Give us this day our daily red.

Since Sydney is currently experiencing The Big Chill, today’s blog is going to point you in the direction of a few cheeky little reds that will return a rosy glow to your cheeks, warm the cockles of your heart, but not burn a stonking great hole in your bank account in the process.

A glass or two of these drops will go just as well IN your winter comfort food (I’m thinking slow-cooked lamb shanks, lasagne, spag bol, osso bucco and the like) as they will in you.

However, when procuring vino to add into your evening meal, don’t make the mistake of just grabbing the cheapest bottle of red in the shop (something along the lines of 'Chateau De Blotto,' ‘Vin De Paint Stripper’ or similar).

As the great Aussie wine legend Len Evans said:

'There is an awful lot of wine in the world, but there is also a lot of awful wine in the world. One person can only drink a certain amount in a lifetime.'

So, without further adieu, here are a few drops that are more than quaffable (and your slow-cooked sheep, veal or cow will also reap the benefits of bathing in!). With a bit of hunting, you should be able to pick these up for around $12-$15 a bottle:

- Robertsons Well Cabernet Sauvignon (from the Coonawarra region)
- Wynns Shiraz (Coonawarra)
- Wynns CSM (a Coonawarra Cab Sauv/Merlot blend)
- Annie’s Lane Shiraz (Barossa Valley)
- Wirra Wirra Church Block (a Cab Sauv/Shiraz/Merlot blend from McLaren Vale)

If you’re willing to fork out a little bit extra, you can get something really special (but I wouldn’t be sharing these ones with the cooked beasties):

- Majella ‘The Musician’ (a Coonawarra Cabernet/Shiraz blend) c. $17
- Zema Estate Shiraz (Coonawarra) c. $22
- Zema Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra) c. $22
- Bowen Estate Shiraz (Coonawarra) c. $22
- Bowen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra) c. $22
- Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra) c. $22

The prices noted above are the lowest I have ever been able to pick up any of these drops. I consider each of these wines to be excellent value-for-money at these prices.

As you will note, the Coonawarra region features heavily in my recommendations. I find the red wines from this region to over-deliver in the flavour and value stakes, and would almost guarantee that any purchase from Wynns Coonawarra Estate will not be met with regret!

I will leave you with one last pearl of wisdom from the great Len Evans:

“People who say, “You can’t drink the good stuff all the time” are talking rubbish. You must drink good stuff all the time. Every time you drink a bottle of inferior wine it’s like smashing a superior bottle against the wall. The pleasure is lost forever. You can’t get that bottle back.’

I couldn't have said it better myself!

So, go grab yourselves a heart-warming red, grab a special someone, rug up together, pop the cork and get amongst it peoples!

Yours in plonk,

The Plonker.