2009 Chilean Sauvignon Blanc Taste the Difference, Casablanca Valley (£5.99, 13.5 per cent, Sainsbury’s) Sourced from.

A coastal area that makes some of the country’s best white wines, this should scare Sancerre producers.Tangy and ocean-crisp with grapefruit and gooseberry flavours.

2009 Costero Riesling, Viña Leyda San Antonio (£6.99 each for two, 13.5 per cent, Majestic) Riesling is a comparatively minor grape in Chile but in the right cool-climate sites it can produce thrilling wines such as this one. There are notes of minerals and fresh limes here, with taut acidity and a bracingly dry finish.

2009 Cascara Limarí Valley Chardonnay De Martino (£6.99, 14 per cent, Marks & Spencer) Limarí to the north of Santiago is emerging as Chile’s most exciting chardonnay region. This is dominated by fruit, rather than barrels, with melon and citrus to the fore, but there’s a hint of smoky, vanilla oak for added complexity.

2007 Peñalolen Cabernet Sauvignon Maipo Valley (£9.99, or £7.99 by the mixed case, 14 per cent, Oddbins) The aromas and flavours of mint and blackcurrant pastille are typical of cabernet sauvignon from the Maipo Valley. There’s a little merlot and cabernet franc woven into the blend here, along with some firm tannins.

2006 Coyam, Colchagua Valley. This organic blend of mostly syrah with lesser amounts of cabernet, merlot and carménère is a stunning red at the price. It’s svelte and smooth, with textured tannins, sweet oak and plush blackberry fruit.

2007 O Fournier Centauri Red Blend, Maule Valley (£12.99, 14.5 per cent, D. Byrne & Co, 01200 423152) If you want something wilder and funky, this blend of carignan, cabernet and merlot from the warm Maule region is rich, spicy and profound, with super-ripe, sun-baked flavours, firm tannins and refreshing acidity.