Just suppose that this was your request: “Please pick out six wines from six countries and each one has to be available for under $20.”

Here is proof that it can be done and indeed I believe that my choices will bring a good amount of pleasure. They will be the type that I suspect you might consider making your house red, white or rosé, for the winter or beyond.

I like our own home system of weekday wines, weekend wines (why on earth do we stick with this custom now that we are both retired?) and of course, special occasion wines.

Land and labour costs in Chile reflect in such good values and so I lead off with the organic 2022 Veramonte Sauvignon Blanc Reserve Casablanca Valley priced at $19.95. Veramonte follows organic practices throughout their estate, ensuring optimum conditions for vine growth and that the vineyards are sustainable over time. Living, balanced soil produces quality grapes that express the fullest potential of the terroir. Veramonte is proud to partner with the non-profit organisation, Kiss the Ground (kisstheground.com). Kiss the Ground was created to focus efforts on healthy soils and create a symbiotic relationship with the earth.

I do not think that reviews have been released yet on the 2022 vintage but their 2020 received 92/100 from Wines & Spirits magazine and the 2021 90 points from James Suckling. It is a remarkably consistent wine and it is vibrant and aromatic, with citrus aromas of lime and tangerine, blended with subtle floral notes. (Stock #6195)

Hopping over the stunningly beautiful Andes Mountain range we land in Argentina and try the 2021 Alamos Malbec from Mendoza. This range of wines is owned by the Catena family. Here they use their young vines that have not reached the point of maturity and complexity to carry the family name – but they are good!

Alamos Malbec offers layers of dark cherry and blackberry. Aromas of violet intertwine with spice and vanilla, while balanced tannins create a velvety mouthfeel and expansive finish. This malbec delivers a complex fine red wine that pairs beautifully with a wide range of cuisine and goes beyond the expected. Critic James Suckling writes, “Notes of blackberries, dark cherries, blackcurrants and baking spices. Medium body with creamy tannins. Round and juicy with lots of fruit and a ripe, chocolatey finish. 90/100.” Robert Parker rates it a 90-plus. $17.65 (Stock #6157)

Our 2020 Primal Roots is a blend of merlot, syrah and zinfandel from California. It is not for the weak at heart, as it showers us with a smooth array of blackberries, red cherries, strawberries, cocoa, vanilla and a smoky texture from the charring process used in barrel making. Tasty steaks and hamburgers on the barbecue would be a good match-up. $18.75 (Stock #6500)

The 2020 Lindeman’s Bin #50 Shiraz is from a winery that was established in 1843 in Australia’s Hunter Valley. You may remember me saying: “If you want to see how the child will turn out, check the parents.” I feel the same way about wine and can tell you here that the most respected winery in Australia, Penfolds, owns Lindeman’s today. As their volume producer, they like to say that folks in more than 100 countries enjoy 80 million bottles of Lindeman’s every year. This shiraz is vivid purple in colour with a nose that displays aromas of vanilla, dark berry fruits and a hint of peppery spice. The full-bodied palate shows blackcurrant and plum flavours supported within a soft tannin structure that makes it immediately approachable. $17.80 (Stock #7211)

We move on to the “Old World” and are now in Tuscany to buy a bottle of chianti. Just plain chianti, a wine with a history going back to at least the 13th century. Not chianti classico gran selezione or chianti classico reserva or even a chianti classico but, to get to the teens price, just a chianti. We offer 2020 Gabbiano Cavaliere D’ Oro Chianti, a blend of 90 per cent sangiovese and 10 per cent native vines. Their winemaking techniques are meant to preserve the bright, lively fruit and freshness and it is intended to be enjoyed young and fresh. Wild red berries and floral notes are followed by great freshness and soft tannins.

You can book a room at this 11th-century hilltop castle that was built to defend the important communication routes between Florence and Siena. Enjoy the vineyard views and a fine restaurant. $19.80 (Stock #8950).

Our last wine has been called “an absolute crowd pleaser with strawberry, cream and ripe peach with a hint of citrus, raspberry, cassis and candyfloss on the palate – mouth-wateringly good!”. What we are referring to is 2020 Calvet Rosé d’Anjou, a blend of gamay, grolleau and cabernet franc from the Loire Valley in France.

Calvet is a very large supplier with a wide range of wines that was founded in France in 1870 and, by 1886 they had even opened a new branch office in Argentina. Their name on the label can assure you that the wine will be a good example of its type. It is not easy to find a very pleasant French wine that we can sell for under $20 but this clocks in at $18.75 and I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying it. (Stock #7249)

If you are looking for good Monday to Thursday night wines – or anytime wines – you could not go wrong with trying these six, and once you have decided, remember you get a 10 per cent discount if you buy a case. Most of the mentioned wineries offer a range, all of which are made with the same care and attention as those featured here.

This column is a paid for advertorial for Burrows Lightbourn Ltd written by Michael Robinson. He can be contacted at mrobinson@bll.bm. Burrows Lightbourn have stores in Hamilton (Front Street East, 295-1554) and Paget (Harbour Road, 236-0355). A selection of their wines, beers and spirits is available at www.wineonline.bm