Maratheftiko is a bold, dry red grape native to Cyprus, with ripe blackberry, black cherry and plum alongside violet, herbs and warming spice. Medium to full-bodied with plenty of structure, it’s brilliant with lamb, steak, beef stew, grilled meat, BBQ food, moussaka and Mediterranean dishes.

Xinomavro is a bold, dry red from northern Greece, best known from Naoussa and Amyndeon. Expect red cherry, cranberry and plum with tomato, herbs, olives and earthy spice, backed by high acidity and serious tannins. Complex and brilliantly food-friendly, it’s great with lamb, steak, beef stew, tomato-based pasta, moussaka and mushroom dishes. Taste: Bright red fruit, serious structure and a savoury side that keeps things interesting. Xinomavro is typically dry and medium to f

Rosso di Montalcino is a dry, medium-bodied red from Tuscany, Italy, made from Sangiovese. Expect juicy cherry and raspberry, a little spice and that classic Italian freshness that makes it ridiculously easy to pair with food. Pizza, lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, tomato-based pasta and roast meats are all very welcome here.

Bardolino is a light, dry red from Veneto in northern Italy, made mainly from Corvina, with other local grapes often joining the party. Expect juicy cherry, strawberry and raspberry with gentle spice and barely-there tannins. It's an easy-drinking red that's brilliant with pizza, tomato pasta, chicken, antipasti and lighter Italian dishes.

Valpolicella is a dry, light to medium-bodied red from Veneto in northern Italy, usually made from Corvina alongside other local grapes. Expect juicy cherry, raspberry and red plum with gentle herbs and spice. Fresh, fruity and incredibly food-friendly, it's a great match for pizza, lasagne, tomato pasta, roast chicken, pork and a loaded antipasti board.

Zweigelt is a dry, light to medium-bodied red from Austria, packed with juicy cherry, raspberry and plum, often with a little pepper and spice. Fresh, fruity and easy to drink, it's a great match for roast chicken, pork, sausages, burgers, pizza and charcuterie – and it's one of those reds that's pretty happy being served slightly chilled.

Spätburgunder is Germany’s name for Pinot Noir: a dry, light to medium-bodied red with bright cherry, raspberry and strawberry flavours, subtle spice and an earthy edge. Fresh rather than heavy, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, duck, pork, salmon, mushroom dishes and charcuterie – and lighter bottles can be delicious slightly chilled.

Cinsault is a dry, light to medium-bodied red best known in southern France, with plenty also grown in South Africa and around the Mediterranean. Expect juicy raspberry, strawberry and red cherry with floral notes, herbs and gentle spice. Fresh and easy-drinking, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, pork, charcuterie, pizza, grilled vegetables and Mediterranean food.

Cabernet Franc is a dry, medium-bodied red originally from France, best known in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley. Expect raspberry, red cherry and blackcurrant with herbs, pepper and a subtle earthy edge. Fresh and savoury rather than overly heavy, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, pork, steak, lamb, tomato-based pasta and grilled vegetables.

Trollinger is a dry, light-bodied red best known from Württemberg in southern Germany. Expect juicy strawberry, raspberry and red cherry with gentle herbs and spice, soft tannins and plenty of freshness. Often served slightly chilled, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, pork, sausages, pizza, charcuterie and grilled vegetables.

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.

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.

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.

Pais is a dry, light-bodied red with centuries of history in Chile, known for its juicy strawberry, raspberry and red cherry flavours with herbs, gentle spice and an earthy edge. Fresh, low in tannins and easy to drink, it’s brilliant with roast chicken, pork, sausages, pizza, charcuterie, empanadas and grilled vegetables.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.