Bargain-hunting: 10 to try

Long Mountain Dry Riesling 1997/8 (very widely available, usually £4.99).

Long Mountain Dry Riesling 1997/8 (very widely available, usually £4.99).

Here's one to add panache to that Indian takeaway. A fruity but refreshingly crisp Riesling from South Africa, with the sort of apple-and-lime character Australia's known for. Amazing value.

Santa Ines Sauvignon Blanc, Maipo Valley, 1998 (Molloys Liquor Stores, Roches Stores, some SuperValus/Centras, Mortons Ranelagh, McCabes Merrion, Londis Malahide, Shankill, Clane, C&T Swords, Skerries and many other outlets, £5.49£5.99).

New World Sauvignon as we know and love it - big aromas, big flavours . . . and a nifty little price. See Bottles of the Week

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Chateau Haut Rian, Bordeaux Sec, 1997 (Wines Direct, £6.50).

Wines Direct keeps on combing France to uncover exciting wines at affordable prices. New to its portfolio is this light and zesty white, with terrifically ripe fruit flavours for Bordeaux. Extremely appetising.

Tsantali Nemea, 1994 (Dunnes Stores, £4.49).

In case you missed my brief mention of this rich Greek before Christmas, here it comes again because I don't believe I've come across such a full-bodied red wine with plum-cake, almost Amarone-like flavours at such a dazzling price. Try it with goulasch - or even a venison stew.

Santa Ines Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley, 1996 (outlets as for Santa Ines Sauvignon Blanc above, £5.49-£5.99). The well turned out big brother of the Chilean white above strikes me as one of tastiest New World Cabernets on the market at under £6. See Bottles of the Week

Santa Carolina Merlot, San Fernando, 1998 (widely available, usually £6.49). Chile wins again with an assertively peppery young Merlot with a lot more tannic grip than most. Pair it with a beef casserole, or a liberally peppered steak.

Cetamura Chianti Classico, Coltibuono, 1997 (McCabes Merrion, Grapes of Mirth Rathmines, Findlaters Harcourt Street, Pettitts in the south-east, Egan's Drogheda, Portlaoise Wine Vault, Fahys Ballina and other outlets, usually £6.99).

A simple but very well made young Chianti at a very decent price from the fine old estate of Badia a Coltibuono - juicily mouth-watering. Chateau La Baronne Corbieres, Montagne d'Alaric, 1996 (Wines Direct, £6.25).

A super wine for everyday drinking - soft and easy, with gentle spice, good acidity and a real sense of the south of France in its make-up. If you're tired of confected, samey, mass-market wines, this is the kind of thing you need.

Etchart Cafayate Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 (Superquinn, SuperValus/Centras and many other outlets, usually £6.49).

Here's what Robin Day, the Australian who gave us Jacob's Creek, has been getting up to in Argentina. And it's not half bad. Lush cassis is what you'll taste, with a dusting of pepper and a hint of mint . . . but there's enough acidity to keep you sipping.

Col des Vents Corbieres, 1995 (Terroirs Donnybrook, £6.99).

Nothing much on the nose, but persevere because this juicy Corbieres is extremely pleasant to drink, with enticing red berry fruit flavours and a nice, tangy finish.

Readers should submit the names of their bargain wines between now and February 21st. Send your suggestion or suggestions to Mary Dowey, Features Department, The Irish Times, 13-16 D'Olier Street, Dublin 2. The winning bottles will appear in the Wine column of March 27th.