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.