Martin's Super Markets is giving shoppers an excellent opportunity to learn more about the pairing of wines and foods via a free guide available in the wine sections at its 20 stores.

The pocket-sized "Wine By The Numbers" brochure serves as a handy reference to the regional grocers' color- and number-coordinated system of easy-to-understand wine/food pairing suggestions, said the grocer.

"Our new Wine By The Numbers Guide was produced in response to requests from customers who wanted a quick, easy guide in choosing wine and food pairings right in the store," said Doug Murphy, Martin's director of wine/fine spirits. "Consultations with both wine and food specialists resulted in a guide that any adult can understand and use in just minutes."

Current plans are to add new wines and foods on an ongoing basis to the already-comprehensive selection so that the shopper can enjoy the most up-to-date information available.

Using the guide is simple, said Murphy. Wines are grouped into one of six numbered and color-coded categories, each with a distinct iconic graphic. Category lists suggest main courses as well as snacks and ready-to-eat foods that best compliment that particular category of wines.

The system works in reverse as well. Select foods throughout the store are marked on shelf-tags with one of the system icons, so that a shopper can first choose a food and then, in turn, choose a coded wine from the store's identified stock.

Wine By The Numbers guides are available in the South Bend, Ind.-based Martin's stores or as a downloadable file through the Fine Wine & Spirits link in the company's web site www.martins-supermarkets.com.

Martin's has 17 stores in South Bend, Mishawaka, Granger, Elkhart, Goshen, Plymouth, Nappanee and Logansport, Ind., and three in Michigan in Niles, Stevensville and St. Joseph.