Something for The Weekend: 2002 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc; 2000 Barbera d'Alba; Somerton Shiraz Cabernet Merlot

Saturday: 2002 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, £7.99, Oddbins, Waitrose

Saturday: 2002 Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, £7.99, Oddbins, Waitrose

I picked this new vintage sauvignon blanc as one of the best value wines of the new intake from Marlborough in New Zealand. It's a dry aromatic white with a rich fruit concentration and exotic, gooseberry and passionfruit flavours complemented by a tangy finish. Try with salads Caesar or Niçoise.

Sunday: 2000 Barbera d'Alba, Ginestra, Monforte d'Alba, Paolo Conterno £12.95, Berry Bros & Rudd, London SW1 (020-7396 9666)

As Barolo prices itself out of the reach of all but the very well-heeled, medium-bodied barbera is increasingly sneaking in as the fresh face of north-west Italian red. This is a rich and plummy example with a delicate touch of oak adding spice and style to its pure, fleshy fruitiness. Perfect with shoulder of lamb or a marbled rump steak.

Any Day: 2001 Somerton Shiraz Cabernet Merlot, Miranda £3.99, Waitrose

Miranda plies its trade in value-for-money wines from Australia's Riverina in New South Wales. For an everyday quaffer, it's hard to imagine many reds that are tastier than this soft and spicily gluggy blend of Bordeaux-meets-Rhône grapes with its juicy, blackberryish fruit succulence.