INSIDER know-how: Flexible wines

THESE ARE WINES that go with lots of styles of foods. For a white, go with a dry Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc. These have a cleansing acidity that leaves you wanting to take a bite of food, and after that bite you’ll want a sip of wine. The perfect seesaw.

FLEXIBLE REDS either have good acidity, such as Chianti, Burgundy and Californian Pinot Noir, or they have loads of fruit and not a lot of tannin. For the latter reason, Zinfandel, simple Italian reds and southern Rhône wines, such as Châteauneufdu-Pape, are naturals with a wide range of dishes.