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Britain has been revealed as a nation of wine bluffers
and wine duffers according to a Press Release by ResponseSource.com, as
only one in three know exactly which wine to order at restaurants. Rather
than asking for help, Brits bluff their way through the wine list. Half
of them just opt for the second cheapest bottle to avoid looking stupid
or cheap in front of their peers and waiters, says the release.
The survey commissioned in December, 2007 by the specialty
cheese brand Castello disclosed this 'Second Cheapest Syndrome' when they
commissioned a study through Fly Research on 1000 diners across UK, who
had recently dined in a restaurant.
A quarter of the subjects admitted they wouldn't know bad wine if they
were served it at a restaurant. Over half of respondents also admit to
feeling stressed or confused when ordering wine at a restaurant. Despite
this, diners are reluctant to ask waiters or sommeliers for recommendations.
The respondents had their reasons for this reluctance.
56% said that they shy away from asking waiters for suggestions for fear
of being sold expensive wines. 41% admit that they don't seek help because
of they fear losing the respect of their peers.
Here are some of the findings from different regions
revealed by the research:
Newcastle diners are most likely to admit not knowing
which wine to order while Yorkshire people are most likely to choose the
cheapest wine on the menu. Waiters in Wales are the least trusted as diners
expect a hard-sell on expensive wines.
Four out of ten people in Birmingham think that cheap
wine tastes as good as fine wine. A third in the Norwich area believe
they know more about wine than the waiters who serve them.
Londoners are the biggest wine snobs and are most likely
to turn their noses up at the house wine. Diners in Kent are the most
likely to ignore any advice about which wine to order. Cornish have the
most critical taste buds and are most likely to spot bad wine.
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