by Serenata Wines

No matter where you dine or how much you know, wine lists can be daunting. Prices can be senseless and regions and producers are often unrecognisable.

But deciphering a wine list doesnt have to be stressful. Just follow these five simple tips:

1) Dont be afraid to ask for help

If the restaurant youre eating in employs a wine professional, then ask for their advice. Theyre not there to snarl at wine amateurs: rather, theyre a library of wine knowledge. Plumb it, ask whatever you like, and youll no doubt find your perfect wine.

2) Show courage

Huge wine lists can look scary: but really, theyre not. If youre a little lost, why not take the plunge and go for something youve never heard of. Do it with confidence, and impressed wthet able wth your courage - even if they know youre blagging it - and youll learn something new. Which is bound to come in handy next time.

3) Less expensive wines

A great wine list is full of great wines. So it doesnt matter if you go for the most expensive bottle, or the least expensive: the wine is bound to be good.

4) Try before you buy

Waiters are used to people being fussy about their wine: asking for a quick taste before ordering a bottle is part and parcel of the tradition. Dont be afraid to ask to sample a wine before committing. Take this approach throughout the evening and youll have the chance to try a huge variety of wines with your meal.

5) Remember, you are in charge

If your wine is too warm, ask for an ice bucket. If your server is refilling your glass too quickly, ask them to slow down – you could even insist on finishing your glass before its refilled. And dont feel pressured to spend more than youd like. If you dont want to let your guests know how much youre spending, point to the price youre thinking and ask for something similar.

Simple. Happy ordering!

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How do you raise the roof at the Royal Opera House, whilst raising money for charity? By bringing the worlds finest voices and the worlds finest wines, together.

And thats exactly what Decanter and the Royal Opera House did on Tuesday March 13, by hosting this years Wine Gala Dinner, following the success of their 2008 event.

The evening began with the Royal Opera House chorus giving a recital, which was directed by Renato Balsadonna, and featured internationally-acclaimed soloists Ekaterina Siurina, Christine Rice, Robert Murray and Mathew Rose.

Guests were then treated to a six-course dinner, and with each course, a wine  donated by one of the six wine makers attending the evening. And for that extra special touch, the producer of each wine took to the stage to personally introduce their wine.

Next came an exciting 12-lot auction. Where, as well as large format bottles, exclusive tastings and vineyard stays, a private violin recital and the chance to sit in the Royal Opera House orchestral pit during a performance, were also up for grabs. There were several heated bidding wars throughout the auction, with the highest-grossing lot selling for £21,000.

The evening was a roaring success, raising £87,000 in total for the Royal Opera House foundation. Well drink to that!

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Forget about star signs - according to a psychometric test conducted by chartered psychologist Ros Taylor, if you want to know about someones personality, just look at whats in their glass.

The results from the test suggest that a persons choice of tipple says a lot about them.

Customers who regularly bought a particular type of drink participated in the study. They were asked to pick one of five car brands which best described them.

Well focus on the wine results here.

43% of red wine drinkers chose a Volvo Saloon. Ms Taylor says that this suggests red wine drinkers are discerning and mature, and very organised. "They tend to be organised professionals and the type of people who alphabetise their CD collections,” she said.

53% of white wine drinkers chose a Mercedes SLK/Audi Quattro. From this, Ms Taylor concludes that white wine drinkers are entrepreneurial, and might be a bit bossy: "They also tend to be opinionated and independent," she added.

Ms Taylor said the study suggested a link between your personality and what you drink. "It is not the drink that makes the person," she said. "But rather its the person who, quite literally in this instance, makes the drink."

So this Mothers Day, dont just give your Mum any old bottle of wine: choose one which really says something about her.

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