The results are in, the feedback has been published, all we have to do now is give away some wine.

A final thanks to everyone who participated in our National Wine Drinkers Survey. We drew this morning, at random, from the over 500 completed surveys, and our lucky winner is Thomas Gaffney.

Congratulations Thomas! A mix of our favourite wines worth €200 will be on its way to you today. Thanks for contributing, we trust you’ll enjoy.

Following on from Part I yesterday, where we dealt with the ‘where’ and ‘how much’ of wine, Part II of our National Wine Drinkers Survey reveals the attitudes of Irish wine drinkers, on everything from alcohol levels and availability, to what you’d be prepared to go without to have a glass.

THE NATION’S FAVOURITE?

Questions 12 and 13: What’s your favourite alcoholic drink and what else do you drink?

Accepting again that this was a wine drinkers survey, we were still shocked (but pleasantly so!) at the findings on this one.

For a country normally associated with the pint of stout, not to mention a fine tradition of whiskey making, 80% of our survey respondents declared wine to be their drink of choice, with 1 in 7 drinking it exclusively. Only 13% of respondents would opt for a beer first, with cider (2%) and spirits (5%) a long way behind.

Predictably, there was some weighting towards female respondents, with almost 9 in 10 selecting wine over other drinks. Nevertheless, over 7 in 10 men still declared wine as their favourite, with only 1 in 4 choosing a beer first.

There was also a clear trend across age groups, with younger people showing the greatest spread across the different drinks groups. Still, whilst 1 in 6 of the 18-25s choose spirits as their favourite tipple, it was wine that once again came out on top with more than half putting it top of their list.

Finally, it was the Over 60s who showed the greatest love for the grape, with 100% declaring wine to be their favourite drink, with 3 in 10 drinking it exclusively.

Question 14: Do you prefer wine with food or on its own?

We all bring our own biases to surveys, and in particular predict results that reflect our own views or preferences. With our equal love of good food and good wine, and preferably together, this was one of our most pleasant surprises across the survey. Over three-quarters of respondents prefer to drink wine with food than without.

Along with frequency of consumption (Question 4), this is surely one of the strongest indicators that Ireland has developed a much more continental approach to drinking, where in countries like France, Spain and Italy, wine is very much consumed, even designed, for the food they eat.

The Over 60s showed the highest variance from the norm, with 95% preferring to drink with food than without.

PLEASE SIR, CAN I HAVE SOME MORE?

Question 15: Would you allow someone under 18 to drink wine with a meal?

This was a controversial one - and one we debated even including, for fear of being seen to endorse under-age drinking - but we felt it was another important cultural attitude to measure, particularly again in the context of continental comparisons.

The results speak for themselves. 5 in 6 people would serve alcohol to a minor with a meal, with almost 1 in 10 doing so without overdue concern to the circumstances (”Always - we should develop a more continental approach to our drinking”).

Interestingly, there wasn’t dramatic variation across gender or age group, although it was the youngest 18-25 age group that felt most strongly about developing a continental approach, with 1 in 5 saying they would always allow someone under 18 to drink wine with a meal.

MORE WINE PLEASE, WE’RE IRISH

Question 16: Should wine be made more or less available in Ireland?

Following the failed attempt, by then Minister for Justice Michael McDowell, to introduce cafe-bar licences in Ireland in 2005, we thought this would make interesting reading, particularly given that the licensing of alcohol remains an ongoing, often very heated, debate.

Well, once again, the results speak for themselves: almost 6 in 10 people believe wine should be made more available in Ireland, with licensing extended to the likes of cafes. Only 2% of respondents believed wine was too easily available and should be restricted more, with the remaining 40% happy that, as a country, we’ve the balance right.

Numbers for those calling for more restrictions were too small for meaningful variance across gender or age group, but there were some differences in those calling for more availability to be made. 2 in 3 men thought wine should be made more available (versus 1 in 2 women), with almost 4 in 5 18-25s agreeing.

Question 17: Aside from price, how important are each of the following in choosing wine?

This was a broad and multi-faceted question, aimed at highlighting what drives buying decisions amongst wine consumers.

By some distance, grape and country or region were given as being the most important factors in choosing a bottle of wine, more than twice as important as brand or label. Closure type and alcohol levels were also well down the priority list.

The emphasis on grape type and country is yet another indicator of the Irish wine drinker’s increased knowledge and confidence in buying wine, relying less on recognised brand names or being star-struck by fancy labels. This is good news for the industry and the consumer, as it drives variety, diversity and choice.

Question 18: Do you have a preference for alcohol level?

Despite rumblings of consumers actively rooting out low alcohol wines, we weren’t so sure. Ok, there’s not many people come in looking for anaesthesia from a bottle of wine, but likewise, alcohol’s important in the experience of enjoying it. So, naturally enough, we thought we’d ask.

Only 3% of respondents had a strong position on alcohol, with 2% actively seeking out low alcohol wines, and half that number actively looking for high alcohol.

Almost 6 in 10 people didn’t care what alcohol was in a wine, provided the taste was right.

Of the different age groups, only the Over 60s stood out as actively selecting a particular alcohol level, with almost 7 in 10 choosing wines in the 11-14% bracket.

Question 19: Do you have a preference for closure?

The perennial debate amongst wine academics, where often the term “screw-cap” is followed by a collective, sharp intake of breath. Traditional cork has been the preferred wine closure for centuries, particularly for fine and long-ageing wines where its’ uniquely porous nature allows sufficient ‘breathing’ for a good wine to develop further in bottle. Conversely, screw-caps guarantee sealed in freshness, particularly on young and white wines, and eliminate the dreaded cork-taint, a fickle failure rate on a percentage of all corks.

Well it seems the failure rate of cork remains an acceptable one for the majority of consumers, although it’s a close-run thing. Just over half of respondents still prefer the traditional cork, but almost 4 in 10 would opt for a screw-cap, given the choice. Only 7% preferred the supposed “best of both worlds” artificial cork closure.

Only in one age group was there a reversal in preference, and again it was the Over 60s; 6 in 10 preferring screw-cap over the more cumbersome cork.

FRANKLY, MY DEAR…

Question 20: Do you have a preference for organic or biodynamic wines?

Another topical issue and ensuing debate. Do wine drinkers really care about the processes involved in the planting, growing, harvesting, vinifying and bottling of the finished product that ends up in their basket?

The rather damning, and somewhat surprising, feedback is no.

6 in 10 respondents couldn’t give a monkeys (direct quote - OK, we did put that in the response option), with only 2% of people claiming they try to buy organic or biodynamic wherever possible.

It’s not all that black-and-white, however, for those growers and vintners dedicated to organic methods. 4 in 10 people did indicate they would consider it a bonus if a wine was organic or biodynamic, suggesting that, while it may not be a priority, or something people are necessarily prepared to pay more for, there is some value placed on organic methods by a significant proportion of consumers.

AND FINALLY…

Question 21: If you had to give up wine, chocolate or sex for the rest of your life, which would it be?

Well, find out tomorrow folks.

Frankly, we’re shocked

Our thanks again to everyone who participated in our inaugural National Wine Drinkers Survey, last month. In all, over 500 of you were generous enough to respond, to give us some real insights into how wine is bought, consumed and regarded in Irish society.

Part I deals with the ‘where’ and the ‘how much’, with Part II tomorrow getting into the juicy stuff, like attitudes to wine and what you’d be prepared to give up to keep drinking the elixir of life (sorry, we’re making you wait on the now infamous question 21!).

So, without further ado…

Questions 1 to 3: Demographics

501 people responded to the survey, 56% of whom were female, 44% male. (Interestingly this is pretty close to the last figure on wine consumption by gender, by the now defunct Wine Board of Ireland in 2007, of 57% female/43% male.)

The majority of respondents (54%) were in the 26-40 age group, followed by 41-60 (36%). 6% of respondents were in the 18-25 bracket, with a final 4% in the over 60s.

97% of respondents reside in the Republic of Ireland.

Question 4: How often do you drink wine?

Accepting that this was a “wine drinkers’ survey”, it was still remarkable to learn that 93% of you drink wine at least once a week, with only 7% drinking less frequently than this. More than half (53%) enjoy a glass 2-3 times a week, with almost 1 in 5 consuming wine most days.

The survey also revealed a fascinating correlation between age and regular consumption. Only 3% of 18-25s drink wine most days, rising to 12% for the 26-40s and 23% for the 41-60s. It’s the Over 60s however who set the mark, and take a very continental approach to their consumption, with a whopping 70% drinking wine most days.

Question 5: How much would you spend on average on a bottle in a shop?

Despite industry concerns over a race to the bottom on price and quality, driven by economic meltdown and irresponsible selling, this was heart-warming stuff, both to consumers and independent retailers who champion quality and choice. Over 6 in 10 respondents spend €10 or over, on average, on a bottle of wine, with over 1 in 10 regularly spending €15 or more.

Even more encouraging, only 1% spend less than €6, the point at which more of the retail price goes to the government on tax than it does to the winemaker or retailer.

Men spend more than women (62% of men spend €10 or more versus 47% of women), but there was surprisingly little variation across the different age groups. The lowest spenders (55% under €10) were the Over 60s, perhaps tying in with more regular (although not necessarily greater) consumption.

Question 6: How much would you spend on a bottle of wine on a real treat?

Recession? What recession. Almost 6 in 10 wine drinkers will spend more than €20 on a bottle as a treat, with 97% happy to go over the €10 mark. This shows not only a continued willingness to splash out on life’s little luxuries, but that the Irish consumer has a confidence in, and appetite for, fine wine.

Again, men are more likely to splash out than women - 67% versus 40% happy to spend more than €20, with an impressive 1 in 5 men prepared to spend more than €40 on special occasions.

Question 7: How much would you spend on average on a bottle of wine in a restaurant?

The plight of pubs and restaurants in the current economic climate has been well documented, so it was with wonderment and delight that we discovered Irish wine drinkers are happy to ‘trade up’ in restaurants too.

Again, more than half of respondents are happy spending in the higher price brackets in restaurants, with 56% spending more than €25, on average, per bottle. The 18-25s stood out as the best bargain hunters, with 1 in 7 spending less than €15 on average (please tell us where those restaurants are!). Only 4% of respondents, however, regularly go over €40.

Question 8: Where do you drink?

97% of wine drinkers in Ireland drink in the home. This was consistent across all age groups, with 100% of the Over 60s doing so.

4 in 5 people also drink wine at friends/families, demonstrating what an integral part of the social fabric in Ireland wine has become. (Has wine replaced Mrs Doyle’s cup of tea as the social drink of choice in the home?)

4 in 5 also drink wine in pubs or restaurants, although this varies between 55% and 84% depending on the age group (the Over 60s like the comfort of their own homes to properly enjoy a good glass!).

Question 9: Where do you buy wine?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the largest single source for buying wine was the supermarkets, with 5 in 6 of you picking up a bottle with their groceries. However, it was encouraging news for the independents too, with over 6 in 10 shopping in independent wine stores.

Convenience stores fared the worst, with only 1 in 6 of you happy to pick up a bottle with your petrol or daily newspaper.

The sad news, for both retailers and the economy, is that 25% of respondents buy wine abroad. (This, again, is no surprise, but the exorbitant tax rates we currently pay on wine in Ireland is not for this post.)

As an interesting cross-reference, while 79% of respondents declared drinking wine in pubs and restaurants, only 53% declared buying it - and it was the men who were in the lower half of that!

Question 10: Have you (or a partner) ever bought wine online?

A subject close to our heart, the increasing confidence and convenience in shopping online was borne out by the survey responses.

Over half those surveyed have bought wine online, with over a third (from Question 9) doing so on a regular basis. Further, of those that hadn’t bought wine online up to now (Question 11), over a quarter of those cited “just never thought of it” as the main reason for not doing so.

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Tune in tomorrow for Part II, where we find out your preferences for food, alcohol levels, closures, organic and, ahem, chocolate! We’ll also be announcing the winner of the luxury case of wine offered as a bribe incentive for completing the survey.

We’re delighted to announce, via our July contest, our exclusive association with an exciting new concept to Ireland’s online marketplace: Luckebox.

Luckebox is an innovative response to tough times - a fun, risk-free, value-led shopping site, offering extreme value for today’s trendiest items from gadgets to gourmet. You can follow them on Twitter @luckebox, and check out the fantastic Falling Price Auction, their last minute, countdown clear-out, for the best possible value on a ton of cool stuff.

As the exclusive wine partner to Luckebox, we’ve two Luckeboxes to give away as prizes in our July contest:

• A New World Wine Box, featuring six of our best from Australia, Chile and South Africa; and
• A Box 4 Cooks, fitting with our other great obsession, a box of tricks for the kitchen.

How to Enter: All you have to do to get in the draw is ‘friend us up’ on our Facebook page. We’ll draw two winners at random in July from all our fans and post it here and on Facebook.

Congratulations to Karl Strecker, drawn at random from our Facebook friends this morning, to win our June contest. Our South African prize pack is on it’s way to you Karl, we hope you enjoy.

We have been overwhelmed with the response to our first National Wine Drinkers Survey, launched a few weeks back - a massive, massive thank-you to everyone who took the time to respond.

With over 500 wine lovers responding, the survey is now closed and down to the analysis, with some fascinating highlights already leaping out (wine, chocolate or sex, who’d have thought! ;)).

We’ll be publishing your feedback here on the blog at the start of June, along with the winner of the €200 worth of wine - so keep those fingers crossed, and thanks again to everyone who participated.

Ever more curious,

Mike

This month, in anticipation of a World Cup frenzy in June, we’re jumping the gun and celebrating the New World’s oft forgotten hero, South Africa. (Ok, ok, we know the South Africans have been producing wine there for around 350 years but we didn’t come up with the classifications!).

This month’s featured prize is the chance to brush up on your knowledge of the regions, the grapes and the winemakers of this astonishingly beautiful country, with The Essential Guide to South African wines: Terroir and Travel, by Elmari Swart and Izak Smit.

Updated in 2009, this stunning guide presents the wine-producing regions in the uncomplicated Wine Pockets system, highlighting a specific terroir unit along with local wine styles, providing insight into the unique qualities of each wine-producing area. Every pocket takes you on a meaningful journey, discovering the terroir, viticulture, winemaking techniques and flagship wines of some of the premium producers. More than 300 commissioned photographs and full-colour illustrations will have you itching to get out there and experience South Africa for yourself.

We’ve one copy of this beautiful book along with two bottles from the outstanding Elgin Vintners to give away in June’s prize draw.

How to Enter: All you have to do is become a fan (or as they say now, “like” us) on our Facebook page. We’ll draw a winner at random in June from all our fans and post it here and on Facebook.

Congratulations to Aisling Dearle, Facebook friend and winner of our May contest. Oz Clarke’s Bordeaux is on its way to you Aisling, along with two lovely bottles of Chateau Bauduc. Enjoy!

3 minutes of your time for the chance to scoop €200 worth of wine?

We’re seeking to tap into the pulse of the wine-drinking nation and reveal where you drink, how you drink it and what you’d be prepared to give up in order keep drinking the world’s favourite tipple!

Whether you’re a wine drinking newbie or a seasoned pro, we’d love your input. Key results will be made public at the end of the survey so the more responses we can get, the more insightful the feedback.

We’ve put together a decadent mix of 12 of our favourite wines, worth more than €200, as a prize for one lucky respondent. The survey’s open to anyone over 18 years old, with the prize draw open to Irish residents only. Results from respondents from outside Ireland will be used as comparisons for those received from Irish wine drinkers.

It’s the very first Curious Wines National Wine Drinkers Survey: click below and cross your fingers for that draw!

It’s to Bordeaux we turn our attention this month as we attempt to remove the la-de-da and introduce a bit of ooh-la-la to the world’s most renowned wine region.

‘There is no better introduction to the world’s most dazzling wine region’, declared Decanter magazine on Oz Clarke’s Bordeaux.

We don’t think there’s a more accessible wine writer in the world, so we thought what better place to start for our May contest. We’ve a copy of this deliciously descriptive and beautifully presented book to give away, along with two bottles of Oz-recommended Chateau Bauduc.

How to Enter: We’re changing the entry criteria slightly this month, but it’s still a cinch to enter - all you have to do is become a fan (or be one already) on our Facebook page. We’ll draw a winner at random in May and post it here and on Facebook.

Congratulations to Tony Owens, winner of our April contest, Poncho y Vino! Prizes on the way to you Tony.

Clandestine parcels aside, this month’s all about Chile, so our April contest needed a related theme. Our first thought was a big pot of Mum’s chilli con carne but transport and keeping it warm was always going to be an issue (ok, really bad play on words in any case!).

Thankfully, with the unusually long and chilly winter we’ve been having (ok, we really have to stop now with the cheesy puns), our good friends in Santa Alicia sent us over a couple of Chilean ponchos to keep us warm in the Curious Wines warehouse. You could prise Matt’s from his cold dead hands but, preferring to keep him alive and warm, we’ve put the other one up for this month’s contest, along with a couple of bottles of our favourite Chileans’ finest.

(It’s not Mum’s chilli, but it’s a good second best.)

How to Enter: All you have to do to enter the contest is join (or already be a member of) our monthly newsletter. We’ll draw a winner at random in April when our next newsletter goes out. You are of course completely welcome to un-join the minute after the draw is done, but we like giving discounts, special deals and free stuff to our members, so we hope you’ll stick around!

Congratulations to Aoife Porter, winner of our March contest! Prizes on the way to you Aoife.

Sticking with our Spanish theme for the month of February, and continuing our love of matching great wine with great food, we’ve got some our most lovely Spanish wine and the Bible of Spanish Cooking to give away in this month’s competition.

From Phaidon Press comes Simone Ortega’s 1080 Recipes, the definitive book on traditional and authentic Spanish home cooking, and a bestseller in Spain since its publication almost forty years ago. Add in two bottles of our splendid Valliciergo Rioja, a red and a white, and you’re all set for the perfect Spanish night in.

How to Enter: All you have to do to enter the contest is join (or already be a member of) our monthly newsletter. We’ll draw a winner at random in March when our next newsletter goes out. You are of course completely welcome to un-join the minute after the draw is done, but we like giving discounts, special deals and free stuff to our members, so we hope you’ll stick around!