An easy-to-use guide for selecting a French wine that suits your taste.

So, you think you’re hot stuff eh? Popping into your local wine shop and picking up a couple of bottles of Shiraz, a litre of Chardonnay and then feeling a pang of disappointment to find your favourite Californian cab is out of stock.

The relative ease of navigating through new world wines (basically from anywhere other than Europe) has made wine accessible to the masses. If you know what grape varietals you like you can browse through selections from Australia, Chile, South Africa, the U.S., and of course Canada, to find what you’re looking for — a big Cabernet Sauvignon to go with your steak dinner or a refreshing Riesling to sip on the patio on a hot summer afternoon.