Something for the Weekend

Bellingham Chenin Blanc The Maverick, 2001 Ferngrove Frankland River Shiraz, 2000 KWV Pinotage, 2001 Nemesis Chardonnay Viognier

Saturday

2002 Bellingham Chenin Blanc The Maverick

£5.99, Tesco

Made from old Cape bush vines, this South African spin on the Loire Valley's dry white classic, vouvray, comes on like a New World chardonnay. But its low-yielding qualities, combined with subtle notes of spicy oak, give the wine a peachy richness and luxurious mouthfeel that belie the affordable price tag.

2001 Ferngrove Frankland River Shiraz £6.49, Oddbins

Like a halfway house between an all-singing, all-dancing Australian shiraz and the more elegant syrah of the northern Rhône, this is a sweetly smoky aromatic red from the newly established Ferngrove Vineyards in the cool vineyards of Frankland River in Western Australia. Ripe, dark berry pepperiness mingles with the delicately spicy, lightly tarry character of the shiraz grape.

Sunday

2000 KWV Pinotage

£4.99, Thresher, Wine Rack, Bottoms Up, Victoria Wine

South Africa's wine-producing giant, KWV, is changing its spots, not just by casting off its old, hard-bitten image, but by producing more modern, appealing styles. Try this well-crafted Cape pinotage, a juicy red with the scent of loganberry and an attractive berry fruit smoothness rounded out with a touch of oak spice.

Any day

2001 Nemesis Chardonnay Viognier £4.49, Safeway

This handsome package from Chile's Central Valley contains a super-ripe, floral-scented blend of chardonnay and viognier, whose peachy fruit is ripe and honeyed but balanced by cleansing acidity. With this level of exotic richness, it can be drunk, suitably chilled, on its own, or in the company of a lemon and garlic roast chicken.