10 tips for buying wine

Think 'occasion'

Are you buying wine for a girls' night in, dinner party, a gift or is it to impress someone? For a girlie night in you don't have to be too extravagant - try a light, quaffable white wine like the Bella Modella Pinot Grigio, or a smooth, fruity red such as McPherson Merlot.

If you are taking wine to a dinner party, you could be cheeky and check what food will be served or be decidedly different, and impress your hostess with a bottle of Stella Bella Pink Muscat – a delicious, sparkly dessert wine, which goes down a treat with all fruit-based puddings, as well as chocolate!

Think 'food'

The basic rule is white wine for white meats and red wine for red meats – however, there are exceptions. Rich, heavyweight foods need a full-bodied wine, usually a red like Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon, but a full-bodied white like Chardonnay is better than a lighter red. Lighter foods - plain white meat or fish – need a more delicate wine, usually white such as Pinot Grigio, Viognier or Sauvignon Blanc, but light-bodied, low-tannin reds (Beaujolais or Valpolicella) can also be good

Think 'people'

One normal-sized 75cl bottle of wine will supply you with six 125ml glasses of wine. Remember that those huge bulbous wine glasses will probably hold twice as much as a normal glass, so you will only get three glasses per bottle instead.

Think 'colour'

White, red or rosé? Your preferences, the food you will be serving and the occasion are all factors that can help decide what colour of wine to choose.

Think 'grape'

Make a note of wines you have enjoyed previously - the grape type is usually on the label. However, French wines can be confusing - Chablis or white Burgundy is always a Chardonnay; Bordeaux and Clarets are mainly Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blends. Pouilly Fumé is Sauvignon Blanc and Pouilly Fuissé is Chardonnay.

Think 'country'

Wines are either Old World (northern hemisphere, Europe) or New World (southern hemisphere, Australia, South Africa, Chile, California). The growing climate affects the taste. Cooler climates = more acidity and less alcohol, hotter climates = less acidity and more alcohol. So, a Chardonnay from France will be more like green apples, whereas a Chardonnay from Australia will be like riper red apples.

Think 'price'

Generally speaking the more you spend on a bottle of wine, the better quality wine you get. That said, you can get a fabulous bottle for under £10, if you've read this guide and know what you're looking for!

Think 'vintage'

With most wines, especially large-scale brands like Jacob's Creek and Blossom Hill, the vintage is not important. Vintage is important with wines that mature rather than age and are made in regions where the weather varies from year to year, which gives each vintage its own character, such as Bordeaux wines.

Think 'storage'

To keep wine for long periods, it must be stored correctly or the flavour can be affected. Temperatures should be cool and constant. Store wine on its side to ensure the cork does not dry out, and away from strong natural or artificial light, as it will become stale.

Think 'bubbles'

Vintage Champagne is only produced in the best years and the rest of the time Champagne is a blend of many different years for consistency. Consider buying a very good sparkling wine from Australia, California or New Zealand rather than cheap Champagne, as New World sparklers are much easier to drink and less astringent than cheap Champagne.