Chef & Brewer
WINE WHINES
Millions of Brits pretend to be wine buffs but make basic mistakes in pubs and restaurants - such as complaining that ''the red wine is warm''.
Researchers found three out of ten adults have tried to pass themselves off as wine connoisseurs - before making a schoolboy error in-front of friends, family or colleagues.
Most common faux pas include mispronunciation of brands or wines including saying out loud the T in Pinot Noir according to the poll by pub restaurant operator Chef and Brewer to coincide with their annual Wine Festival.
Excruciatingly ten per cent of people have complained that the waiter hasn't poured them enough wine, when the intention was for them to taste it.
And one in twenty Brits have even asked for a slice of lemon in their wine glass according to the poll of 3000 adults.
The most common wine to mispronounce was Semillon - with Brits saying it as it's spelt opposed to the French way of 'Seh-Mee-Yhon'.
Sixteen per cent of people who completed the poll said they often just order a bottle of expensive wine just so it looks like they know their wine, when they haven't a clue what they're actually drinking.
Yesterday Chef and Brewer's wine purchasing manager Duncan Macdonald said: ''If you aren't used to drinking wine it can take a while getting used to all the terminology and it can be confusing.''
''It's important not to be intimidated though and give in to peer pressure. Drink which ever wine you like and if you have trouble pronouncing the name just ask.
''Never be afraid to ask a waiter or bar staff if you have a query about a certain wine, it's their job to advise you on the wine list.
''Saying that some of the faux pas in the poll are very amusing.''
Other wine clangers have included five per cent of the nation vigorously swilling the wine around in the glass to allow it to breathe but then embarrassingly spilling it over themselves.
The poll also revealed one in twenty have moaned to a waiter that the wine is corked not realizing it came from a screw-top bottle.
And two per cent haven't realised that mulled wine is served warm.
More than half of us (54 per cent) don't bother changing our wine to compliment what we're eating.
With a bolshie 79 per cent of Brits declaring that they will order what they want regardless of what they're eating.
And a whopping 86 per cent of those polled said they thought a snobbery exists with wine.
Duncan added: ''It's a shame that people think that there is a snobbery that exists with wine and I would hate for that to discourage people from enjoying it.
''Our annual Wine Festival running until the 15th September in 134 pubs across the UK allows people to come along and try different wines, ask any questions and really get involved in improving their wine knowledge.
''It is about de-mystifying wine and breaking down any pre-conceived barriers.
''And rest assured we won't laugh if you mispronounce a particular wine or make a little faux pas.''
56 per cent of those who took part in the study said they like it when someone else orders for them - but 44 per cent found it patronising.
Two thirds of those questioned said they thought British men were drinking more wine than ever and 78 said men drink more red than white vino.
TOP TEN MOST MISPRONOUNCED WINES
1) Semillon
Mispronunciation Semi-lon Correct pronunciation Seh-Mee-Yhon
2) Viognier
Mispronunciation Vog-ner Correct pronunciation Vee-oh-nee-aye
3) Syrah
Mispronunciation Sarah Correct pronunciation See-rah
4) Pinot Noir
Mispronunciation Pea-not Noi-er Correct pronunciation pee-noh nwahr
5) Cabernet Sauvignon
Mispronunciation Cabinet Soo-Vig-Non Correct pronunciation Cab-Er-Nay Saw-Vee-Nyon
6) Zinfandel
Mispronunciation Zinf-un-dul Correct pronunciation Zin-fan-del
7) Grenache
Mispronunciation Grench Correct pronunciation Gree-nash
8) Riesling
Mispronunciation Rise-ling Correct pronunciation Reece-Ling
9) Shiraz
Mispronunciation Sher-raze Correct pronunciation Sheer-raz
10) Sauvignon Blanc
Mispronunciation So-vig-non blank Correct pronunciation Saw vee nyon blohnk
