Silvaner is a dry, light to medium-bodied white best known from Germany and Alsace in France. Expect green apple, pear and citrus with fresh herbs and a subtle mineral edge. Crisp, understated and brilliantly food-friendly, it’s a great match for asparagus, seafood, roast chicken, salads, pork and grilled vegetables.

Shiraz is a bold, dry red best known from Australia, packed with ripe blackberry, black cherry and plum alongside black pepper, spice and often a touch of chocolate. Full-bodied, rich and warming, it’s brilliant with steak, BBQ ribs, burgers, roast lamb, sausages, brisket and slow-cooked beef.

Sémillon is a versatile white grape best known from Bordeaux in France and Australia’s Hunter Valley, producing everything from crisp, dry whites to rich, honeyed dessert wines. Expect lemon, apple and pear with waxy, nutty and honeyed notes as it develops. It’s brilliant with seafood, roast chicken, creamy pasta, soft cheese and fruit desserts.

Sauvignon Blanc is a dry, crisp white grape originally from France and now famous worldwide, particularly in New Zealand. Expect lime, grapefruit and gooseberry with fresh herbs and tropical fruit depending on where it’s grown. Zesty and refreshing, it’s brilliant with seafood, goat’s cheese, sushi, salads, asparagus and herby chicken dishes.

Sangiovese is a dry, medium-bodied red grape from Italy and the star behind some of Tuscany’s biggest names, including Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino. Expect cherry and red plum with herbs, spice and earthy flavours. Fresh, savoury and made for food, it’s brilliant with pizza, lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, tomato pasta, steak and roast meats.

Saint-Émilion is a rich, dry red from Bordeaux, France, usually led by Merlot with Cabernet Franc playing a major supporting role. Expect plum, black cherry and blackberry with herbs, spice and earthy flavours. Smooth but structured, it’s brilliant with steak, roast beef, lamb, beef stew, mushroom dishes and mature cheese.

Rosé Prosecco is a fresh, sparkling pink wine from northeastern Italy, made mainly from Glera with a small amount of Pinot Noir. Expect strawberry, raspberry and red apple alongside peach, citrus and white flowers. Light, fruity and incredibly easy to drink, it’s brilliant with prawns, sushi, charcuterie, pizza, brunch and berry desserts.

Rioja is a dry, medium to full-bodied red from northern Spain, usually led by Tempranillo. Expect cherry, plum and blackberry with vanilla, spice, leather and savoury flavours, particularly in oak-aged bottles. Smooth, warming and seriously food-friendly, it’s brilliant with steak, roast lamb, chorizo, BBQ food, burgers and tomato-based dishes.

Regent is a dry, medium-bodied red grape most closely associated with Germany, producing deeply coloured wines packed with black cherry, blackberry and plum alongside herbs and gentle spice. Fruity and smooth with enough structure for food, it’s a great match for burgers, sausages, roast pork, roast chicken, pizza and mushroom dishes.

Prosecco is a fresh, sparkling white from northeastern Italy, made mainly from the Glera grape. Expect green apple, pear and citrus with white flowers and peach, wrapped in lively bubbles. Light, fruity and incredibly easy to drink, it’s brilliant with canapés, prosciutto, prawns, sushi, pizza, light pasta and brunch dishes.

Priorat is a bold, dry red from Catalonia in northeastern Spain, usually built around Garnacha and Cariñena. Expect blackberry, black cherry and plum with herbs, liquorice, spice and a distinctive mineral edge. Rich, powerful and structured, it’s brilliant with steak, roast lamb, beef stew, BBQ food, slow-cooked meat and mature cheese.

Pouilly-Fumé is a dry, crisp white from the Loire Valley in France, made entirely from Sauvignon Blanc. Expect lemon, grapefruit and green apple with herbs and a distinctive flinty, mineral edge. Fresh, elegant and seriously refreshing, it’s brilliant with oysters, prawns, grilled fish, goat’s cheese, salads and fresh herb dishes.

Pouilly-Fuissé is a dry, medium to full-bodied white from southern Burgundy, France, made entirely from Chardonnay. Expect ripe apple, pear and citrus with stone fruit, nuts and a subtle mineral edge. Rich but fresh, it’s brilliant with lobster, prawns, grilled fish, roast chicken, creamy pasta, mushroom dishes and soft cheese.

Portugieser is a dry, light-bodied red grown mainly in Germany and Austria, with juicy red cherry, raspberry and strawberry flavours, soft tannins and gentle spice. Fresh, fruity and easy-drinking, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, pork, sausages, pizza, charcuterie and mushroom dishes, and lighter styles can be served slightly chilled.

Pomerol is a rich, dry red from Bordeaux’s Right Bank in France, usually dominated by Merlot with Cabernet Franc often joining the blend. Expect ripe plum, black cherry and blackberry with spice, chocolate and earthy flavours. Smooth, plush and seriously elegant, it’s brilliant with steak, roast beef, lamb, beef stew, mushroom dishes and truffle pasta.

Pinot Noir Rosé is a dry, elegant pink wine made from Pinot Noir, with fresh strawberry, raspberry and red cherry alongside citrus, flowers and gentle spice. Crisp but full of flavour, it’s brilliant with salmon, prawns, sushi, roast chicken, charcuterie, salads and mushroom dishes.

Pinot Noir is a dry, light to medium-bodied red best known from Burgundy in France, with brilliant examples now made around the world. Expect cherry, raspberry and strawberry with gentle spice and earthy flavours. Silky rather than heavy, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, duck, pork, salmon, mushroom dishes and truffle pasta.

Pinot Meunier is a light to medium-bodied red grape from France, best known as one of the key grapes used in Champagne. When made as a still red, expect juicy cherry, raspberry and strawberry with floral, herbal and gently earthy flavours. Fresh and soft, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, pork, duck, salmon, charcuterie and mushroom dishes.

Pinot Grigio is a dry, light-bodied white best known from Italy, particularly the north, with crisp flavours of lemon, green apple and pear alongside subtle floral and mineral notes. Fresh, clean and easy-drinking, it’s brilliant with prawns, grilled fish, seafood pasta, salads, roast chicken and light Mediterranean dishes.

Pinot Blanc is a dry, light to medium-bodied white grown across France, Germany, Austria and northern Italy. Expect crisp apple, pear and citrus with white flowers, almond and a gentle creamy edge. Fresh but rounded, it’s brilliant with seafood, roast chicken, creamy pasta, salads, grilled vegetables and soft cheese.