Joelle Thomson's Amazing Value Picks: BBQ red mix

Barbecues bring out the best in red wine, thanks to their smoky flavours, the warmth of the balmy nights (for most BBQ weather) and the acceptance that the wines may be a little… rustic, given they are often being enjoyed in the great outdoors. Not that outdoor wine should be basic. Far from it. We believe we’ve got the balance spot on with this bunch of barbecue beauties. The are all red to match robustly flavoured food and they work a treat on the pocket too because they are all under $20. Viva la summer barbecue. Bring it on. Star wine of the week - 2017 Domaine de Tholomies Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Pays d’Oc 4 stars, 17.5/20 The Bio stamp on the front label means this wine is fully certified organic and that’s better not only for us but for the planet too. This wine is two years young and has all the classic hallmarks of a youthful Bordeaux blend of full bodied, big, dark Cabernet Sauvignon flavours (blackberries, black cherries and dark fruit) with the flesh of Merlot to provide much needed suppleness, flesh and approachability. Drink with flavoursome barbecue foods. View here. 2017 Signore Giuseppe Valpolicella DOC 3 stars, 16/20 The Signore Giuseppe range of wines over delivers big time, including this light bodied red from northern Italy. Valpolicella is the name of a town north east of Verona and the wine made from vineyards in this area. Its name means the valley of many cellars, an evocative description of a beautiful region with vines stretching as far as the eye can see. High volume may be the name of the game here but good quality vinos are also pumped out, often in lighter styles, such as this fresh young red with its modest 12% alcohol; another plus if you’re driving to barbecues. Valpolicella is typically made from three grapes; Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara. View here. 2016 Philippe Bouchard Red Burgundy Gamay 16.5/20, 3.5 stars Here’s a smooth, velvety Gamay from Burgundy; a region far better known for its Pinot Noirs. This wine is drinking nicely now with its medium body and flavours of red berries, with a note of spice. An interesting red from France’s Beaujolais region, which is part of Burgundy but has a warmer climate and is wedged in between the farming area of Macon and the northern Rhone Valley. View here. 2016 d’Arenberg The Stump Jump Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 17.5/20, 4 stars Deliciously drinkable Australian red made from the famous trio of grapes that go into some of the best value wines in the world – Cotes du Rhone from the sunny Mediterranean. D’Arenberg is one of Australia’s best known and highest quality wineries because every single red is pressed through a basket press. This provides depth of flavour and character. This tasty red is consistently good drinking, especially great in value thanks to its affordable price tag. View here. 2018 Whale Islands Hawke’s Bay Syrah 18.5/20, 4.5 stars Great vintage, great winemaking and a great region all combine to make this an absolutely stellar bargain; it’s made at Moana Park winery in Hawke’s Bay and comes from a very warm, very dry, early vintage. A fantastic red. Over delivers in every way. Delicious. View here. 2017 The Sisters Marlborough Pinot Noir 15.5/20, 3 stars This light bodied, dry Pinot Noir is pale ruby in colour with light, fresh red berry flavours and notes of spice on the finish. It’s a gentle intro’ for newcomers to red wine and offers good value for money. Seasoned Pinot drinkers will want more bells and whistles than this relatively light wine offers. View here. Joelle Thomson is a wine writer, journalist and author. She’s an avid lover of wine and currently writes for Capital magazine, Good magazine, NZ Winegrower, Drinksbiz, and her own site, www.joellethomson.com. She also teaches, works in radio, and more, so we've enlisted her help to sniff out our amazing value wines!