Dried-grape red

Powerful dry reds made from partially dried grapes, high in alcohol and depth.

• Hard aged cheese

  Classic

  Amarone and aged hard cheese are a Veneto tradition — the wine's dried-fruit concentration meets the cheese's crystalline savour without either giving way.

• Braised beef and stews

  Solid

  Only a wine of real concentration keeps pace with hours of reduction.

• Venison and game

  Solid

  Sheer concentration and dried-fruit depth stand up to the iron-edged intensity of well-hung game.

• Chocolate desserts

  Adventurous

  A dry wine this concentrated can meet dark chocolate's bitterness, though the pairing works only when the chocolate is bitter rather than sweet.

Pairing suggestions are editorial, drawn from established convention rather than measurement.