Researchers have taken a deep dive into the wines that pair with life – with Pinot Grigio emerging as the perfect glass to relax after a long day at work (30 percent), a medium-bodied Rioja the ideal accompaniment for binge-watching a TV show (21 percent) and a gently spiced Merlot the best for enjoying in the bath (15 percent).
Relaxing in bathtub with foam and glass of red wine – heaven!
And forget weddings, Champagne is the go-to wine for a DIVORCE (15 percent), according to the 2,000 wine buffs surveyed by Aldi.
The survey also found that reading a good book, pairs perfectly with a rich wine with no hard edges such as a Viognier (10 percent), while a lightly-oaked Chardonnay marries seamlessly with a romantic film (16 percent).
This research of 2,000 UK-based wine drinkers was commissioned by Aldi and conducted by Perspectus Global,
78 percent of the nation say they have certain wines that they drink on certain occasions, with nothing beating a crisp and sharp Sauvignon Blanc when cooking a meal (27 percent), a complex Cabernet Franc for a romantic date at home (15 percent) and a fresh, linear English Rosé to cheer on your team when watching sport.
But if you’re looking for the perfect partner for comforting a friend after a breakup, a full-bodied, fruity Chenin Blanc seems to be the best choice (14 percent).
Wine expert, Sam Caporn (aka @mistressofwines) who was involved in the study commented: “The survey has revealed a number of wines that pair well with specific life situations. This is because all grape varieties have different structure and flavour characteristics that work better with certain moods. I’m not surprised that a more complex wine, such as one made from Cabernet Franc, is great for a romantic date; it’s a wine you’re more likely to be savouring and works as a conversation starter with your partner too. And when it comes to celebrating, there is nothing like a glass of fizz. Did you know that the bubbles in sparkling wine mean that the alcohol gets into your bloodstream faster, providing a ‘fizzy lift’, alongside the wonderful sounds of a cork popping and glasses clinking?”
Wine expert, Sam Caporn who was involved in the study of 2,000 UK-based wine drinkers commissioned by Aldi and conducted by Perspectus Global.
As a nation, Brits drink wine 11 times a month, spending a monthly average of £85 on our favourite tipples.
Unsurprisingly, Londoners not only drink the most (14 times a month), but they also spend the most on wine (£143 a month), compared to those in Oxford who drink it nine times a month and residents of Edinburgh who spend just £52 a month.
The survey also found that just 47 percent consider themselves to be knowledgeable about wine, with 79 percent admitting that they love impressing their friends and family with their facts.
89 percent wish they knew more about wine with four in ten (40 percent) admitting they have even spent more money on a bottle that they are taking to a friend’s house to impress them.
A fifth (19 percent) have gone a step further and researched the wine they’re serving to showcase their knowledge, while 17 percent admit looking up wine terms to use in front of people.
And sadly, 18 percent say they have drunk a wine that they don’t like just to appear more sophisticated.
Julie Ashfield, Managing Director of Buying at Aldi UK says: “We know some shoppers can find selecting a wine daunting – and they don’t always want to choose based on the food they’re planning to eat.
“By highlighting some alternative ‘occasion pairings’, we hope that shoppers will approach our wine aisle with an open-mind and feel less pinned down by age-old stigmas around wine pairing.”
When it comes to what attracts Brits to certain bottles of wine, price is the biggest factor (73 percent), followed by flavour profile (64 percent) and country of origin (46 percent).
TOP EVERYDAY WINE PAIRINGS, ACCORDING TO BRITS:
- Prosecco for brunch – 33%
- Pinot Grigio after a long day at work – 30%
- English Sparkling at a wedding – 30%
- Pale pink Rosé at a summer garden party – 30%
- A crisp and acidic Sauvignon Blanc while cooking a meal – 27%
- Prosecco Rosé on a bank holiday – 24%
- Prosecco for a baby shower – 23%
- Champagne for wetting the baby’s head – 21%
- A medium-bodied Rioja for binge-watching a TV show – 21%
- Lightly oaked Chardonnay with a romantic film – 16%
- A gently spiced Merlot in the bath – 15%
- Cava to celebrate moving house – 15%
- A complex Cabernet Franc for a romantic date at home – 15%
- Champagne at a divorce party – 15%
- A full-bodied, fruity Chenin Blanc A after a breakup – 14%
- A fresh and linear English Rosé to watch sports – 13%
- A rich Viognier with a good book – 10%
We’ll drink to that!
