THINGS don’t seem to be going too well in Italy these days.

Having failed to qualify for this summer’s World Cup, the country has since fallen into political uncertainty after a crazy election. Those two things cannot be just coincidental, surely.

One constant in the land of pizzas, leaning towers and corruption, however, is the wine, which seems to get the locals through either the real or surreal with a shrug of nonchalant superiority, even amid the anger and despair of footballing disaster.

With more than 800 grape varieties, 20 unique wine regions, and a legacy of viticulture dating back millennia, Italian wine caters for the aristocracy and commoners with equal aplomb. Indeed, some of the jug wine here is among this column’s favourites.

Economical bottles duly feature in this week’s offering, after we came across two Italian reds at Waitrose which are not only affordable but veritable bargains, even if the cost of EU produce in the UK may currently be affected by fluctuations in the pound.

The prices may suggest basement budget for this supermarket but, while obviously not the best tipples you will ever find, punters seeking a good midweek wine to have with their tea and TV could do a lot worse.

Firstly is the Araldica Barbera D’Asti Superiore, down from £8.99 to just £6.99 until Tuesday.

Now, Asti, in Piedmont, in north west Italy, is probably most famous for its sparkling white wine, but the indigenous red Barbera grape grows particularly well here in the foothills of the Alps, where cooler air ensures a bright, vivid note to this drink’s red cherry and wild raspberry fruit flavours.

This particular tipple is produced at the Araldica Castelvero cellars, aged for at least a year in large old oak casks.

It is a soft, warm red wine, with cherry and plum fruit character overlaid with smoky wood scents and elegant spice.

Welcoming and easy, it accompanies grilled meats, roasted vegetables or pasta dishes with tomato-based sauces.

Barbera is the third most-planted grape variety in Italy, after Sangiovese (the predominant grape in Chianti) and Montepulciano - which brings us onto our second bargain.

La Piuma Montepulciano d’Abruzzo is down from £7.99 to £5.99 until Tuesday.

It’s likewise not the greatest Montepulciano you’ll find, but at this price nobody can complain.

The grapes are grown on vines up to 30 years old in Città San Angelo in the classic region of Abruzzo in central east Italy.

What you get for not much money is a full-bodied red with rich, plum and blackberry flavours. Like the above, it goes well with tomato-based pasta dished and most red meats.

As an aside, this grape variety was named after the Tuscan parish of Montepulciano, but, confusingly, is not used in the wines produced there. Whether that has anything to do with old politics is anyone’s guess.