Zinfandel is a bold, dry red best known from California in the United States, packed with ripe blackberry, black cherry and plum alongside pepper, spice and often a touch of vanilla. Full-bodied, fruity and usually generous in alcohol, it’s brilliant with BBQ ribs, burgers, pulled pork, steak, pizza and rich tomato-based pasta.

Toro is a bold, dry red from Castilla y León in northwestern Spain, made mainly from a local expression of Tempranillo known as Tinta de Toro. Expect blackberry, black cherry and plum with spice, cocoa and smoky oak. Full-bodied and powerful, it’s brilliant with steak, roast beef, lamb, BBQ ribs, burgers and slow-cooked meat.

Tempranillo is a bold, dry red grape from Spain and the star behind some of the country’s most famous wines, including Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Expect cherry, plum and blackberry with spice, leather and vanilla in oak-aged styles. It’s brilliant with steak, roast lamb, burgers, chorizo, BBQ food and rich tomato-based dishes.

Syrah is a bold, dry red grape best known from France’s Rhône Valley, producing wines packed with blackberry, blueberry and plum alongside its signature black pepper, herbs and savoury spice. Full-bodied and structured, it’s brilliant with steak, roast beef, lamb, BBQ ribs, burgers, sausages and slow-cooked meat.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Primitivo is a bold, dry red from Puglia in southern Italy, packed with ripe blackberry, black cherry and plum alongside spice, pepper and often a touch of chocolate. Rich, fruity and warming, it’s brilliant with pizza, lasagne, spaghetti bolognese, BBQ ribs, burgers, sausages and slow-cooked meat.

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.

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.

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.

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.