Everyday Drinkers (10)

Number 10 already! I didn't realise I drank so much wine.

This one is a real bargain at £3.99, and is from Sicily, yet again. It's a Vino Rosso Terre Siciliane IGT, a blend of Nerello Mascalese and Nero d'Avola.

What, another Sicilian? Is this the Mafia or something? No, just good value wine.

A delightfully dark wine, packing only 12% ABV despite the dark clothes, it is ideal for drinking every day, preferably with food. Handles tomatoes, cheeses, and pretty much anything else.

It is available from a well-known retailer (yes, Tesco) and produced, or at least bottled, by the Caviro Cooperative (supposedly the largest in Italy).

It has fruit on the nose and on the palate (black cherries mostly) and is well-balanced.

An eminently acceptable wine for the price. Those Sicilian wine producers can certainly deliver drinkable good value.

Everyday drinkers (9)

This Purato 2011 (IGT Sicilia, Feudo di Santa Tresa) was selling recently for £3.99 (reduced from £7.50, I think).

I suppose people might have been turned off by the out-and-out organic labelling.

The fact that the paper is 100% recycled and the glass 85%, and that the label is printed with vegetable ink has no bearing on what is inside the bottle. Many would have found this just too militant. The question might well have been: is the wine recycled too?

But not to worry. The Nero d'Avola grape from Sicily is generally a good bet.

This wine was no exception, with its subtle red fruit aromas, smoothness on the palate and relatively moderate (13.5 % ABV) alcohol. Unfortunately it has probably sold out now; but even at the higher price it represents good value.

Made by the Feudo di Santa Tresa it is a great introduction to Sicilian wines, as you will be left wanting more when you finish the bottle.