A VERY wise man once said that there was no such thing as a bad wine - it's just that some wines are better than others.

And staff at one of Skipton's newest retailers - Majestic Wine on Broughton Road - would undoubtedly concur with that view.

They say they are on a mission to help their customers "explore the magic of wine," and with free wine tasting constantly on offer it's little wonder that wine-lovers have been more than willing to help in that exploration.

Though the Skipton store has been open just a matter of weeks, manager Kate Syron says she and her colleagues Rob Harrisson and James Swinburne have enjoyed meeting so many people who are genuinely interested in finding out more.

Kate says: "We are happy to answer any questions on wines and spirits; it's lovely to have people pop in and ask us things, and we are more than happy to sit down with them and help however we can. We're a 'wine helpdesk' if you like.

"We continue to offer our tasting counter to all who come into the store. There are always a number of wines, of differing styles and varieties open to sample - so you may well discover a whole new world of wine that before had been stayed away from.

"The aim of the store here in Skipton is to try and bring our love of wine, and the enjoyment of tasting new and exciting wines, to everyone.

"Whether people know a little or a lot about wine production, grape varieties, different styles, particular countries or regions, food and wine matching or anything else wine related, we are here to help and guide everyone."

The Skipton store is one of more than 200 Majestic Wine outlets across the country. It opened it first store in Wood Green, North London, in 1980 and number 100 opened in 2002.

Kate points out that Majestic Wines has always been a 'mixed case retailer', which nowadays means that it sells six or more bottles, but this can be any mix of wines, 'fizz' or spirits.

She adds: "One of our best features is that we offer free wine tasting - we've always got at least three reds, two whites, and a rose, as well as beer and spirits open to taste in the store.

"We also run free wine-tasting events, including 'introduction to wine' courses, and 'spotlight tastings' on particular countries, which are all completely free to attend.

"Rob and myself have completed our Wines and Spirits Education Trust Level 3 qualification, and James is currently studying for his, which means we're able to provide expert advice and help in selecting your wines."

The stores opening hours are 10am-7pm Monday-Wednesday, 10am-8pm Thursday-Friday, 9am-7pm Saturday, and 10-5 Sunday.