Mild autumn weather calls for family gatherings, barbecues, impromptu dinner parties and bright, fresh wine to go with it. The current economic climate and the tightened purse strings that come with it also begs for bargains.

“We’re seeing consumers return from summer hibernation,” says James Fildes, general manager at online wine community Vivino. “Given the current economic headwinds, it’s all about value and accessibility. Even more evident is the domination of screw caps, lest you find yourself in a BYO restaurant or a friend’s house without a corkscrew.”

It’s a sentiment mirrored by Dan Murphy’s wine merchant Kathy Gertau.

“Wines priced under $20 are the types you take to a barbecue or a party – the kind of no-brainers that you just sit around with friends and enjoy,” she says.

“They have to be light, easy wines; nice but not too serious and lend themselves to lovely fruit and minimal oak. Chuck them in the fridge, if you want to. We are so lucky in Australia when it comes to value for money. A lot of wines over-deliver on price points.”

Give these affordable winners a whirl.

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Bright, fresh and $20 or less

Brown Brothers 2022 Tarrango, Victoria, $20

“Drink me chilled”: the words on the teal screw cap don’t mess around. This light red is bouncy like a puppy, and perfect served cold. It delivers a conversational piece, too. Tarrango (named after the township in the Mallee district in north-west Victoria) is a unique Australian grape variety, a crossbreed of the red Portuguese touriga and the white sultana, developed by the CSIRO. The Brown family has been making wines from Tarrango since 1980. This latest version is bright and berry-packed. Drink now.

12 per cent alcohol; brownbrothers.com.au

Logan 2021 Weemala Pinot Noir, NSW, $20

Like to have a cracking but affordable red on hand just in case discerning drinkers drop in unannounced? Add this to your arsenal. The Logan family over-delivers on all fronts. Winemaker and owner Peter Logan’s lightweight pinot noir ticks all the boxes. It’s a bone fide steal. His 2021 Apple Tree Flat merlot ($14) is great, too.

13.5 per cent alcohol; loganwines.com.au

Brian 2022 3Pinots, Tasmania, $20

Good things come in small packages, and at 375 millilitres this is a wee bottle but a stellar example of quality over quantity. Playful wine industry legends Joe Holyman, Peter Dredge and Mike Bennie collaborated on this blend of pinot noir, pinot gris and pinot meunier, and like the innovative chaps behind it, it’s a breath of fresh air. Chill it, baby.

12.5 per cent alcohol; pnvmerchants.com

La Noblesse 2020 Gamay, France, $19-$22

OK, so the RRP on this international gamay is $22, but it sneaks onto this list because you can find it for less than $20 if you’re willing to search a little. No matter what the price tag says, grab it. This is a bargain in every sense of the word. Winemaker Antoine Schurr is one of many doing great things in the Loire Valley, and to get this elegant dame for less than most takeaway pizzas these days is downright ridiculous. Chill it down a smidge before serving. Scrummy.

12 per cent alcohol; fourthwavewine.com.au

Little Giant 2021 Malbec, SA, $19.99

Eavesdrop long enough in your local bottle-o and chances are you’ll hear customers ask for “the wombat wine”. The Little Giant series includes pinot noir, grenache, mataro, shiraz and tempranillo, but this juicy, fleshy malbec was the one that caught my tastebuds. The red berry medley delivers spice, bouncy vibes and Aussie scrubland aromas. Nailed it. The folk at Little Giant also support Wires animal rescue and wombats rehab (thus the wombat on the label). Nice touch. Find it in the wild for as low as $17 a bottle.

14 per cent alcohol; fourthwavewine.com.au

Billy Button 2021 Rosso, Victoria, from $19

Got mates popping round for pizza? Have this little beauty ready to rock and roll. The blend of barbera, tempranillo, dolcetto, refosco and sangiovese from the Alpine Valleys is juicy but savoury all at once. Italy in a bottle. The RRP is $25 but if you’re quick, you can find it on Different Drop for $19.

13.5 per cent alcohol; billybuttonwines.com.au

Triple Creek B1654 2021 Non-Alcoholic Shiraz, SA, $19

Disclaimer: This is a NoLo drop so you won’t get any buzz for your buck, but as far as non-alcoholic shiraz goes, it’s a decent drop in a still struggling landscape (as far as quality goes). A light Barossa shiraz? The lack of alcohol makes it so. I dig the green-tea tannin and hangover-free public holiday potential.

Less than .05 per cent alcohol; freespiritdrinkco.com.au, anadrinks.com.au

Nepenthe 2021 Altitude Pinot Noir, SA, $17.99

This lovely pinot blew my socks off when I tried it during a tasting in the Adelaide Hills. “Say what?” I blurted when winemaker James Evers revealed the price. It retails at $132 for a case of six, but I recently spotted it for $17.99 a bottle at Dan’s. This is another wine to stow away for unexpected drop-ins or solo nights in front of the TV with a bowl of pasta and your favourite binge-worthy series.

14.5.per cent alcohol; nepenthe.com.au

Lingo 2021 Adelaide Hills Nebbiolo, SA, $17.99

The first thing to grab your attention here is the pretty floral nose. It’s like a stroll through the Piedmont countryside (minus the hay fever). Nebbiolo hails from Italy, and pizza is the accompaniment of the day for this rustic gem. Nippy tannin and banging acid keep it all in check.

14 per cent alcohol; danmurphys.com.au

The Ethereal One 2021 Fleurieu Grenache, SA, $16.99

The name fits. This ethereal beauty delivers perfumed notes and bright, juicy mouthfuls (think lollies and musk sticks). It’s fresh as a daisy, and although it clocks in at 14.5 per cent alcohol, you don’t feel the heat. Winemaker Mark Jamieson’s The Ethereal One 2020 Fleurieu Grenache won the top grenache trophy at the International Wine Challenge in London in 2022, so he’s onto a good thing. You can find the 2021 on special for $14 at Dan’s. Lift your jaw off the floor and make haste.

danmurphys.com.au

Tread Softly 2022 Pinot Noir, SA, $16.99

Lush palate: tick. Tart cherry finish: tick. Gentle tannin: tick. Pretty packaging (check out that floral back label): tick. Most importantly, delicious: tick. This scrumptious pinot noir can be found at BWS and independent retailers nationwide – and at Dan’s for as little as $13.99. There are good feels to be had, too: Tread Softly plants a native tree for every six bottles sold.

10.8 per cent alcohol; danmurphys.com.au

Fuzzy Bare Pinot Noir Piquette, Australia, $16

What is a piquette? In a nutshell, piquettes are fizz made by adding water to the grape marc (skins) left over after pressing. This allows a second fermentation to occur, and the result is a naturally simple, lower-alcohol wine (think 4 to 5 per cent). This approachable version throws raspberry, blackcurrant and cranberry flavours across the winery floor. Crisp and fun, minus the headache.

4 per cent alcohol; fourthwavewine.com.au

Paper Mache Light Red 2022, SA, from $16.50

The Tigger of the light red wine world; bouncy, trouncy and full of fun. The left-of-field Wacky Grape Wine Company’s juicy, savoury Riverland red is currently popular on Vivino and is best chilled. It’s a great way to wind down after (or during) a gardening session. Think of it like a rosé.

13.5 per cent alcohol; wackygrape.com.au, vivino.com

Kaiora Bay 2019 Reserve Central Otago Pinot Noir, New Zealand, $15.99

Another hit sold exclusively through Aldi. Most of the fruit has been sourced from the Gibbston Valley and the Cromwell Basin in Central Otago, and a portion of whole bunch used during the winemaking process adds a bit of crunchy edge. This pinot is a Jacinda Ardern of a wine; all class.

13 per cent alcohol; aldi.com.au

Bargains for less than $15

Sooshi Mango 2021 Rosso Sangiovese, south-eastern Australia, $14.99

What happens when you cross a comedy troupe and a vino brand? Fun. The lads on the label set the tone. This Sangiovese by Johnny, Vince & Sam’s Vino (aka YouTube comedy trio Sooshi Mango) screams Italy, just like the comedians. It’s light-hearted and surprisingly moreish, and calls for lamb on the spit and family – lots of family.

11.5 per cent alcohol; danmurphys.com.au

Paradox Red Blend, Australia, $12.99

A red for anyone seeking a lighter alcohol option. The berry flavours arrive with a hit of herbaceous notes and a lick of sweetness at the tail. It may not satisfy serious wine connoisseurs, but life is too serious anyway. My hot tip: bang some soda water and ice in with it for a jovial red-wine spritzer.

Nine per cent alcohol; danmurphys.com.au, bws.com.au

The Tudor 2020 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, Victoria, $12.99

Aldi hit another home run with this light-bodied, perfume-packed pinot exclusive that packs a punch. It’s elegant (oh hey, Yarra) and delivers a lovely savoury undercurrent. There’s complexity you wouldn’t expect at this price point, which makes it a steal of the delicious variety. Dapper packaging, too.

14 per cent alcohol; aldi.com.au

Rabo De Gala 2020 Tinto, Portugal, $10.99

Don’t expect too much complexity here … it’s just yum. This red blend from Portugal’s Lisboa wine region – made from castelao, touriga nacional, tinta roriz and trincadeira grapes – is dry and full-bodied but playful, so it doesn’t smack you around the noggin like some reds do. Bang some cured meats on a platter and let a lazy afternoon roll by. Find it for as little as $8 a bottle – you can’t miss it, there’s a big old cock on the label.

13.5 per cent alcohol; danmurphys.com.au

Bright bangers for less than a tenner

Rewild 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon, Riverland, Vic, $9.99

Duxton Vineyards is committed to sustainability in their eco-conscious Rewild range, no matter the price tag. Cabernet isn’t usually something to earn a gong in the “light/bright” landscape, but this is a fresh, energetic example that goes down a treat – especially on a houseboat at sunset, with a steak on the barbecue and a long weekend on the horizon. Find it at Dan Murphy’s and select BWS stores nationwide.

13.5 per cent alcohol; rewildwine.com.au

El Toro Macho 2020 Superior Tempranillo Bobal, Spain, $5.99

Drop everything and get thee to Aldi, where a crowd-pleasing bargain awaits. This juicy goodness made its way here from Uteil Requena in Valencia, Spain and brings faraway holiday vibes with it. It’s smooth, savoury, earthy and full of Spanish character. Barbecues, nights in, picnics, tapas: it goes with everything, and at this price, you can afford to splash out on the good cuts at the local butcher.

13 per cent alcohol; aldi.com.au