MAKE THIS THE WEEK YOU...

MASTER A WINE LIST

DON’T FOLLOW FASHION

BIG names such as Rioja, Champagne and Chablis can be hugely marked up, but wines from unfashionable regions often offer better value. For fizz think Cremant — a French sparkling wine made in a similar way to Champagne. For a great white, go for a Muscadet instead of Marlborough Sauvignon and, if you’re looking for red, try Roussillon rather than Rioja.

PICK FROM THE MIDDLE

IGNORE the expensive stuff and don’t pick the second cheapest on the list. Work out the price bracket where most of the wines fall and pick one from the middle of that range.

GO LOCAL

IF YOU’VE picked fish, wines made near the coast work brilliantly, such as Albarino from Galicia in north-west Spain. Pasta dishes love a Chianti and slow-cooked lamb is a speciality in the Rioja region for a reason.

FIND YOUR STYLE

WINES are often listed by style, such as light whites followed by fuller-bodied ones and fruity reds before f uller- bodied reds. For example, grilled fish will work better with a light white — so look higher up the list of white wines.

SWOT UP ONLINE FIRST

IF YOU don’t want to reveal your budget to dining companions, many restaurants publish wine lists online. Check it out before you go.

IF IN DOUBT, CHEAT

DOWNLOAD Vivino, a free app, and use your phone to scan the wine list by photographing it. The app then displays ratings given by Vivino users for all the wines it recognises.

ASK THE EXPERT

THERE’S another great source of information — the wine waiter or sommelier. Generally, they’re thrilled to advise — after all, you’re paying for it.