Red wine drinkers earn more and are generally happier – but white wine lovers are more practical, a study has revealed.

Experts who examined in detail the social habits of wine drinkers found their lifestyles can be generalised according to their preferred wine.

Those who drink red wine are also more likely to have a degree and be married, and drink more frequently than those who have a preference for white or rosé.

But white wine drinkers are home-lovers, who are content with their position on the career ladder.

“They say you can tell a lot about someone from their favourite tipple, and it seems that it is definitely the case when it comes to wine,” Gérard Basset, spokesman for French Wines with Style, which commissioned the report, said.

“From the study it looks as though those with certain personality traits are drawn to certain styles of wine.

“Red wine drinkers appear to be the more relaxed of wine fans. White wine drinkers love the status quo. Whilst rosé fans are itching for change.”

The study looked into everything from earnings to career prospects and personal attributes.

When it comes to the red wine drinkers more than half are university graduates, and typically earn the highest. 81 percent are happy at work, with 65 percent still highly ambitious and mounting an assault on the career ladder. Just under a quarter even think they have achieved all they can professionally.

In comparison, 43 percent of white wine drinkers have attended university and in spite of 81 percent admitting they are not yet near the top of their career, most are not really interested in climbing the corporate ladder, with 42 percent saying they aren’t really that ambitious.

More than three quarters even said they are very satisfied with what they have achieved.

The research also found that 55 percent of rosé fans leave school by 18.

Outside of the work place, red wine drinkers are most likely to be happily married, with 52 percent having walked down the aisle and a massive 86 percent saying their relationship is a happy one.

White wine drinkers are also more likely than other wine drinkers to be content with their solo relationship status, with 85% saying they are not looking for a relationship.

Rosé fans are most likely to be in a happily settled, unmarried relationship.

Researchers also revealed that red wine drinkers enjoy spending the money they earn- a quarter of those who enjoy a glass of red take around three overseas holidays a year.

As a result of their travels (red wine drinkers visit an average of 10 countries), 76 percent consider themselves to be “cultured”.

Other traits red wine drinkers see themselves as having include confidence, being relaxed, strong and intelligent.

On the other hand, white wine drinkers tend to use words such as practical, bright, shy, quiet and reserved when describing themselves.

Rosé drinkers like to describe themselves as loud, warm and charming.

When it comes to style, 59 percent of red wine drinkers think they are stylish, with 88 percent taking pride in their appearance.

White wine fans are similar, with 87 percent taking care of their looks, and 56 percent describing themselves as stylish.

The study also found that it’s the rosé drinker who adores Facebook, averaging 146 friends and 13 visits to the site each week.

But red wine drinkers have a greater enthusiasm for ‘real’ versus ‘virtual’ friends, with 90 saying they enjoy socialising with friends, and only log onto social networks such as Facebook eight times in an average week.

Red wine drinkers average four glasses of their preferred wine a week, white wine fans have three while rosé drinkers average just two glasses of wine a week – the least of all wine drinkers.