WINE connoisseurs will often bang on about the importance of “terroir” – that is, the set of environmental factors that affect a crop's physical appearance and qualities.

These include soil types, climate and local geomorphology, plus farming practices and what else grows in and around the vineyards.

Indeed, terroir is the basis of the French wine appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) system, which is a model for appellation and regulation around the world. The AOC system presumes the land from which the grapes are grown imparts a unique quality on the grape specific to that site.

Other than the obvious wine region brands (Champagne, Chablis, Chianti, etc) you’ll duly find a number of wine names, both old and new, referencing the land from which they hail.

We came across two such tipples currently on offer in the Co-op’s excellent range, both of which are down from £8.99 to £7.99 until February 13.

The first is the Artan Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, from South Australia.

Artan is Gaelic for stone and was used by the Scottish settlers two centuries or so ago to describe the unique soils of the Limestone Coast down under.

This rich earth is layered upon fossilised limestone, which naturally provides the soil with an excellent balance of drainage and water retention, making it a premium region for cool-climate wine. As such the Limestone Coast became a large wine appellation, with Cabernet Sauvignon among its produce.

This 13.5 per cent Artan Reserve is a great value red, with classic dark berry and blackcurrant fruit augmented by chocolate, cinnamon, a touch of mint and black pepper and slightly floral influences. It is medium-to-full bodied with gentle tannins and will go down well with many Bordeaux lovers. It pairs nicely with beef, lamb and poultry.

The second is the award-winning Don David Blend Of Terroirs Malbec.

France is the birthplace of this grape but these days it is increasingly associated with South America, particularly Argentina. There must be something in the soil there that the grape loves.

Malbec is one of those fruity, almost jammy wines, which, when well balanced and not unpleasantly tangy, can be an absolute joy.

This Don David one hails from the world's highest-altitude vineyards in the Calchaquí Valley in Salta, where days are sunny and hot but temperatures fall like a stone at night, keeping fresh flavours in the grape. The vineyards are also surrounded by a mix of habitats, from mountain desert to the subtropical forest, presumably giving the wine its name.

Thick ripe plum and rich damson fruit hits the palate and there’s an elegant finish, with a little white pepper spice, cherries, cocoa and herbage adding to the flavours and agreeable tannins adding to the feel.

A 14 per cent drink, it’s intense yet refined, and duly an International Wine Challenge silver medal winner, and thus a very good example for its price. Steak is the obvious food pairing.