| Almost one-in-four men try to impress friends or dates by pretending to be wine buffs, reveals a new survey. The YouGov poll of 2,396 adults found knowledge of wine low in men despite its soaring popularity. It revealed more than two-thirds of people (69 per cent) do not feel they know enough about wine although many attempting to disguise their ignorance by pretending to be experts.
Men are the biggest bluffers with 22 per cent embellishing their expertise to try and impress compared to just 11 per cent of women. Among men aged 18 to 29, 27 per cent admitted bluffing about wine in a bid to impress friends or dates.
Some are so sure of themselves that more than a third (35 per cent) of men refuse to let their partner choose wine in a restaurant because they do not trust their choice
The survey found that Brits seem to be following in the footsteps of their Mediterranean counterparts and becoming a nation of wine connoisseurs.
Far from a common assumption that wine is a drink for the ladies, the survey found four in five (79 per cent) of men enjoyed the health drink, compared to three quarters of women.
James Craig-Wood, wine expert at Rosemount wine, which commissioned the survey, said: "These days men are increasingly interested in cooking and entertaining at home, which has led to much wider interest in wine and increased wine consumption both at home and in restaurants.
The thirst for knowledge of wine is led by men who seem keen to know their Shiraz from their Chardonnay A third of men are keen to improve their knowledge, along with a quarter (24 per cent) of women, while one in three (29 per cent) men read wine columns with 18 per cent having read a book on the subject.
Wine tasting events also appear to be witnessing a boom, with 26 per cent of men having been to an event, as have 22 per cent of women. More than a third of Brits (35 per cent) have visited a vineyard abroad.
However despite knowing more about the tipple, the poll found many respondents still felt intimidated by the ceremony of ordering wine, with 31 per cent put off by extensive restaurant wine lists and a quarter saying they felt uncomfortable tasting the wine when it was brought to the table. For details, visit http://www.lse.co.uk |
