We’re plonking for pricy wines ...and staying in
DEMAND for premium bottles of wine costing £10 and over is up by more than 20 per cent in a year, despite tightening household budgets.
Far from being a nation of beer drinkers who know little about wine, the latest data shows we are becoming wine experts – or oenophiles.
Retail analysts Nielsen, said growth in the sector in the year to December is up by 23 per cent.
Supermarket Tesco backed up the report, saying it has seen demand for its top-tier wines up by 20 per cent in the past year.
The store says it has made concerted efforts to make its labelling less pretentious.
Experts said the trend was down to cashconscious Britons choosing to dine in at home.
Favourites include Sauvignon Blanc, Rioja and Shiraz.
Tesco wine product developer Charlotte Lemoine said: “We have continued to see a growth in premium wines.
“Britain’s shoppers are becoming more confident about what they want and in the last year we have seen strong demand for what would be considered connoisseur wines.
“Spending £20 on a bottle of wine in a restaurant is not unusual.
“And we know that when preparing for a special dinner or occasion at home, people are three times more likely to spend over £10 on a bottle.”
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association said: “People are drinking less but are prepared to spend more. They are willing to pay for the story behind the drink.”