Strangest wine and food pairings from Pot Noodles to Wotsits

Brits are causing culinary catastrophes with their wine and food pairings, according to a new report that reveals we're matching our reds and whites with dishes that would make wine experts shudder.

The study, conducted by UK wine brand 'The Straw Hat', surveyed 2,004 UK adults and discovered that instead of pairing a robust red with a sirloin steak or a chilled white with a seafood platter, Brits prefer to enjoy their vino with less refined fare such as cheese on toast (20 percent) or chips (17 percent).

Millennials were found to be the biggest culprits of these wine blunders, committing an average of just over 5 every four weeks. Meanwhile, Leicester has been dubbed the wine crime capital of the UK, with residents committing an average of 4.5 wine-related misdemeanours a month.

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In total, only 11 percent of Brits admitted to enjoying wine alongside a steaming Pot Noodle or baked beans on toast, while a mere 4 percent confessed to washing down ice cream with a glass of the grape.

Other unconventional pairings included Skips, Wotsits, Pringles, Pickled Onion Monster Munch crisps - or Pork Pies, sausage rolls, late-night kebabs and cheese strings, reports the Express.

Amy Giaccobi, from The Straw Hat, said: "In the past, wine has been given an unfair rap, with many feeling that the sector is shrouded in mystery and expertise that alludes us.",

"In reality, wine can be fun and enjoyable, and it's actually pleasing to see that a lot of Brits are throwing out the 'rules' and pairing wine with cheese on toast, chips and picky bits."

Delving deeper into Brits' quirky relationship with wine - the survey uncovered some of Britain's other major 'wine crimes' with UK residents admitting they commit an average of four monthly.

Beyond the bizarre food combinations, selecting a bottle solely based on label appearance proved the most frequent rule violation (32 percent), whilst just under a third of Brits (27 percent) owned up to drinking directly from the bottle.

Ice cubes present another divisive matter. A quarter of us confess to adding them to white wine, whilst a further 16% drop them into red and 11 percent plop a cube into Prosecco - one in 10 even admitted to sipping wine through a straw.

Cringingly, 18 percent of participants also revealed they routinely butcher the pronunciation of wine grape varieties and vineyard names whilst 17 percent blend wine with lemonade or diet cola, Lady Gaga style.

Regarding consumption habits, most Brits utilise traditional wine glasses (64 percent) but nearly a quarter of Brits (21 percent) drink from tumblers, 14 percent employ mugs typically reserved for tea or coffee and one in 10 reach for plastic or party cups - roughly one in 20 said they consume wine from pint glasses.

Amy Giaccobi of The Straw Hat added: "Our great value wines, which are British-made right here in Yorkshire, are designed to be enjoyed alongside whatever you fancy, and we actively encourage drinkers to experiment and find new ways to delight in vino.

"Want to chill your red, add ice to your rosé or create a fruity punch or sangria? Fine by us!".

Here are the Brits' top ten most unusual wine pairings:.

Pizza - 27 percent.

Cheese on toast - 20 percent.

Chips - 17 percent.

Skips - 15 percent.

Wotsits - 15 percent.

Pringles - 14 percent.

Chocolate biscuits - 14 percent.

Frazzles - 14 percent.

Pickled Onion Monster Munch - 12 percent.

Pot Noodles - 11 percent.