pas were funny and they didn't give 'two hoots'.

Shockingly, one in five Brits admitted to having had a heated debate or argument over wine. However, it seems Brits are keen to improve their wine knowledge with 55 per cent said they would like to learn more about wine.

When it comes to choosing wines, cost was a key factor for Brits, with half of wine drinkers surveyed saying price was the main consideration when purchasing wine, while one in four would buy wine that was on offer.

Looks and familiarity are also important for Brits, with 38 per cent opting for a wine that comes in an attractive bottle, while 30 per cent would choose a brand they were familiar with.

A savvy one in thirteen said they would select wines which were award winning when looking for the perfect vino for an occasion.

Over one in ten would take recommendations from friends and family when choosing wine. One in ten would phone a host ahead of a dinner party to choose a wine to match the menu.

Joe Wadsack continued: "It is clear that for many Brits, choosing the right wine can be a daunting prospect.

"With supermarkets and wine shops offering so much choice nowadays, it is easy to be overwhelmed.

"However, if shoppers spot an International Wine Challenge medal on a wine, they can buy with confidence knowing that it has been blind tasted by some of the best wine judges in the world.

"Shoppers should use IWC medals as their wine aisle navigation system, helping them broaden their wine horizons and buy with confidence."

TOP 20 WINE FAUX PAS
  1. Putting red wine in the fridge
  2. Using a corkscrew on a screwcap
  3. Drinking from the bottle
  4. Asking for ice in your wine
  5. Serving in a wine glass with old lipstick stains
  6. Chipped glasses
  7. Trying to unscrew a cork
  8. Taking a cheap bottle to a party
  9. Gulping wine rather than sipping it
  10. Not bringing a bottle but drinking everyone else's
  11. Drinking it out of a tumbler
  12. Pouring yourself a glass before pouring others on the table
  13. Asking for a slice of lemon
  14. Shaking the bottle before serving
  15. Asking the waiting to pour you more when they were intending you to taste it
  16. Putting lemonade with red wine
  17. Complaining the red wine isn't cold
  18. Pronouncing the 't' in Pinot Noir
  19. Taking a bottle home with you after it wasn't opened at the host's party
  20. Pronouncing the 't' in Merlot

ENDS