With the first flush of barbeques well underway, I thought it was time for some recommendations to go with your chunky chops or your sizzling steaks!

To start with I’m going to cater for those people who want a bit of a beefy red to go with the big strong meat dishes. To match up with your steaks you’ll be looking for wines with good fruit and some well balanced tannin. Tannin is that feeling you get in your mouth, for example when you have a strong cup of tea - it’s a slightly drying sensation in the mouth. New world Cabernet Sauvignon goes perfectly with a juicy steak. It has smokey, blackcurrant fruit, often with a hint of menthol and enough tannin to stand up to a powerful meat. Why not try Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet from Australia? Alternatively try the rich fruit in an Argentinian Malbec. You tend to find that wines go well with the foods that traditionally come from the same area, so barbeques and Argentinian Malbecs are a match made in heaven. For a bargain go for Argento Malbec.

If you're having beef burgers, then try out a Shiraz. Dark berry fruit with lashings of black pepper will work perfectly with excellent home made burgers. Casillero del Diablo offer a great Shiraz at a price that suits barbeque glugging.

Pork or chicken dishes with lighter flavours don’t need a wine with so much tannin. The main aim when matching these is to go for something nice and soft. Soft plummy Merlots not only match well to these dishes but also tend to be great crowd pleasers. Oyster Bay Merlot from New Zealand or Cono Sur Merlot from Chile are just right for the job.

Venison sausages taking up a spot on coals? Then search out a great Pinot Noir. Yering Station Pinot Noir is a great example, full of black cherry and spice with silky tannins. Slightly lighter Pinot Noir can be found if you head over to France, with the added benefit of lower alcohol levels. Pinot Noir Valmoissine from Louis Latour is a delicate silky wine, perfect with lighter meat dishes.

Lamb chops? Then Rioja all the way. Try out the Berberana Reserva. The Reserva has spent at least 2 years in oak so it has lovely vanilla strawberry fruit. For something with fuller fruit and a little less vanilla, try the Concordia Crianza. This wine has spent less time in oak, being a Crianza and so the fruit is more prominent.

For the people who are sticking with lighter salads or just prefer a light red, Beaujolais should fit the bill perfectly. Made from the Gamay grape, these wines give lovely soft strawberry and raspberry fruit and are perfect served slightly chilled. Go for Beaujolais Villages from George Duboeuf for a really light wine, or for something a bit fuller try a Fleurie, also by George Duboeuf.

Barbeques are a great chance to share a glass of wine with friends. When choosing, crowd pleaser wines that everyone can enjoy are the order of the day. There are so many options, when it comes to different meats, sauces and so on, so experiment and see what you enjoy. I hope these suggestions help with the proceedings, now all you need is the weather. Enjoy!

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