A trip to South America with 'Ronseal' reds

FOR great-value reds with big, bold flavours and fruity aromas, take a trip to South America. Regional red wine giants Chile and Argentina are producing some of the world's most exciting merlots and carménères at prices that can't be bettered. These are the Ronseal reds - they do exactly what they promise - big, robust and flavoursome, fabulously dark in colour and perfect with red meat.

- by Matt Nixson

Chile is a long, narrow country flanked by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes to the east, creating perfect microclimates and terroirs for wine growing. Its inland valleys are ideal for red grapes like cabernet sauvignon, merlot and, most famously, carménère. Stable weather allows for high-quality wine production and plenty of it. Rich, fruity and flavourful,