When most people hear the words 'sparkling wine' they instantly think of Champagne. While Champagne may indeed be the most famous of all the fizzy wines, there are a number of other excellent contenders that not only taste great, but are easier on the pocket, too.

Rose wine is one of those wines that is the victim of fashion. In the 1970s, the pink stuff was trendy and middle-class England wouldn't dream of attending a dinner party without a bottle of the plonk.

New Zealand Sauvignon blanc has something of a good reputation, with many critics deeming it to be the best Sauvignin blanc in the world.

It's a fact that has been delighting red wine drinkers for years: their favourite tipple not only tastes good and is a delight to drink, but offers extensive health benefits, too.

We are becoming more and more aware that moderate consumption of red wine offers great health benefits, but did you know that white wine has health benefits of its own, too?

Since the beginning of mankind, wine has been around, and has been considered as a pleasurable source of drink. Although no one truly knows who made the first wine or how they went about it, it has since then played many roles in the world, such as for a part of religious ceremonies, as medicine and antiseptic, a water purifier, a meal delight, as well as a comforting friend.

Native to Spain, Tempranillo is a black grape used to produce full bodied red wines. It is the primary grape that is used to make Rioja, the wine that Spain is most famous for.

Viognier as a wine has been gaining in popularity in the last ten years, with production of the wine worldwide increasing significantly in this time, and it is now stocked by all the major supermarkets; a sure sign of market penetration.

Champagne is the signifier of celebration, the drink of luxury and good times. The fizz and the pop of this drink is synonymous with big events; weddings, births, Christmas, and it's an indulgent luxury the world over.

Pinotage is truly South Africa's signature grape, having being bred there in 1925 by Stellenbosch University Professor A.I. Perold who crossed Pinot Noir and Cinsault grape varieties.

Sauvignon blanc is a highly-popular wine all over the world, and the grape is a green-skinned variety hailing from France's Bordeaux region.