Craig Stansborough and Mark Slade started Purple Hands in southern Barossa 2006 from humble beginnings, making just 100 dozen the first vintage. Today "Purple Hands captures the purity and elegance that is possible when the raw materials are in good hands" Dave Brookes, The Halliday Wine Companion. Of this Grenache, Dave says: "Crunchy, bright and airy on the palate with some nice sour cherry twang... a whole lot of inherent drinkability from the word go. Great stuff.”

Le XV is known to thousands as our ‘King of the Big Reds’. It owes its intensity to Grenache from vines, some over 100 years old, that grow on the rocky slopes of the Pyrenean foothills in the Montagne Noire and yield only tiny quantities of grapes. Le XV also benefits from the painstaking care of self-confessed southern French wine aficionado Mark Hoddy, whose draconian selection process sees him earmark in advance every vineyard he intends to harvest and micro-manage every stage of the winemaking. This takes time, but you can taste the result in every delicious glass! Richly textured, with layers of ripe bramble fruit kept smooth by warming alcohol and soft, ripe tannins, this is a red to enjoy with roast lamb, steak or a hearty stew.

There's always fun to be had when a member of the Pig family comes calling. This delicious 'cousin' is a succulent pink as good on the lips and tongue as it is on the eye. Lovely to look at, great aromas of ripe Summer fruits, and every bit as satisfying on the palate. Sip on its own, with fresh prawns or even a fresh fruit salad. It's delicious.

The southern Rhône’s cru villages deliver remarkable richness as well as value – all nine of them well worth discovering. One of the best is Vacqueyras, the village watched over by the towering Dentelles de Montmirail (google and you'll find some impressive images of these iconic rugged landmarks) . Cuvée Préstigieux is from the Guillot family. In 1911, great grandfather of the current owner forsook his birthplace of Burgundy and headed south to the Rhône valley. There he bought his first vineyard. Today, Laurent Guillot is in charge, working the family plots both in Burgundy and the southern Rhône. This Cuvée Préstigieux is a full-bodied style with ripe raspberry fruit from the Grenache, while the Syrah brings herbal aromas and blackberry and a touch of Mourvèdre adds spice. Ace with roast lamb or a rich casserole.

In 1911, great grandfather of the current owner forsook his birthplace of Burgundy and headed south to the Rhône valley. There he bought his first vineyard. Today, Laurent Guillot is in charge, working the family plots both in Burgundy and the southern Rhône. For this voluptuous Villages red, he combined two parcels of premium quality grapes from some of their oldest vines. The Grenache is from between Orange and Avignon, close to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the soils of which produce a powerful, full-bodied style. The Syrah is from clay-limestone soils on the Rhône’s right bank, lending a silky, fresh-fruit note. Add in the quality of the vintage and this red is rich, dark and intense. A great wine to serve with roast lamb or a rich casserole.

Southern France's Languedoc region is a treasure trove of good value, well-ripened reds. And the grapes are often almost identical to those of the southern Rhône – here we're talking about Grenache and Syrah, although there are plenty more like Carignan and Cinsault that also shine. Thanks to the sun-filled Mediterranean climate, varied soils and drying wind, the Languedoc is an excellent region for making really appealing, warm-fruit wines. Using a blend of Grenache and Syrah, this appealing red combines juicy blackberry and raspberry fruit with ripe tannins, long sweet spice and liquorice notes. With its soft, velvety texture, this goes with just about anything – from pizza and pasta to grilled meats. It's great on its own too and top choice at a barbecue.