Santa Cristina, Toscana, Antinori, 1996 (very widely available, usually £5.99).
From Piero Antinori, the respected Tuscan producer who wrote the foreword to Wine for Dummies, a simple, inexpensive wine that still manages to taste (a) uniquely Italian and (b) genuinely appetising. Try it with pizza, pasta or grilled chicken.
Duas Quintas, Douro, Ramos-Pinto, 1995 (Searsons Monkstown, Vintry Rathgar, Grapes of Mirth Rathmines, Geraghtys Fine Wines Carlow, Wine Centre Kilkenny, Pettitts, O'Donovans Cork, usually about £7.99).
Succulent proof that the red wines now being produced in traditional port territory don't have to be alcoholic blockbusters. See Bottle of the Week.
Chateau de Jau Cotes du Roussillon Villages 1997 (Tesco/Quinnsworth, Superquinn, SuperValus/Centras and many other outlets, usually £8.99).
"Smelling this wine from southern France, I imagine a big plate of vegetables all hot off the grill," writes Mary Ewing-Mulligan. The current vintage is spicy, with those earthy, rubbery aromas that are also typical of southern reds - but still a bit young. Decant it, I'd say - or wait for next year's hoped-for barbecues.
"Advice we'd like to give Irish restaurateurs (in the most well-intentioned way possible", Mary Ewing-Mulligan writes after a week of touring all over Ireland. "Please list the producers or brand names on your wine lists. And please use larger glasses, or have a few available for customers who order your finer wines. Your very good food deserves a very good wine experience." Too right. Le Coq Hardi, Ed McCarthy adds, had "the best wine list we encountered in Ireland; food also very good" and L'Ecrivain was "best overall restaurant; exciting food, very good wine list". So there!