Fielding's Gewürztraminer is bursting with spicy aromas of clove and nutmeg as well as orange marmalade, peach and lychee. The delicious medium-bodied palate has a hint of sweetness that is balanced expertly by some zesty acidity. Enjoy this wine on its own as an exotic summer sipper or serve it alongside spiced duck breast with a pineapple sauce.

078501    (MD)            750 mL    $16     

This vibrant, fruit-driven (pineapple and other tropical fruit) Chardonnay is ably balanced by a judicious use of oak. Each vintage of this series features a different painting by one of the Group of Seven on its label.

Pinot Noir is often referred to as the 'heartbreak grape', a nickname that romantically alludes to the delicate and difficult nature of growing this tricky variety. John Howard cuts to the chase with the cheekily (and perhaps more accurately) named Sonofabitch Pinot Noir. This SOB features lifted aromas of cherry, woodspice and vanilla. It's dry, medium-bodied with a supple texture and a good balance of cherry, raspberry and cranberry flavours as well as cedar and spice notes.

This is a terrific value and would make the perfect everyday wine for Chardonnay fans this summer. Look for pleasant citrus, lemon and peach flavours with just a hint of oak and a clean, dry finish. Enjoy with grilled salmon steaks.

Impressive Cali Savvy with an array of aromas including melon, fresh fig, cut grass and apple. Dry and vibrant, this refreshing wine is a perfect match for summer salads or grilled chicken breast.

This medium-bodied, medium-finishing Chardonnay is an excellent choice for crab cakes with a spicy aioli dipping sauce. Look for pretty aromas of melon, citrus, cinnamon, ripe apple and a touch of oak. Dry and quite fruity, it offers a harmonious balance of fruit, acid and gentle oak.

Using only hand-picked fruit sourced from Carneros to Howell Mountain, this elegant Napa Cab displays layers of cassis, raspberry and blackberry as well as toast and chocolate aromas. It all leads to a lush, ripely fruity, medium full-bodied palate with tannins and acidity providing support and balance.

'Farming for Flavors' is the name of Benziger's advanced certified sustainable farming program for its growers that are not already certified biodynamic or organic. The program challenges growers to use sound environmental techniques to cultivate grapes with more site-specific characters, flavours and aromas. This full-bodied Syrah shows ample blackberry fruit with hints of coffee supported by some easygoing tannins.

This pleasing Merlot, at its peak now, gained some added depth and personality with the addition of Cabernet Sauvignon (12%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and Petit Verdot (3%). Its aromas of black cherry, plum and cedary oak as well as its intriguing notes of exotic herbs offer a unique and rewarding wine-tasting experience. Enjoy this medium- to full-bodied Merlot with Cajun chicken.

Always a charming 'best buy', Kenwood's Sonoma County Cab is a smooth, rich, full-bodied offering. Its cassis, plum and blueberry flavours as well as its subtle spice notes and well-integrated oak make this wine a perfect complement to lamb.

Attractive medium-deep ruby/purple colour leads you to aromas of raspberry, cedar, sour cherry and vanilla. Dry with a good balance between fruit, acid and oak. Full-bodied, with a long cedar/fruit finish. The tannins on the end give it good mid-term (3-5 years) cellaring potential. It may also be enjoyed tonight with rare steak.

The folks at Montevina coined the word 'stellar-ness' to describe their pursuit of the exceptional. This deep and delicious red certainly displays this individual quality. Comprised of 80% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Sirah and 7% Barbera, this unique 'field blend' is grown and picked together from the same vineyard and arrives at the winery already mixed. The grapes are then crushed and fermented together, rather than blending seperately-made wines later. The result is a brilliant example of the quality coming out of Amador County, with blackberry, cherry, fig and peppery spice characteristics. Enjoy with herb-crusted leg of lamb.

Torrontés has become for white wine in Argentina what Malbec is for reds, a signature grape. Here the grape produces aromatic, floral, and fruity wines that are a touch reminiscent of Viognier or Muscat. Match this one with spicy Asian cuisine. Our Quality Assurance laboratory has determined that this wine contains 21 mg/L of free sulphur.

032748    (D)            750 mL    $13.95   

A homegrown success story, Catena Zapata is one of Argentina's leading producers and its Alamos range consistently offers outstanding value. Expect blackberry flavours aplenty with notes of toasty oak and café mocha on a long, lingering finish. Enjoy with gourmet sausages or grilled steak.

This blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon displays lovely aromas and flavours of raspberry, sweet oak, plum and spice. Dry, medium full-bodied, with ripe tannins providing structure, it can be enjoyed now with rare beef or lamb or cellared for the short-term (1-3 years).

A Bonarda with depth and style, featuring aromas and flavours of plum, black fruit and vanilla. This versatile food wine is a good match for grilled steaks, tuna, gourmet hamburgers or sausages.

The Broquel Malbec consistently goes above and beyond the quality of most wines in its class, offering amazing value. A solid Malbec, it offers elegance and character with layers of plum, cherry, blackberries, cocoa, leather and smoke. It's medium full-bodied with ripe fruit flavours and moderate tannins, and should be served with rare T-bone steaks or grilled rack of lamb over the next 3-4 years.

Finca Eugenio Bustos gave this line of wines an appropriate name when they called it Amancay. The amancay flower is called the queen of the Andean Lakes District. It is said that whomever gives an amancay flower, also gives their heart. This Malbec rosé is clearly made with a lot of heart, featuring aromas of strawberry, plum and raspberry. Match this crisp wine to the summer deck staple food, cucumber sandwiches.

There's no better place to chill out than Western Australia, but if you can't be there you may as well take it easy here with this remarkable blend of Sauvignon Blanc (51%), Semillon (37%) and Chardonnay (12%). Crisp and refreshing with good weight provided by the Chardonnay, this is an excellent choice for lobster or planked salmon.

The fruit for this Sauvignon Blanc is sourced entirely from this family winery's 20-acre Estate Vineyard in the Lenswood district of the Adelaide Hills. Light and appealing, this is a refreshing and juicy wine to keep handy all summer long. It shows plenty of grassy character along with pear and citrus flavours leading to a lively, lip-smacking finish.

Named in honour of John 'The Gaffer' Riggs (1814-1902), the great-great-great grandfather of winemaker Ben Riggs, this McLaren Vale Shiraz was made to acknowledge 150 years of the Riggs family's rich farming heritage in South Australia. 'The Gaffer' arrived in Australia in 1855. He quickly developed a reputation as one of South Australia's finest farmers. Loaded with blackberry and cherry fruit, this wine is impeccably balanced by bright acids and ripe tannins. Match it to grilled leg of lamb.

This wine won a Gold Medal at the prestigious Concours Général Agricole Paris 2007. Crisp, delicate and refreshing, this wine is ideal for sipping on a summer afternoon, either as an aperitif or paired with herbed grilled chicken.

This wine ranked at #85 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2007.

J.J. Vincent is one of the pillars of the Pouilly-Fuissé appellation, and this Chardonnay shows why. Aromas are reminiscent of apple, peach, butter and oak spice. It is dry and balanced with remarkable depth of flavour. This medium full-bodied, long-finishing wine matches well with poached fish in a beurre blanc sauce.

For several centuries, the Gildas Cormerais family have been producing Muscadet in the very core of this Loire sub-region. They are at heart traditionalists, using long-established growing and production methods. By leaving the just-finished wine on its lees for several months following fermentation, it absorbs a small amount of carbon dioxide; not enough to create an obvious 'fizz', but sufficient enough to give the tip of the tongue a light tingle. This helps to lift the crisp, fresh fruitiness in the wine, which in turn makes it a favourite with seafood or bouillabaisse.

Classic Viognier aromas of honeysuckle, lavender, apricot and gentle blossom notes are on display here. It is dry, round and fat (true to the variety). Enjoy with pasta in a cream sauce, or ceviche of scallops with yogurt topping.

Though sometimes overshadowed by the unprecedented 2005 vintage, 2004 was an exceptional growing year for Bordeaux. This excellent example shows ripe plum and berry fruit, with plenty of finesse. Enjoy with braised beef. It will also reward 2-4 years in a cellar.

A spectacular blend of Syrah and Carignan, the aromas suggest black cherry, garrigue, strawberry and new leather. The fruit is very well supported by a seam of acid and fine-grained tannins. This medium full-bodied wine is a good match for lamb chops with rosemary and garlic.

This ready-to-drink blend of Syrah and Merlot is hand-picked from vineyards in the Agly Valley, just 20 km from the Mediterranean Sea. A Gold Medal-winner at Le Concours Général Agricole Paris 2008, this medium full-bodied red is bursting with red cherry and raspberry fruit. Pair this fantastic value from the South of France with spicy barbecued sausages or lamb burgers.

Rosé's greatest appeal is its almost limitless flexibility with food. These wines have a natural affinity for the foods of spring and summer, and they can also work well with many dishes that are murder on red wines, especially ones in which vinegar plays a leading role. They can also work with dishes that are too serious or hearty for most white wines. (Josh Raynolds, International Wine Cellar, Web Only, June 2008)

As with many older Rieslings, this QbA from Schönborn is drier than it would have been in its youth. It is still a terrific value with dried lemon, peach and lanolin aromas and flavours. The acids are still quite fresh, yet perfectly in balance with the fruit. A remarkable value for a maturing Riesling. It will still reward more time in a cellar (2-4 years), but is an excellent companion tonight with grilled salmon.

Laila's Verdicchio, like other better bottlings of this wine, are easily identified by their lemony freshness and pleasing bitterness on the finish. A terrific patio wine with a summer salad or simply prepared white fish.

Gavi is the home of the Cortese grape. Other regions in Piedmont and northern Italy also grow it, but 'nobody does it better' (not even James Bond!). At its best, as in this version, Cortese can be both fruity and aromatic while displaying a citrus tang and a mineral note. A terrific match for pan-fried freshwater fish or grilled chicken breast with roasted red peppers.

Light and lively, this low-alcohol, gently sweet frizzante is filled with perfumed aromas and tropical fruit flavours. Enjoy it chilled (or on ice as the Italians do) as an aperitif or dessert wine.

The white wines in the Gravina DOC in Puglia must be between 35 and 60% Greco and 40 to 65% Malvasia. This fragrant, flowery, freshly fruity version from Botromagno is 60% Greco and 40% Malvasia. The producer recommends this wine as a fine match for raw oysters.

Bright, fresh and lemony, this organic Soave is a terrific sipper on the back patio after a long day of yard work. Try this wine also with summer salads or grilled chicken breast. Our Quality Assurance laboratory has determined that this wine contains 15 mg/L of free sulphur.

The Grillo grape variety was made famous by Sicily's fortified wine, Marsala. With Marsala's decline in the marketplace, Grillo reinvented itself as the base wine for a terrific Chardonnay alternative in the dry white wine field. Enjoy this full-bodied white with grilled salmon or rainbow trout.

Brothers Carlo and Adriano Spinelli produced their inaugural version of Tatone, their first wood-aged wine, in 1997. Tatone, a word from the local dialect, means grandfather. The name reflects the strength and authority the brothers feel are characteristic of this complex, powerful wine. Match it to rich beef- or lamb-based stews.

Enjoy this single-vineyard Barbera with grilled sausages, meats or a truffle risotto.

[Leone de Castris is a] pioneering privately owned winery in southern Puglia, specializing in Salice Salentino wine [made with 80%+ Negroamaro, plus Malvasia]. 'Donna Lisa' and 'Maiana' are the versions to look for. (Joseph Bastianich & David Lynch, Vino Italiano Buying Guide, 2004). This vintage of Maiana features aromas of blueberry, oak, plum and black pepper. Try this dry, soft and flavourful wine with gourmet pizza or sausages.

Winemakers in Puglia are specialists in crafting Primitivo (aka Zinfandel) and Leone de Castris is among the most famous producers in the region. This beautifully balanced Primitivo features aromas of plum and raspberry and is made in a much more structured style than the fruity versions coming out of California. It will reward short-term cellaring, or savour tonight with barbecued steaks and grilled red peppers.

This 100% Sangiovese is filled with plum and raspberry fruit, and a nice layer of vanilla from the oak ageing. Try it tonight with grilled leg of lamb.

This Chianti Riserva is a blend of 93% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo and 2% Colorino. Rufina ages it for 30 months in a combination of barrel and bottle before release. Canaiolo adds some acidity, while the Colorino, instead of the now-allowed Cabernet Sauvignon, is used by traditionalists who want to add tannic structure but keep the wine 'all Italian'. Try this with classic Tuscan dishes, such as Steak Florentine.

Score - (out of 5). (www.decanter.com, Aug. 2007) 

969469    (XD)            750 mL    $15.95   

Morellino di Scansano was one of the first DOCs in the Maremma coastal zone of Tuscany. They proved that grapes could thrive in this rather swampy land. Producers such as San Guido, makers of Sassacaia, followed the lead to create great wines here. Morellino di Scansano may not be comparable to that rarified example, but the DOC's producers are known for producing quality value-priced wines from Sangiovese and, in this case, a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon. Match this one to grilled gourmet sausages.

This Valpolicella is a perfect summertime wine because it is flavourful, but still pleasingly light- to medium-bodied. Enjoy this cherry/berry wonder lightly chilled with grilled tuna.

Marta and Arnaldo Galli were pioneers of Valpolicella's return to grace in the early 1970s. Their vineyards lie on high-altitude, low-yield land. This dry, supple, medium-bodied wine is made using the ripasso method, imparting more colour, aromas and flavours. An excellent match for grilled steaks or braised meat dishes.

Ripasso means the addition of grape skins used to make Amarone to the already fermented Valpolicella wine, thereby causing a second fermentation. As a result, the aroma and flavour profiles deepen. In this version, the aromas are reminiscent of chocolate-covered raisin, leather, vanilla and red table grapes. This dry wine is actually quite fruity and round in the mouth.

A blend of Castelão (Periquita) and Alicante Bouschet, the component wines are given long fermentations in Argelian anforas (a variation on the Greek amphora) resulting in a rich, flavourful, intense final blend filled with aromas of blackberry pie, blueberry, red licorice and earth. Try this vibrant wine with grilled steak with baked potato and roasted garlic.

Don't worry, Tãmâioasã Româneascã is just Romanian for Muscat Blanc à Petit Grains. Cotnari is both a winery and wine region in Romania. The region, with its limestone subsoils and its warm climate which allows for late harvesting, has ideal conditions for the production of sweeter wines such as this spectacular version. Enjoy with pecan pie or other sweet desserts.

Spain's La Mancha region is quite literally growing a reputation for producing high quality, good value reds. A delicious blend of Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah, this medium-bodied Crianza displays intense berry-fruit aromas and well-integrated oak notes. A great match with gourmet sausages or beef kebabs.