It is dinner party time and here’s the scenario, you are expecting a handful of guests. Unfortunately your ‘friends’ mistakenly believe you like to drink jammy Californian plonk. It says soft and fruity on the label and they discovered it on a half-price deal at the corner shop; what’s not to like?

The good news is that you now feel vindicated, having made the decision to stock-up earlier with some proper wine that you can drink and enjoy. You chose those wines to match with the three delicious courses being served.

The seafood starter will get on very well with Simonnet-Febvre Saint-Bris Sauvignon 2012. It is white Burgundy but perhaps not as you know it, as it is not made with chardonnay.

The Appellation d'origine Contrôlée of Saint-Bris is unique, in that it is the only Burgundy appellation to allow the sauvignon grape in its wines. It has a subtlety that is missing from some New World sauvignons, this one shows gooseberry and mineral, with limes and grassy notes.

The Beef Wellington, for the main course, will need a good solid red. M&S has Domaine de Fontsèque 2012 Corbières; a spicy, peppery, toasty, approachable blend of syrah, carignan, grenache and mourvèdre from the south of France. It is nicely balanced and structured with black fruit flavours.

Then comes the tarte tatin...

Previous vintages of Brown Brothers Orange Muscat & Flora have often made it into this column, as I think it is a wine that consistently delivers. It’s not the most intense or complex ‘sticky’ but it has enough about it to match up to most fruit-based puddings.

Brown Explorer Brothers Orange Muscat & Flora 2013 is a highly quaffable sweet wine, with honeyed flavours of orange blossom, citrus zest and ginger.

And if you don’t like the sound of this week’s selection you can always stick with the Californian soft and fruity red. Enjoy!

Simonnet-Febvre Saint-Bris Sauvignon 2012, £9.99 at Waitrose 17/20

Domaine de Fontsèque 2012, Corbières, £11 from M&S 17/20

Brown Brothers Explorer Orange Muscat & Flora 2013 (37.5cl), around £7.49 from Tesco, Waitrose, Majestic and Slurp 17/20