There’s really never a bad time for a list of excellent new red wines, but we think right now is especially timely.

Whether you’ve spent the past few months in isolation expanding your horizons with different wines or sticking to your tried-and-tested favourites, chances are you’re ready to mix things up. And while there are many rewards for getting through this challenging time, buying a few bottles of guaranteed deliciousness is surely top of the list – especially now we can share them with friends and family once again.

And so, we bring you 50 great reds, each with the nod of approval from James Halliday or Campbell Mattinson. They range in price from $16 to $200, but with Campbell focusing on $30 and under, many of his picks are under $20. And while James could go for any price he liked, his average is around $50. Check it out from page 21.

Also in this issue, we delve into the art of food and wine pairing, calling on two sommeliers at the top of their game to share their tips for getting it right. We also showcase five brilliant examples of rarer red wines, James Halliday looks at The Islander Estate Vineyards on Kangaroo Island – one of many wineries to be hit by summer’s bushfires – and Jane Parkinson selects 12 standout wines made in a way that make her feel better about the future; something we could all use right now. Plus, we talk to rising winemaking star Angus Vinden from the Hunter Valley, and even though travel is still off the cards, we provide some inspiration for future trips by checking in on Tasmania and also Canada’s burgeoning Okanagan Valley.

We hope it all offers some solid time out, as well as plenty of ideas to get you excited for what comes next – even if that’s as simple as what will be filling your glass.

Cheers,