Despite what everyone tells you, looks really can be more important than personality.

And that goes for wine too.

How? Well, imagine this scenario – you’re flat broke, you’ve been invited out to dinner (it could be your boss, your boyfriend’s parents, your GP), and worst of all, the spotty faced 18-year-old in the off licence knows more about wine than you do. And knows it.

So rather than get bogged down in all that fancy ‘wine speak’, take evasive action and do what you do when you’re out at a club – look for the best body and hope everything else matches.

Nowadays, wine comes in a variety of bottles, some of which are more enticing and exciting than others. If you’re hoping to fool your hosts with such slippery sleight of hand, the bottle (NOT THE WINE) really has to have that ‘It’ factor – think Matthew Matthew McConaughey or Angelina Jolie.

And fortunately, especially this close to Valentine’s, there are three bottles that really deliver the ‘Ooh’ factor. And in no particular order they are as follows: l If you’re feeling flush, you must bring the ‘gift’ bottle of Lanson Rose Champagne (£30.99, Tesco, Sainsbury, Waitrose and Majestic). Great Lanson taste, with a neoprene, cooler glove, that keeps the bubbly chilled in transit. Your host/hostess will be so pleased with your choice, she’ll invite you back again.

l Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ – £7.99 from Oddbins. I mean seriously, dig that appealing minimalist label.

l Fish Hoek Pinotage Rose, South Africa – under £6.50 from local groceries. Oh god, if only all bottles could look this good.

The indigenous fishbone design is earthy with a bit of funk, but make sure you place the bottle so it has plenty of back-lighting.

I haven’t tried any of these, so I can’t recommend their contents, but truth is, most people will be so focussed on eyeing up the bottle – and then you of course – that the quality of the wine itself will evoke little more than a passing thought.