Survey reveals most French know next to nothing about wine

It's enough to make you choke on your Chablis. In France, the land of good food and world-famous wine, seven of out 10 people admit they are far from connoisseurs when it comes to the grape.

A survey has found the French know far less about wine than stereotypes would suggest.

Responding to the question: "Do you have the feeling you have a good knowledge of wine?" a surprising 71 percent of French people replied in the negative, with only three percent saying they had "a lot" of knowledge.

It appeared that social class has a great deal of influence over one's wine appreciation - 43 percent of white-collar workers claimed to be connoisseurs but only 16 percent of blue-collar employees.

Polling company Viavoice said this showed a "very elitist" approach to wine in France but also the "real or imagined feeling for several households faced with tight budgets that they cannot afford quality wine."

Viavoice surveyed 1015 adults between May 28 and 30 for the poll that was published in the Terre de Vins magazine on Tuesday.