Traditionally I’m a whiskey and port man, a bit of an odd start, but leaping over the delights of red and white wine, I went straight for the more potent of tastes and stuck there for a while. I did always feel like I was missing out on something when sitting down for a meal though – as I would normally have a beer or simply water in that instance – so I asked a good friend to help me out one evening, and we sat down to try some different flavours.

By the end of the night, well oiled and full of debate, I came to the conclusion I definitely preferred red to white, and that I personally preferred the more fuller bodied wines like pinot noir, as was the richer and more powerful taste that I was accustomed to.

But obviously not everyone has the same experiences with wine and other types of drink, so I’ve picked out a few of the Tesco Finest Range in the form of a medium bodied Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon and a robust Shiraz and a light and fruity Rioja to get us started.  

Tesco Finest, Block Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon, has its Cabernet and Shiraz selected from several growers on the Western ridges of the Barossa. St Hallett has long-term relationships with growers and a hands on input in viticulture and picking times. The ability to select different parcels of Shiraz from these growers allows complexity and diversity for this final Tesco blend. The additional % of Cabernet Sauvignon has added an extra savoury twist to this classic wine.  This is a full-on, intense Aussie, bristling with blackcurrants and finishing on a sweetly ripe note redolent of black fruit pastilles. Something that will go down brilliantly on a Sunday afternoon if you’re sitting down for a great roast, or would work nicely with a simple pasta dish too.

Second up, we’ve got something that if you’re looking to take a bit of a leap with, or if you’re like me, enjoy richer more robust flavours.  The Tesco Finest Stellenbosch Shiraz, from the cooler vineyard sites around Stellenbosch, this Shiraz has distinctive coffee and black fruit flavours, a firm structure and spice from its time spent ageing in barrel-Smooth and supple, it delivers a real mouthful of flavour. This is the sort of drink that works perfectly with full-flavoured dishes such as lamb, beef or game. Crammed with beautiful blackberry fruit, it’s guaranteed to add to a great meal.

And one more, who enjoy the light and fruity side of things, the Tesco Finest Vina Mara Rioja Reserva is a great place to get started, with aromas of raspberry and vanilla spice, it’s a rich, fruity flavour of red berry fruits with a layer of oak spice. Suzy Atkins of the Sunday Telegraph said that this wine, has “plenty of concentrated, sweetly ripe strawberry flavour here from Tempranillo grapes,” and that it has a, “full finish with spicy hints of vanilla and oak. Great with lamb tagines.”

So there you have some great reds to start off with whether you’re looking for a full bodied experience, a medium or something a bit lighter.