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.

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.

Pinotage is a bold, dry red and South Africa’s signature grape, packed with blackberry, black cherry and plum alongside spice, smoke and earthy flavours. Usually medium to full-bodied, it’s brilliant with steak, burgers, BBQ ribs, grilled sausages, roast lamb and smoky, slow-cooked meat.

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.

Petit Manseng is an aromatic white grape from southwestern France, best known from Jurançon, where it produces everything from dry wines to intensely sweet dessert styles. Expect pineapple, peach and apricot with citrus, honey and spice. Its brilliant acidity makes it a great match for spicy curry, seafood, roast pork, blue cheese and fruit desserts.

Nero d'Avola is a bold, dry red from Sicily, Italy, packed with black cherry, plum and blackberry alongside herbs, spice and a touch of liquorice. Rich, smooth and sun-soaked, it’s brilliant with pizza, lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, steak, lamb, sausages and rich tomato-based dishes.

Nebbiolo is a dry, structured red grape from Piedmont in northern Italy, famous for making Barolo and Barbaresco. Expect red cherry and raspberry with rose, herbs, spice and earthy flavours, backed by high acidity and serious tannins. It’s brilliant with steak, roast beef, lamb, beef ragù, mushroom risotto and truffle pasta.

Muscadet is a bone-dry, light-bodied white from the western Loire Valley in France, made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape. Expect lemon, green apple and subtle pear with a salty, mineral edge. Crisp, clean and made for seafood, it’s brilliant with oysters, mussels, prawns, crab, sushi and grilled fish.

Monastrell is a bold, dry red grape from Spain, particularly at home in the warm regions of Jumilla, Yecla and Alicante. Expect blackberry, black plum and blueberry with herbs, black pepper and earthy spice. Full-bodied and powerful, it’s brilliant with steak, roast lamb, BBQ ribs, burgers, sausages and slow-cooked meat.

Merlot is a dry, medium to full-bodied red originally from Bordeaux, France, and now grown all over the world. Expect juicy plum, black cherry and blackberry with herbs, chocolate and gentle spice. Smooth and approachable, it’s brilliant with roast beef, burgers, roast chicken, pork, lasagne, bolognese and mushroom dishes.

Mencía is a dry, medium-bodied red from northwestern Spain, best known from Bierzo and Ribeira Sacra. Expect juicy red cherry, raspberry and blackberry with violet, herbs, pepper and a distinctive mineral edge. Fresh rather than heavy, it’s brilliant with roast pork, chicken, lamb, charcuterie, mushroom dishes and tomato-based pasta.

Marselan is a dry, medium to full-bodied red created in southern France by crossing Cabernet Sauvignon with Grenache. Expect blackberry, black cherry and plum with herbs, pepper and warming spice. Rich and smooth with plenty of dark fruit, it’s brilliant with steak, burgers, roast lamb, BBQ food, sausages and rich tomato-based dishes.

Marsanne is a dry, medium to full-bodied white grape best known from France’s Rhône Valley, with ripe pear, peach and melon alongside white flowers, almonds and gentle spice. Rich, rounded and beautifully textured, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, pork, grilled fish, creamy pasta, mushroom dishes and buttery seafood.

Malbec is a bold, dry red best known from Argentina, particularly Mendoza, with rich flavours of blackberry, black plum and black cherry alongside cocoa, spice and violet. Full-bodied, smooth and made for big flavours, it’s brilliant with steak, burgers, roast beef, BBQ ribs, lamb and slow-cooked meat.

Lemberger is a dry, medium-bodied red best known in Germany and Austria, where it’s better known as Blaufränkisch. Expect black cherry, blackberry and plum with pepper, herbs and spice. Fresh but structured, it’s brilliant with sausages, roast pork, burgers, roast beef, mushroom dishes and tomato-based pasta.

Grenache is a dry, medium to full-bodied red grape originally from Spain but now a star across southern France and beyond. Expect ripe strawberry, raspberry and cherry with herbs, pepper and warming spice. Juicy, generous and often high in alcohol, it’s brilliant with roast lamb, BBQ food, sausages, burgers, pizza and Mediterranean dishes.

Garnacha is a dry, medium to full-bodied red grape from Spain, packed with ripe strawberry, raspberry and cherry alongside herbs, pepper and warming spice. Juicy, generous and made for big flavours, it’s brilliant with roast lamb, chorizo, BBQ food, pizza, sausages, tapas and Mediterranean dishes.

Franciacorta is a dry, traditional-method sparkling wine from Lombardy in northern Italy, made mainly from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Expect lemon, green apple and pear with brioche, toast and almond notes from bottle ageing. Fine, elegant and seriously food-friendly, it’s brilliant with seafood, sushi, fried food, risotto, roast chicken and Parmesan.

Fiano di Avellino is a dry, medium-bodied white from Campania in southern Italy, made from the Fiano grape. Expect lemon, pear and ripe apple with white flowers, hazelnut, honey and a mineral edge. Fresh but beautifully textured, it’s brilliant with seafood, grilled fish, roast chicken, creamy pasta, risotto and fresh Italian dishes.