Looking for wines that are cheap, cheerful, and good with food? Wine writer Winsor Dobbin selects some of his affordable favourites from recent tastings.
Orange wine
Cooks Lot 2025 Allotment 333 Riesling
Former Sydney chef Duncan Cook, now based in Orange in Central Western NSW, offers a lot of value with his Allotment range, which is made from fruit purchased from several local growers. He says each wine uses grapes grown by farmers he has known for decades. This recent release has already picked up wine show honours and offers classic citrus/acid and vibrancy, making it perfect for pairing with oysters or fish and chips. If you head out west you can try the wines at Ferment, The Orange Wine Centre in Hill Street. $25.
Italian style
Astrale 2024 Chianti DOCG
Chianti is a very popular wine style made in Tuscany, highlighting the sangiovese grape. Remember those old, squat bottles enclosed in a straw basket? Nowadays Chianti wines are all grown up and tend to be extremely food friendly. This one is a serious bargain from importers Single Vineyard Sellers. Made from 90% sangiovese with small portions of native grapes ciliegiolo and canaiolo, it has bright fruit characters along with some classic savoury notes/earthiness. Ideal for pairing with pizza or pasta dishes. Try Amato’s in Leichhardt, $22.
Summer Fun
Windowrie 2025 Sakura Sauvignon Blanc
Sakura is the name for cherry blossom time in Japan – and there are also plenty of cherry trees in the Central Ranges of NSW, where family-owned Windowrie is based. The Sakura festival is held in Cowra every year. This is a classic summer quaffer – more complex than many of its Kiwi counterparts but still zesty, herbaceous, and best enjoyed well chilled. Made organically and Vegan friendly. $40.
Sparkling Star
Maretti NV Sparkling Pinot Grigio
This is a little unusual: pinot grigio grapes are rarely used in sparkling wines but this one works a treat. Maretti wines are imported into Australia by Newcastle-based Fourth Wave Wines and this one from Pavia and Puglia is fresh and vibrant, aromatic, and citrusy, with lively bubbles. It finishes dry with a little fruit sweetness on the palate. A particularly good choice as an aperitif, for a party, or as the base for a sparkling wine cocktail like a Bellini. Try Cellarbrations, The Bottle-O, Thirsty Camel or IGA Liquor. $18.
Tassie Treat
Devil’s Corner 2024 Pinot Noir Rosé
Devil’s Corner has a standout cellar door on Tasmania’s east coast and is something of a byword for affordable wines from the cool-climate island state. This is a very food friendly number, blush pink and alive with red berry aromas and flavours. A versatile food wine, you could pair this with a vegetarian Lebanese platter, sushi, or sashimi, or even some deli meats and cheeses with rustic bread. $28.
Mini special
Poco Vino NV Pinot Noir
Here is something a bit different: the six wines in the Poco Vino collection are all presented in 187ml tubes (effectively a generous glass and a half). Ideal for a picnic, a sneaky drop at the beach or for lunch when one of you wants red and the other wants white. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality in each nifty little test tube. The pinot noir is fresh and fun and would be ideal with some gourmet sausages. It could even be chilled a little. All of them sell for just $7. Try Dan Murphy’s.
See more of Winsor’s wine news and reviews at www.gourmetontheroad.com
