Sauce: taking the worry out of buying wine

How did I get the idea that wine was supposed to be a source of enjoyment and relaxation? Most people (70%) feel intimidated in supermarket wine aisles and 36% worry that they will take an unfashionable bottle to a dinner party. If the findings of this research by Sainsbury’s are to be believed, a lot of people find choosing wine a nightmare.

Sainsbury’s solution is to categorise its 163 own-label wines, including the superior Taste the Difference range, into one of seven styles — crisp and delicate, rich and complex, light and fruity, and so on — and to identify the bottles accordingly. This should appeal to customers who are comfortable displaying the Sainsbury’s name, but those who worry about taking the right bottle to a dinner party may not want to take a supermarket own-label.

There’s no infallible answer to the dinner-party dilemma, but, provided you avoid the cheapest, you are unlikely to go far wrong with Chablis, pinot noir or Rioja. Alternatively, if you fancy an upmarket own-brand, the Fortnum & Mason selection is impressive.

2004 Viña del Encino Rioja, £10.90 Polished modern Rioja with seductive spicy fruit (Fortnum & Mason, 0845 300 1707).

2006 Ra Nui Pinot Noir, £11.25 Exemplary New Zealand pinot: pure, silky, raspberry-scented (Stone, Vine & Sun, 01962 712351).

2006 Domaine Pinson Chablis, £11.90 Classic Chablis — nutty, creamy and mineral (Vine Trail, 0117 921 1770).

WINE BLUFF

“One in five people always buy the same wine

Anorak fact least four out of five say they ”tend to” stick to one variety or style (Sainsbury’s survey)