Depending on your wine knowledge, being handed a wine list can make you feel rather uncomfortable, less than ideal if you’re out to impress. Latest research reveals that despite believing that we’re fairly good when it comes to telling one bottle from another, most of us are only bluffing. In a bid to create an air of sophistication and impress our dinner companions, the majority of us will opt for the second bottle down on a wine list. However, if we do ask for advice from the restaurant staff more than eight in 10 of us are left feeling ripped off.

Research has found:

-          95% of British diners rely on restaurant staff for their wine suggestions

-          66% admit that they bluff their way through wine lists

-          84% feel that they are being ripped off with their wine selection

Fine wines at fair prices are being launched by Butlins, the famous British holiday company. The list of Fine But Fun wines has been created with a leading sommelier and is being introduced without the high cost usually associated with buying wine when dining out.

The stars of the list include a top Claret, Château Talbot 2004, at £65 a bottle and Krug Grand Cuvée Champagne at £120 – a top champagne that would normally cost £230 at one of Gordon Ramsay’s restaurants. Most of the 18 wines are in the £24 to £34 bracket with two champagnes priced at £50 and £120 – very respectable for their quality.

The list is sourced from all over the globe including the Lebanon and Hungary, and includes two world-class dessert wines.

Tasting notes are written in true Butlins style to help guide guests in their choice. A refreshing champagne is described as “diving into a cold pool on a hot day”, there’s a “seductive, charming and approachable” red that’s compared to housewives’ favourite, George Clooney and even references to “buttery crumpets” and the perfect selection for sword swallowers.

Said Butlins MD Richard Bates: “These are world-class wines at prices that don’t take the Mickey.

“Butlins will be the place to go for a good Burgundy, Chateauneuf-du-Pape or top notch bubbly.

“Our guests’ drinks of choice have changed substantially over the last few years and the launch of our first Fine Wine List simply reflects that.”

The wine list has been created in response to demand from customers. Following Butlins recent multi-million pound investment programme, new guests have been visiting the Resort for the first time and with them, wants and demands have changed. Wine sales have increased by 34% over the past two years.

The wines are available at the three Butlins seaside Resorts in Bognor Regis, Minehead and Skegness.

Butlins team members are being trained to ensure that each wine is served at the correct temperature to guarantee that the wines are presented at their best.

The wine menu has been carefully written to reflect the Butlins philosophy and inject a bit of fun into the descriptions.   

Said sommelier Pip Martin: “This has been an extremely interesting list to work on, and hats off to Butlins for offering some fantastic wines at amazing prices.

“We’ve chosen these particular wines because they present a host of interesting flavours, and a good spread of styles.”