How much do you actually need to know about the wine in your glass, other than how to get it in there pretty sharpish? In truth, absolutely nothing at all. But knowing a bit on the subject helps you to buy the wines you like and to avoid those you don't. It helps to know how to serve them at their best and match them with the 'right' dishes. It helps you to get value in your wine buying and avoid those false deals the supermarkets are so fond of hitting us with.
Do you know enough about the wine you drink?
Here's 10 reasons why you should give it a go:
1. Women make better tasters than men. Ok, this isn't actually scientifically proven but it is said so often that there must be some truth in it. Apparently our sense of smell is more acute thanks to the female hormone, oestrogen, and we are more likely than men to have extra taste buds on our tongues. We are also generally better at connecting what we smell to our emotional memory bank. Hone that skill in and use it. It just takes a bit of wine tasting practice.2. Around 8 out of every 10 bottles of wine are bought by women - you'll buy better and more wisely with a little wine knowledge.
3. Pinot Grigio and Prosecco are all very well but so are millions, literally millions, of other wines out there. With a little info you will be more confident to dip your toe into the oceans of exciting wines we have access to on our shores.
4. Scare-mongering stories about shortages of Prosecco and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc won't push you into panic-buying and stock-piling. If you are wine-educated, you'll simply find a similar, possibly even better, alternative.
5. Check out www.wineeducators.com - these are 'teachers' who give you wine in their classroom.
6. Have a look at www.sipandlearn.co.uk whose subscription programme will send you 2 bottles and an educational booklet each month so that you can learn more in the comfort of your own home. Makes a great gift, too.
7. Learning about wine may take you to where vineyards are planted which very often just happen to be some of the most beautiful places in the world. Lucky coincidence, that.
8. You'll discover there are such things as Wine Festivals where you can taste many wines and find out what you like. Forget Glastonbury, check out www.lovewinefest.co.uk
9. Tasting regularly may actually be good for you. You will probably drink more often, but better wine in smaller quantities.
10. Divert attention from the average plate of food you've presented to your guests by dazzling them with stonkingly good wine in their glass. (Probably just me that finds that tip useful!)
Knowing a little goes a long way in increasing most people's enjoyment of wine. You don't have to become a fully-fledged wine geek, unless you really want to, but you may find that educating your nose and palate will open doors of pleasure you didn't even know existed. While surprising yourself, you might just impress others.
Laura Clay has been buying, tasting and drinking wine for a quarter of a century but her desire to explore the wine world further remains undiminished: her sheer enthusiasm for wine and related subjects has resulted in her becoming a well-known and popular speaker. She educates wine professionals and is highly sought after by wine companies looking for a speaker who can inform, excite and entertain. She is an Accredited Bordeaux Tutor. She is currently Chairman of the Association of Wine Educators, Chairman of the Midland Wine and Spirit Association and was UK Champagne Ambassador in 2010.
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