Josh Beare

Whether you're serving a slow-roasted lamb shoulder, pork with crackling that deserves its own fan club, or going all-out with a beef Wellington, the right wine doesn't just accompany the meal, it makes every mouthful even better.

Wine and cheese is one of life's great pairings. Get it right and each makes the other taste even better. The acidity in wine cuts through rich, creamy cheeses, while salt, fat and texture soften tannins and highlight fruit, spice and savoury characters in the wine.

Different glass shapes really can change the way a wine smells and tastes. None of it is compulsory, but there are good reasons certain glasses have become associated with certain styles of wine.

Walk into any decent bottle shop these days and something's changed. There's a whole section — sometimes two — dedicated to drinks with no alcohol in them. And we're not talking sad little rows of sparkling water and Ginger Beer. We're talking proper-looking bottles with proper-looking labels, sitting right next to the Pinot Gris and the Rosé like they belong there.