Elbling is a bone-dry, light-bodied white best known from Germany’s Mosel region, with crisp lemon, green apple and pear flavours alongside white flowers and a subtle mineral edge. Light, zesty and seriously refreshing, it’s brilliant with oysters, prawns, grilled fish, sushi, salads and fresh goat’s cheese.

Dornfelder is a deeply coloured red grape from Germany, producing wines packed with blackberry, black cherry and plum alongside gentle spice and floral notes. It can range from dry to slightly sweet, with soft tannins and plenty of fruit, making it brilliant with burgers, sausages, roast pork, pizza, BBQ food and tomato-based pasta.

Dolcetto is a dry, medium-bodied red from Piedmont in northern Italy, packed with black cherry, plum and blackberry alongside violet, herbs and a distinctive almond note. Fruity, soft and made for drinking young, it’s brilliant with pizza, lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, sausages, charcuterie and mushroom dishes.

Crémant is a French sparkling wine made using the traditional bottle-fermentation method outside the Champagne region. Styles vary depending on where it’s made, but expect crisp citrus, apple and pear with floral, almond and subtle brioche notes. Fresh and seriously food-friendly, it’s brilliant with seafood, sushi, fried food, charcuterie, canapés and soft cheese.

Côtes du Rhône is a dry, medium to full-bodied wine from France’s Rhône Valley, with the reds usually built around Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Expect ripe cherry, blackberry and plum with pepper, herbs and warming spice. Rich but easy-going, it’s brilliant with roast lamb, sausages, burgers, BBQ food, pizza and slow-cooked meat.

Côtes de Provence is a dry, pale rosé from Provence in southern France, usually made from grapes such as Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah. Expect strawberry, peach and watermelon with citrus, flowers and fresh herbs. Crisp, elegant and ridiculously refreshing, it’s brilliant with seafood, salads, grilled chicken, sushi and Mediterranean food.

Cortese is a dry, crisp white grape from Piedmont in northern Italy and the grape behind Gavi. Expect lemon, green apple and pear with white flowers, almonds and a fresh mineral edge. Light, clean and seriously refreshing, it’s brilliant with prawns, grilled fish, seafood pasta, salads, roast chicken and fresh Italian dishes.

Cinsault Rosé is a dry, light-bodied rosé best known from southern France, with fresh strawberry, raspberry and watermelon flavours alongside citrus, flowers and delicate herbs. Soft, crisp and easy-drinking, it’s brilliant with prawns, grilled fish, chicken, salads, sushi, Mediterranean food and soft cheese.

Chianti is a dry, medium-bodied red from Tuscany, Italy, made mainly from Sangiovese. Expect juicy cherry and red plum with herbs, violet, spice and an earthy edge. Its fresh acidity makes it an absolute natural with Italian food, especially pizza, lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, tomato-based pasta, meatballs and roast meats.

Chenin Blanc is a brilliantly versatile white grape best known from France’s Loire Valley and South Africa, producing wines from bone-dry and crisp to rich and sweet. Expect apple, pear and quince with citrus, peach and honey. Its naturally high acidity makes it brilliant with seafood, roast chicken, pork, spicy Asian food, creamy dishes and fruit desserts.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a bold, dry red from the Southern Rhône Valley in France, usually led by Grenache alongside grapes such as Syrah and Mourvèdre. Expect ripe cherry, blackberry and plum with herbs, pepper and warming spice. Rich and powerful, it’s brilliant with roast lamb, steak, beef stew, BBQ food and slow-cooked meat.

Chardonnay is a dry white grape originally from Burgundy, France, and now grown virtually everywhere wine is made. Its style ranges from crisp lemon and green apple to rich peach, butter, vanilla and toast. Ridiculously versatile, it’s brilliant with seafood, roast chicken, creamy pasta, salmon, mushroom dishes and soft cheese.

Champagne is a sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France, usually made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Expect citrus, green apple and pear with brioche, toast and almond notes from ageing. Crisp, complex and famously celebratory, it’s brilliant with oysters, seafood, sushi, fried chicken, chips, soft cheese and canapés.

Chablis is a dry, crisp white from northern Burgundy, France, made entirely from Chardonnay. Expect lemon, green apple and pear with a distinctive stony, mineral edge and plenty of fresh acidity. Lean and elegant rather than buttery, it’s brilliant with oysters, prawns, grilled fish, sushi, roast chicken and goat’s cheese.

Cava is a dry, traditional-method sparkling wine from Spain, most famously made in Catalonia from grapes including Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada. Expect lemon, green apple and pear with almond, toast and gentle brioche notes. Crisp and seriously food-friendly, it’s brilliant with tapas, seafood, sushi, fried food, charcuterie and paella.

Carménère is a dry, medium to full-bodied red best known from Chile, packed with blackberry, black cherry and plum alongside herbs, pepper and warming spice. Smooth, fruity and savoury, it’s brilliant with steak, burgers, roast beef, lamb, BBQ food, sausages and smoky vegetable dishes.

Carignan is a dry, medium to full-bodied red grape with deep roots in Spain and a long history in southern France. Expect black cherry, blackberry and plum with herbs, pepper and savoury spice. Fresh acidity and plenty of structure make it brilliant with roast lamb, sausages, BBQ food, beef stew, tomato-based dishes and Mediterranean food.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold, dry red originally from Bordeaux, France, and now grown pretty much everywhere that takes wine seriously. Expect blackcurrant, blackberry and black cherry with cedar, herbs and spice. Full-bodied and structured, it’s brilliant with steak, roast beef, burgers, lamb, BBQ food and slow-cooked meat.

Cabernet Gernischt is a dry, medium to full-bodied red best known from China, particularly regions such as Ningxia and Shandong. Expect blackcurrant, blackberry and plum with herbs, pepper and savoury spice. Fruity but structured, it’s brilliant with steak, roast beef, lamb, burgers, BBQ food and roasted vegetables.

Red Burgundy is a dry, light to medium-bodied wine from Burgundy in eastern France, made primarily from Pinot Noir. Expect red cherry, raspberry and strawberry with gentle spice and earthy flavours. Elegant rather than heavy, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, duck, pork, salmon, mushroom dishes and truffle pasta.