So here are a few wise words on how to enjoy your wine at night, without it turning into a personality-changing binge session.

Firstly remember that wine is an appetiser. It makes us want to eat, so it makes sense to try to limit yourself to enjoying wine with your meal only. Eating while you drink is where those additional kilos start to pile on.

Tasting wine can teach you to be self-aware. Very few people who enjoy wine are in fact in touch with their own feelings or, in hipster speak, "mindfulness".

Begin with a glass of wine in front of you. Try not to read the back label - they are put there to tell us a lot about a wine - and knowledge by association can ruin the fun.

Pour a little (no more than 40ml) to start with into a large wine glass with a stem.

Swirl the wine around and hold the glass up to the light to see the colour and if there are any imperfections in the wine. Yes, we are all thirsty and want to move on now, but it helps to warm up the wine a little for this process; a quick swirl will release esters and aromas.

Stay calm and quiet. Think about the things you love most to eat and your favourite flavours and what they make you think of. It's this association that makes our organoleptic senses remember the flavours of different wines.

Trust your palate. It's been with you since the first teaspoon of mashed vegetables was served to you as a baby.

Now say the first word that comes into your head after tasting the wine. It may be "wine" or fruit, earth, glue or grandma's socks - so long as that taste is associated with something you can remember.

If you felt totally connected to the moment as you tried the wine you should be able to relate to a smell or taste or experience - good or bad.

You are on your way to being a mindful person - and it was all done through the power of wine.