Wines under $20

Superb value Spanish red made from 50% Monastrell with 50% Syrah to add structure to the dark cherries, raspberries, crushed boysenberries and red plum flavours in this lovely wine. Complex notes come from a hint of vanilla spice on the nose and the body is medium, soft and silky.

You could say that Durvillea Sauvignon Blanc has a lot to live up - it's Astrolabe Sauvignon Blanc's baby brother after all. And like its older sibling, this wine offers consistently outstanding quality, especially when the price is taken into consideration.

Fresh, refreshing, succulent and crisp. Everything you want in a Sauvignon Blanc, and more.

The story of Astrolabe

Diversity, history and family ownership are among the reasons to try the outstanding range of wines from Astrolabe, which was founded in 1996 in Marlborough by winemaker Simon Waghorn and his partner in life and wine, Jane. 

Simon has forged a reputation for being one of New Zealand's most respected producers of aromatic white wines after winning an almost embarrassingly long string of awards for his Sauvignon Blancs. He has also forged a name for adventurously diverse winemaking - he produces dry flinty whites from the most southern vineyard in Marlborough at Kekerengu on the coast about an hour's drive south of Blenheim. He is the only winemaker to produce wines from here. 

He is also one of the few in this country to make Albarino, Chenin Blanc and a consistently outstanding range of wines from the organically certified hillside sloping site that is the Wrekin Vineyard in Marlborough. 

The winery remains family owned and is now run by two generations, including Simon and Jane as well as their adult daughters. 

Paul Mooney has been at the helm of winemaking at Mission Estate for over 30 years, making him one of the most experienced winemakers in New Zealand. He makes this dry, medium bodied red as an alter wine for The Mission Estate Winery, which is New Zealand's oldest working winery, established in 1851 by French priests. 

Garibaldi Dolce is a sweet, fortified wine is made from grapes grown in the western part of Sicily. This wine spends two years minimum in wooden casks, which lends complexity and depth. The palate offers notes of vanilla, caramel, dried fruit and figs.

Winemaker Simon Waghorn is one of Marlborough's most experienced producers of high quality dry aromatic whites and, increasingly, of Pinot Noir, which is the grape used to make this lively, lovely, fresh and dry new Durvillea Rose. The pale pink colour comes from a short time on grape skins (aka minimal skin contact) which provides texture and body to this fresh, medium bodied pinkie. We love it. 

The story of Astrolabe... and Durvillea

Diversity, history and family ownership are among the reasons to try the outstanding range of wines from Astrolabe, which was founded in 1996 in Marlborough by winemaker Simon Waghorn and his partner in life and wine, Jane. 

Simon has forged a reputation for being one of New Zealand's most respected producers of aromatic white wines after winning an almost embarrassingly long string of awards for his Sauvignon Blancs. He has also forged a name for adventurously diverse winemaking - he produces dry flinty whites from the most southern vineyard in Marlborough at Kekerengu on the coast about an hour's drive south of Blenheim. He is the only winemaker to produce wines from here. 

He is also one of the few in this country to make Albarino, Chenin Blanc and a consistently outstanding range of wines from the organically certified hillside sloping site that is the Wrekin Vineyard in Marlborough. 

The winery remains family owned and is now run by two generations, including Simon and Jane as well as their adult daughters. 

Rose is on a roll, especially when it's as light, dry and refreshing as this new Koparepare Rose, made in Marlborough at Whitehaven Wines.

The name K?parepare is Maori for gift and $1 from every bottle of wine is donated to LegaSea, a not for profit organisation set up by the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council in 2012 to raise awareness of the marine environment and inspire public support.

The wines are made by Whitehaven in Marlborough, which was founded by Greg and Sue White in 1994 after they sailed into the Marlborough Sounds to shelter from a storm in the early 1990s and fell for the natural beauty of the region and the haven it provided. 

Australian born, Martinborough based winemaker Chris Archer has turned his talents to Joiy - a growing range of wines in a can, inspired by the desire to do something different that champions good quality, portion control and raises the bar of canned wine. Joiy Angel Blues Chardonnay is made from grapes grown in Hawke's Bay and is peachy, rounded and fresh. A good alternative to premixers and with less alcohol content too. 

Whitehaven Wines began life in 1994 as a romantic business for a couple of corporate escapees, Sue and Greg White, who had given up life in the rat race of Auckland for another kind of life aboard their yacht. When sailing around the country, they took shelter in the Marlborough Sounds from Pacific storms and fell in love with the region. An easy thing to do when harbouring in the spectacularly pristine waters of the Sounds. They decided to settle there on terra firma once more and try their hands at wine production, hiring a winemaker and beginning a business which has now been around for 26 years. Greg has sadly passed away now, leaving a legacy as well as his wife and daughter, Sam, to run the winery. Their winemaker is Peter Jackson.

A hidden gem from Hawke's Bay with its fresh bold flavours of passionfruit and citrus, supported by a full bodied palate that delivers intensity and length.

About Clearview Estate

Clearview Estate is one of oldest, most well established wineries in Hawke's Bay and is situated on the Te Awanga Coast, south of Napier. It's a great place to visit for tastings at the cellar door as well as lunch in the dappled shade of the established courtyard area. The winery was founded by Tim Turvey, winemaker and co-owner. The current winemaker is the multi talented Matt Kirby.

Distinctly Marlborough, this Sauvignon Blanc exudes vibrant ripe citrus notes, crunchy greens and hints of tropical guava on the nose. The palate is refined and elegant with superb natural fruit weight providing a juicy core of layered fruit, entwined with a salty textural acidity, vibrant citrus pith and a moreish dry chalky finish.

Mount Riley Wines has three tiers in its stable; the estate range, the Valley and limited releases which are produced as one offs in certain vintages.

This Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc forms part of its core estate range and is a reliably fruit driven, tropical tasting, light bodied, refreshing white from the country's biggest wine region.

It provides a lovely refreshing glass of white, year round, and very good value for money.