With wine sales in pubs and bars slumping as supermarket sales soar, it seems our drinking habits have changed dramatically in recent years. Factors such as the financial downturn and the smoking ban, combined with increasingly cold winters, mean that, for many people, staying in really is the new going out.

If you enjoy everything related to wine joining a wine club may be the ideal way for you to learn more. You can have the wine delivered to your door for you to try, and enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Enjoying wine is great, but you may want to take it one step further, and fully understand the flavours behind the wine you are drinking. Wine tasting is an art and learning how to do it correctly can take some time. However, once you have mastered it, you can impress friends and family with your extensive knowledge.

Special occasions call for careful planning. Hours can be spent selecting the appropriate food and wine to celebrate a special occasion, whether it is a birthday or anniversary or an event such as Christmas. However, it is often the wine choice which can cause the greatest stress as no-one wants to be shown up by choosing the “wrong” tipple for the big day. It is important to remember that there is actually no right or wrong choice as it is largely down to personal taste but here are some tips to help you make a decision.