SO WHAT do you drink with fish and chips? My mother insists that the only suitable liquid accompaniment is a good cup of tea but, then again, she is a Methodist. I beg to differ, of course, and opt for a glass of vino.

I’ve tried many vinous pairings: dry sparkling wines can work well: try a Prosecco, but unless you’ve just won the EuroMillions jackpot I’d avoid opening a bottle of vintage Champagne.

A crunchy rosé goes well too, as do dry sherry styles, particularly manzanilla with its characteristic seaside salty tang. But avoid reds, especially those that are oak aged and with lots of tannins, because these will overpower the fish A good, zingy white would be my choice. The wine needs fresh acidity to cope with the oily batter and chips. If it has citrus flavours then it acts like a squirt of lemon on the fish, whereas wines with more exotic fruit flavours will provide a new experience for the palate. But remember not to add vinegar if you want to appreciate the finer points of your chosen tipple.

This week’s recommendations will all go well with fish and chips. Tea from Bettys (other high street tea and coffee emporiums are available) is perfectly acceptable for drivers and the temperate.

Bright, fruity chardonnay can be a good partner to battered fish, but steer clear of those that are aged in wood. Errazuriz Estate Unoaked Chardonnay 2008 would be ideal; it’s fresh with lemon and green apple fruit and a little yeastiness, as the wine is aged “sur lie”.

Or hop over the Andes for something a little different, the Argentinian white grape torrontés. Vinalba Seleccion Torrontés 2009 is a palate-pleasing example, new to the shelves at Sainsbury’s. Crisply acidic and aromatic, with rose petals, perfume, and flavours of tropical fruit and citrus, this would be a natural partner with ceviche also.

Best of all with fish and chips is dry Riesling. There are plenty of Aussie examples available on the high street, but not so many from Germany. New to the Co-operative, however, is Three Vintners Riesling 2008, a collaboration between young winemakers Jochen Dreissigacker, Stefan Winter and Philipp Wittmann, from the Rheinhessen region. Fresh, clean and spritzy, it touts lemon and apple fruit, with honey and mineral notes.

• FIELD & FAWCETT Wine Merchants & Delicatessen has its annual wine tasting on Thursday, at 5pm at The Reading Room, Church Street, Dunnington. There will be more than 100 wines to taste. For tickets (£10, including nibbles), book on 01904 489073 • Errazuriz Estate Unoaked Chardonnay 2008, £8.99 (buy two get one free) at Thresher and Wine Rack 17/20

• Vinalba Seleccion Torrontés 2009, £7.99 at Sainsbury’s (selected stores only) 17/20

• Three Vintners Riesling 2008, Rheinhessen, £5.99 down from £9.99 (from November 11 to December 1) at The Co-operative 17/20