Perfect just as it is, with all the lime blossom, some tonic water quinine vibes and an armful of delicate fruits. Great value and a reliable bottle for any school night.

Millon Estate Clares Secret Riesling 2024

Cooling green bay leaf and impressions of sweet plum and black liquorice makes for flowy drinking. Tannins are good and grippy, and they add a nudge of warmth on the end.

Millon Estate The Impressionist Shiraz 2022

Bright and crunchy with cherry pips, cranberry and drops of boysenberry that shine through along with some trademark Sangiovese dusty tannin, and crispy acidity

Carlotta Sangiovese 2023

Lemon, lime and bitters with a perfect garnish of sweet florals and some textured weight. Love this wine so much. Perfect with frozen dumplings and packet ramen or a night on Little Bourke Street.

Max & Me Woodcarvers VIneyard Riesling 2023

SC Pannel Field Street Shiraz 2022

Flavour favours the bold wines? That’s not how it goes, but this goes down, right down with juicy blues fruits and sarsparilla flavours stirring with sandy tannins and something like blood orange. Add friends and a grill for perfection.

SC Pannell Dead End Tempranillo 2022

Fleshy ripe and melony with a slippery, slightly rich texture that oozes out of the bottle. Still fresh and elegant enough to go perfectly with falafel, tabouleh and even dolma. Gosh, we love dolma. Sounds like this chill day you’re having is going to get brilliant.

Amo Vino Gianco Grenache Blanc 2023

Torn sage, ripe mulberry and berries, here’s a full-blooded Shiraz, vibrant and plush with a friendly (juicy) side. Ticks all the Shiraz boxes without ever scaring anyone off – in other words, balanced.

Curator Wine Co Hamlets Shiraz 2023

In Praise of Shadows Rose 2023

Soft, supple and svelte with plums and blueberry compote that drip across the palate with ease. If you’ve never had Mencía, this is a brilliant place to start, but be warned, you're starting near the top so replicating the effortless brilliance might be a challenge.

Bloomfield Mencia 2024

A purpose built chilled red. Who knew sweet florals, spices and vibrant fruits could pour with such refreshing crunch? Aside from the winemaker – Lauren Hansen, whom we'd like to thank for this gem formally. Absolutely delicious

Bloomfield Petit Verdot Chilled Red 2024

Generous purple black mulberry and plum fruits for every member of your extended family who’s over 18. This vintage offers a slightly sturdier webbing of tannin and just a little more cedar spice than most. Brilliant.

Bellevue Estate Shiraz 2023

Classic Barossa Shiraz, right down to the salt, sage and poached plums. This feels like finally whipping off your shoes and putting your feet up after a big day on the tools. A great wine to buy in bulk and have on hand, and solid gift when you don’t know what they love.

Lights Valley Shiraz 2021

Rich and juicy with boysenberry, mulberry that feels like laying on a rich, comfy shag-pile of tannin. There’s a handful of lavender in there too, and a little punnet of plums and blue fruits.

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Malbec 2022

Get some saturated plums and cherry liqueur in your glass, then watch the taste-filled smiles spread. Every note here hits at an operatic scale and even though there’s a bit happening – toasty tannins, smooth liquorice, nuttiness, baking spices – it’s all harmonious.

Reillys Black Label Shiraz 2020

Elderton E Series Chardonnay 2023

Thank you Koerner! Full of lively aromatics and flavour-some boysenberry, grenadine and salted plum skin. It’s a complete no-brainer for any holiday get-together so grab as many as you can carry.

Parco Gamay 2024

A touch of blush goes well with a squeeze of strawberry and watermelon and a little spice. There’s red fruit too, so that’s body and shape which is always welcome but things are kept lean with some fresh acidity.

Cloudbreak Nouveau Sparkling NV

Vivid and flush with lush fruits, earthy edges, and some savoury spice. Saltfleet is absolutely delicious and a great rendition of a local Rhône blend. Take it to a BBQ and show it off, and don’t be surprised if people ask for wine recommendations.

Saltfleet GSM 2023

We don’t mess around when it comes to school night wines. There’s a lot involved in spotting value and we’ve found it here. Of course, there’s some rich citrus and textural stone fruit in there, but there’s also a hint of cashew and the slightest smidge of oak.