With An Omelette
Eggs and vegetables - individually or together - taste all the better for a glass of Alsace Pinot Blanc, one of the world's most food-friendly wines. Treat yourself to rich, full-bodied but deliciously zesty Pierre Sparr Pinot Blanc Diamant d'Alsace Reserve 1996 (Best Cellars, tel 01 4946508, www.bestcellars.ie £7.50 if you buy a case, which may be mixed).
With Fish & Chips
Michael Broadbent may swear by Tio Pepe, but Fiona Beckett prefers a crisp, lemony Sauvignon Blanc. One of the best I've tasted recently is Domaine de la Charmoise Touraine Sauvignon 1999 (Redmonds, Ranelagh; McCabes Blackrock and Foxrock; Michael's Wines, Clonskeagh; DeVine Wine Shop, Castleknock; On the Grapevine, Dalkey; Murtagh's, Enniskerry; Mill Wine Cellar, Maynooth, and some other outlets, usually about £9.99) - ripe and intense but ultrarefreshing.
With Chinese Food
"Just fabulous," is the Beckett verdict on delicately flavoured Chinese dishes paired with Chateau de Sours Rose 1999 (Mitchells, Kildare Street and Glasthule; McCabes, Blackrock and Foxrock; Deveneys, Dundrum; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; Kitchen, Portlaoise; Vineyard, Galway; Octavius, Sligo, about £10). The new vintage of this benchmark Bordeaux rose has just arrived. Don't seek it solely for Chinese; herbaceous and mouthwatering, it'll be one of your best all-round summer buys.
With Rashers And Eggs
How many people drink wine with rashers and eggs? Beckett does with such gusto (provided it's basic red Bordeaux) that I'm all set to try it. Basic needn't mean tasteless, though. Choose a flavoursome example, such as Berrys Own Selection Good Ordinary Claret NV (Berry Bros, Harry Street; standard bottle £6.50; half bottle £3.95; litre £8.95; magnum £12.95)
With Grilled Lamb
Smouldering southern French reds, such as Domaine Saint-Germain Minervois 1996 (Superquinn; Molloys Liquor Stores; Roches Stores; many SuperValu/Centra outlets; many Londis outlets nationwide, usually £6.99), are the answer for lamb with that seared, smoky edge. See Bottle of the Week.