In Tipping's Tipples this week, Mike Tipping raises a glass or three to Australia.

THEY'LL be celebrating Down Under on Monday as it's Australia Day. Fortunately, the only sour grapes exported from the former colony relate to England's Rugby World Cup victory! And hopefully the only things that will be corked are the hats.

In Pommie homage to Monday's celebrations, Tipping's Tipples has three bottles of Aussie stuff to try out this week, including a nice quirky red.

There's £2 off Brown Brothers Tarrango 2002, £3.99 until February 4 at Budgens. It's a red that's licensed to chill. This unique Oz variety, a hybrid of the red grape touriga and white grape sultana, was developed for summer drinking in hotter climes. But hey, don't let that put you off - it tastes great even when it's icy outside. It's very light bodied, as reds go, and full of intense raspberry and redcurrant flavours. Stick it in the fridge for an hour or two and enjoy with fish and chips, it's great! Don't leave it cellared for too long though, as it should be supped within two years of vintage.

Delicate hints of oak it says on the label of McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Shiraz 2002. Heck, there's enough oak here to build a replica of HM Bark Endeavour. All the better for it, I say! Lovely black cherry and bramble flavours with vanilla to contrast. All that and a wonderful smokey, oakey nose. It's velvety smooth and not overly peppery like some shiraz examples. Worth every penny at £6.49.

The McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Chardonnay 2002 is good as well. Kiwi fruit flavours (that'll insult them) and subtle use of oak (shock horror) combine to make this a very drinkable wine. Nice and buttery, sweet and sour stuff with enough fructose rising to keep me sneezing all evening.

I think I might just raise a glass to our Antipodean cousins on Monday. They're not a bad lot really and they do produce fine wines. But I'll be raising a glass to Jonny Wilkinson too. Fair dinkum, sport?

Brown Brothers Tarrango 2002, £3.99 at Budgens till February 4

****

googly glug

McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Shiraz 2002, £6.49 at Tesco, Budgens and Makro

****

lots of lovely oak

McWilliam's Hanwood Estate Chardonnay 2002, £5.99 at Tesco, Budgens and Makro

****

nice buttery example

Updated: 14:23 Tuesday, April 20, 2004