Chile is often described as a viticultural paradise, many say it is the most perfect country on earth in which to produce wine and it certainly is becoming adept at providing us with wines of consistently good value.

Rich, bold reds with pure fruit content together with crisp, racy whites are available to suit most palates and wallets.

Much experimentation is taking place with different grape varieties of Italian and Spanish origin, but it is the classical French varieties with which Chile excels at present. Carmenere is an old French red grape variety that Chile has made their own with great results. Casa Silva produces a stunning example full of spicy bramble fruits, a bargain at £6.99.