Wines of the week

WITHIN YOUR MEANS

Mionetto Il Rosso $19 to $22

Forget about sparkling shiraz on hot days, a wine like this is far more refreshing without demanding too much of you and your palate. This Italian bubbly is bright red with soft tannins and a long finish.

Available from the Wine Vault in Grey Lynn, Miller & Co in St Heliers and other specialist wine stores, or contact Equipe New Zealand, phone (09) 376 8511.

THE SPLURGE

Mionetto Sergio $29 to $31

The Mionetto range features three top-shelf wines but this is the only one available in New Zealand. This bubbly tastes bone dry and as fresh as a daisy. It is perfect drinking in steamy hot weather, served chilled at any time.

For stockists see above.

CELLAR PALATE

2004 Valle Reale Vigne Nuove

$19 to $20

Modern Italian red wines are thin on the ground in New Zealand but a little extra effort will yield wines such as this black beauty. The vineyard at which the grapes are grown is at a relatively high altitude, which accounts for the wine's developed tannins. It is fruity and juicy in the mouth but this is no five-minute wonder. It's a bottle you want to finish.

Available from specialist wine stores, or contact Bennett & Deller for stockists near you, phone (09) 378 9463.