RIGHT, after all that festive fizz and fun it's time to get back to reality. Boo to that.

But hurrah for the weekend wine to get us through the mundanity of dreary January, right?

We're changing mood a little, though, away from all that holiday season jazz. After all, there are only so many sparkles of celebration that anyone can take. And only so much expenditure any wallet can handle too.

So here instead are a couple of nice easy reds which are lovely on a night in, and are very kind on the bank balance too - coming in at the magical under a fiver price.

Both hail from Italy, which has its fair share of pleasant unassuming table wine, produced both domestically and commercially, and both available at Tesco for just £4.50.

Firstly there's a Vigneti delle Dolomiti Teroldego from the Tesco Finest range.

Teroldego is a little-known but treasured indigenous Italian grape variety cultivated, as this wine's name would suggest, in the Dolomites, apparently for neon 700 years.

It has recently been discovered to be a full sibling of the Dureza variety from France, which is one of the parents of Syrah. So you could treat this as Syrah's cheerful old down-to-earth uncle.

It's characterful and fruity with redcurrant and cherry flavours, some cheery vibrancy and a fresh finish.

It's a versatile food wine, with this one said to be good with lamb chops or a mixed platter of cold meats and cheeses in front of the tellybox.

Apparently, some wine experts in California compare their Teroldego to their Zinfandel, so it follows there would be similarities between the Italian versions too, and indeed there are.

Now, the last Zinfandel this household had was rather harsh and unpleasant American one - either a bad bottle or a bad day - so trying it again came with a little trepidation, even if this one hailed from the Old World side of the Atlantic.

Going with a low-priced bottle - the Zinfandel Puglia Primitivo, from the opposite end of Italy to the Dolomites, in the heel of the boot - therefore seemed wise, in case money was wasted. Which it happily wasn't.

Bold flavours of ripe cherries again abounded, with some savoury spices which add richness differentiating it from the Teroldego.

One for red meat dishes and stews, it can be enjoyed whatever the weather.