The drinkers who stick with a wine longer than a partner
WINE lovers stick with their preferred variety for longer than many stay with their partners, research suggests.
Pinot Grigio is the top choice for British drinkers, followed by Merlot and Chardonnay.
Some 52 per cent of drinkers said they remained loyal to their preferred grape for ten years or more, a survey revealed. Fiftythree per cent had been with their partner for the same amount of time, the same poll found. However, almost one fifth – 19 per cent – had been in their current relationship for less than three years.
Wine drinkers are being urged
‘Easy to get stuck in a rut’
to be more adventurous in the light of the findings.
Simon Cairns, trading manager for beers, wines and spirits at the Co-op, which commissioned the poll, said: ‘We all know how easy it is to get stuck in a rut with our relationships to wine, but there’s a whole world of different wines out there for you to enjoy and try.’
The chain picked up five awards at the International Wine and Spirit Challenge earlier this year for its range.
But Brian Julyan, of the Court of Master Sommeliers, said the lack of experimentation is partly down to the supermarkets crowding out small off-licences, which can give a more personal service, including advice on trying different varieties. He said: ‘When people consider trying new flavours, they might buy something on offer in the supermarkets – but they just get a cheap wine, find it doesn’t taste all that nice, so return to what they know.’ Mr Julyan added that people sometimes need to spend ‘a little more than £5’ to have an enjoyable drink. ‘Paying a low price, you will not get a good product,’ he said. He called on supermarkets to follow the example of US wine shops, where experts are invited to hold in-store tasting sessions to help shoppers broaden their horizons.
Charles Spence, flavour expert and psychology professor at Oxford University, believes there could be a scientific explanation for why people get stuck in a rut with their wine choice. He said: ‘In our 20s and 30s our taste buds are at their prime, so we’re more likely to experiment while our sensory receptors are doing their best work.’
The Co-op survey of 1,000 people found a fifth of Britons stick to wines they recognise for fear of making a wrong choice. Another fifth cite previous knowledge as their number one reason for drinking the wine they do.
Broken down between the sexes, Pinot Grigio was top choice for women, selected by 15 per cent, and Merlot was the men’s favourite, chosen by 11 per cent.
When it comes to who is influencing our wine choices, friends and partners are our most trusted wine advisors. Just four per cent of people said they would trust the advice of their parents.