It always struck me how much value you could get in the new world, by paying a little more for quality.

And it just so happens that I know these places really well, having travelled there regularly over the years.

I’ve developed tight relationships with some of the best winemakers in these countries. And I know from working closely with them how much each bottle costs to make, from grape to table.

So I couldn’t wait to bring their wines over here, and show Irish wine drinkers what they’d been missing out on.

Here are six wines that sum up exactly what I’m talking about. In the case you’ll get:

1x Easthope Winegrowers Home Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2020 - Rod’s flagship red and everything you want in a good Syrah and more. It’s got intense florals, pepper and vibrant blueberry flavours, with gorgeous weight and presence, yet it’s just 13.5% alcohol. If you like your northern Rhone you’ll be blown away

1x Evoi Margaret River Reserve Chardonnay 2015 - from one of Margaret River’s most sought-after vineyards - it’s a ripe, rich and refined Chardonnay, full of classic stone fruits, great texture and a lovely nutty finish

1x Corofin Wrekin Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 - from a heavy clay-based vineyard which produces fruit with lots of intensity and structure. A highly aromatic and floral nose leads to an earthy and savoury palate. This is a dark, more serious style of Pinot, with a gamey edge and great potential to age

1x Carigno del Maule Carignan 2020 - old vine Carignan is Chile's forgotten treasure. It was planted en masse in the Maule Valley in the 1940s, but it was only as recently as 2010 that winemakers started rediscovering the incredible potential of these precious old vines. If you like your classic French and Italian reds - Bordeaux, Barbera, Barolo... give this a try

1x Carinus Rooidraai Chenin Blanc 2021 - made from old vine Swartland fruit from one of the best growers in the country. this wine confirms why South Africa is the greatest place on earth to make Chenin Blanc

1x Hogan Wines Divergent Red 2018 - a Bordeaux-style Cape blend from Jocelyn Hogan, one of South Africa’s most talked-about young winemakers. The addition of Carignan gives it extra freshness which makes it perfect for anything grilled this time of year.