According to a recent study, eight in 10 people don’t follow proper wine etiquette; with 67% strongly believing there is a right and wrong way to drink wine, and only 17% admitting they always follow the rules.
Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Woodbridge Wines, the survey also found that nearly three-fifths said they drink a glass of wine at least three days a week, with those over the age of 65 drinking more often than younger groups.
Regardless of age, seven in 10 said they consume wine more than any other type of alcohol during the winter holiday season.
When asked how much wine etiquette improves their drinking experience, only 22% replied that traditional guidelines “greatly” enhance it.
“Just like everything in life, there are so many old-school, traditional rules in wine culture that people feel like they need to follow — swirling, sniffing, pairing,” said Serena Shrivastava, Brand Director, Woodbridge Wines. “We encourage everyone to play by their own rules instead and leave any judgement behind.”
Meanwhile, three in four think the so-called “rules of wine” can be intimidating.
“We think there should only be one rule: enjoy wine your way — however, wherever, and whenever you want.” added Shrivastava. “Wine is for more than fancy occasions and fancy glasses. Don’t be afraid to drop an ice cube in your wine glass at home, grab a can of wine instead of a beer at a tailgate, or pair a Cabernet with some delicious cheese fries at the ballpark. When you ‘wine your way,’ anything goes.”
Perhaps the most shocking factoid...
According to this survey, a quarter of the 2000 adults they interviewed claim they usually drink wine with breakfast or brunch, with 26% saying they believe Happy Hour should be before 5 p.m.
Here are the top ways people reject wine etiquette
Drinking white wine at room temperature instead of chilled - 46%
Holding a glass by the bowl rather than the stem- 44%
Adding ice to wine - 43%
Filling their glass to the top - 42%
Sniffing the cork - 36%
Tasting wine while wearing strongly scented perfume/aftershave - 34%
Drinking wines “out of order” (e.g. red before white, sweet before dry, etc.) - 32%
Drinking without looking, swirling, or sniffing - 32%
Gulping wine down quickly - 25%
Pairing wine with non-traditional foods - 19%
