IT CAN be difficult to decide what an affordable wine is but it’s something I always consider when writing this column.

It would be very easy to recommend wines with hefty price tags but not many of us can afford those. Conversely it would be good to suggest cheap wines but, sadly, I find most are undrinkable.

What I often opt for are wines that populate what I class as the ‘middle ground’ in the £8-£12 bracket.

This week however, I have come up with three great reds to suit all pockets. And as with all wines that appear here, they must represent good value for money.

Aldi has a new range of own-label wines branded the Venturer Series, which slip in at under a fiver. Always hopeful of finding a true bargain in the wine world, I am happy to report that Venturer Series Nero d’Avola 2013 is just that.

This Sicilian red would work well with meaty pasta dishes, pizza and barbecue grub. Smooth and impressively rich at the price, it suggests bramble flavours, peppery spices and notes of fennel with wood smoke.

On offer at Tesco until July 1 is this week’s ‘middle ground’ wine, Marques De Casa Concha Syrah 2011 from Chile and part of the Concha y Toro portfolio.

It’s a very New World example of the grape, fruit forward and easy to drink. Concentrated, juicy and ripe, it oozes forest berry flavours, with black pepper and toasty oak. The sweet edge to this wine will help it pair with spicy red meat dishes such as chilli con carne.

Or if you are feeling flush, splash out on Dry River Pinot Noir 2008 from the Martinborough region of New Zealand.

Velvety textured, it is beautifully balanced and elegant, with concentrated flavours of cherry, raspberry, spices, floral notes and polished oak. Buy a bottle now to go with turkey and the trimmings at Christmas.

Venturer Series Nero d’Avola 2013, Terre Siciliane, £4.99 at Aldi 18/20

Marques De Casa Concha Syrah 2011, Buin, £9.99 at Tesco 17/20

Dry River Pinot Noir 2008, Martinborough, £38.95 from Slurp (slurp.co.uk) 18/20