Gavi is a really refreshing but often overlooked dry white from the Piedmont region in the north west of Italy north of Genoa and near the French border.
Graham Beck produces some lovely, reasonably-priced wines in South Africa's Western Cape and this mix of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon is no let down either.
Rioja comes in many guises and varies enormously in taste and quality but here's a very smooth reason why it is the red everyone associates with Spain.
Sacred Hill is a family-own winery established 22 years ago in what has during that time become the home of the world's best, and most affordable, Sauvignon Blanc wines - New Zealand's Marlborough region.
Another brand but this time from the innovative Pays d'Oc region of Southern France and the Castel family, who have been making wine for more than 50 years.
You may have been feasting on rich New World Shiraz and Merlot for the last few weeks so here's a tasty example of a traditional Bordeaux red with a good pedigree which will be a real change.
I'm not a great fan of Pinot Grigio especially the stuff from its natural habitat in the North East of Italy because too often it is boringly bland and one dimensional.
Faugeres is an up and coming appelation in southern France's Languedoc region in the foothills of the rural Cevannes and Mr Alquier and his son are probably the area's best producers.
