WHAT wine to have with a good old curry is a regular cause for inner turmoil.

It may depend on which dishes you get - it's hard to pair a good wine with a painfully hot number, for example.

You'll also get some people saying forget wine altogether and just have lager.

But there are a number of good options in our opinion and we came across another this week, at the Co-op.

The most common line of thinking is to go with something that offers a cool, crisp contrast to the dish - hence lager being so popular - while a little sweetness and a palate-cleansing acidity often helps. You're normally told to avoid heavy reds high in tannin and oakiness as these can dry the mouth and clash with hot spices, almost burning the taste buds.

Riesling, usually off-dry, strong fruity rosé wines (not insipid ones), and good old Gewurztraminer are often decent suggestions for the above reasons.

And we will now add to that list the Co-op's own brand Irresistible Marsanne, priced £7.99. Not unlike a fruity Chardonnay, it can pair well with milder or creamier Indian dishes.

Marsanne usually produces deeply coloured white wines that can be rich and nutty, with hints of spice and pear. They can also be oak-aged to develop more complex flavours with an oily, honeyed texture.

This 13 per cent Irresistible Marsanne, made in the Pays d'Oc region of France by the highly-rated Jean-Claude Mas, has a refreshing palate of pears and honey merged with hints of subtle vanilla. There's a little creaminess and acidity kicks in nicely too.

It is recommended to have with seafood or roast chicken but it can probably pair with a wide variety of foods and we'd include in that list a flavoursome mellow curry.

Changing tact somewhat but sticking with the Co-op, there is an interesting red wine currently on discount - a Castrum Douro Red, down from £9.99 to £8.99 until April 17.

This is a blend of four Portuguese grape varieties - Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca and Tinta Roriz - which are often found in port wine for which the Douro region is most famous.

This tipple is far from fortified, though, with red and black berry aromas being followed by cherry and light coffee notes, all before an elegant finish.

Indeed, Douro, despite its reputation for port, produces just as much table wine and this well-balanced, well-structured one is an easy-to-enjoy example.

Have it with tasty red meats followed by chocolate cake for pudding.