THE New World obsession with varietial wines, those made from a single variety of grape such as Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, is all very well, but it is surprising how often a blend of two varieties add so much more to the wine.

This was brought home to me when I tasted a couple of new wines for summer drinking from the Prima Collezione of Casa Girelli's Canaletto range.

The great beauty of both of these wines, one from the north and one from the south of Italy, is that they are made from grapes that are genuine natives of their region.

The 2004 white, from the Veneto, near to Venice, in the north, is made from 60 per cent Garganega and 40 per cent Pinot Grigio grown on the foothills of the Alps and strongly under the influence of Lake Garda.

This temperate climate, coupled with long cool fermentation in stainless steel vats, extenuates rich floral tones and accentuates the fruit flavours. The malolactic conversion was blocked, which builds up the wines natural acidity giving it a refreshing, zingy finish.

The 2003 red comes from about as far south as you can go in Italy, from the vineyards of Vittoria in the far south-eastern corner of Sicily.

Here, on the sides of mountains within sight of the sea, they harvest the Nero d'Avola and Syrah grapes in a blend of 70 per cent Nero d'Avola and 30 per cent Syrah to make the wine.

Ah, I can hear you saying to yourself, caught him out, Syrah is not a native grape of Sicily. Well sorry, actually it is. It was first brought to the island in pre-Roman days by Greek merchants who discovered it in the Persian city of Shiraz. But because the French were unable to pronounce that name they called it Syrah and that's how it has been known in Europe ever since!

The Australians were among the first to revert back to its proper name, Shiraz.

The wine is bursting with rich, spicy fruit and just the job to accompany an equally rich, rare juicy steak.

You'll find both these wines at Threshers for £6.49.

Inn is a ding dong favourite

Everyone's entitled to a little plot of paradise. Mine, is an inn about an hour's drive from Worcester, less if you take the M50.

Follow the A49 Ross-on-Wye to Hereford road and turn left on to the B4521. Unwind as it meanders for some six miles to the village of Skenfrith, with the remains of its once proud Norman castle with an unusual round keep and what's left of its 13th Century walls.

As you come out of the woods, and down the hill to the humpback bridge, over the River Monnow, glance at the Hereford cattle grazing in the lush fields. Cross the bridge and you're there, the Bell Inn. The first inn in Wales and a little plot of paradise.

Until 2001 it was a pretty nondescript village pub. But then it was reopened by Janet and William Hutchings as the sort of place that they would like to visit.

Over the past couple of years this enterprising young couple have won a powerful reputation for their magnificent award winning wine lists - yes, there are two - with a restaurant to match. You can relax over a pint of beer or glass of Grande Marque champagne in the comfortable bar, which in winter has a blazing log fire.

Lunch or dine off local produce prepared with care and simplicity and served with the welcoming smile that has been long forgotten by those faceless chains of accountant run hotels that masquerade as bits of old Britain.

The eight splendid rooms, named after trout flies, are the real thing. You might find one with a proper oak full tester, as four-posters are correctly known, together with lovingly looked after antique chests and mirrors.

The superb bathroom has lashings of hot water and large fluffy white towels that even wrap around my ample girth, as well as towelling bath gowns for lounging around, looking out of the window, watching television or listening to CDs.

And in the morning make your own pot of tea or real coffee - not that awful instant rubbish - with a vacuum flask of real milk. After a proper breakfast get out along the banks of the Monnow to build up an appetite for lunch.

Double and twin rooms with breakfast run from £95 to £170 for two, while dinner can cost around £30 a head plus wine.

The main wine list - William's pride and joy - is sensibly priced with plenty of wines by the glass or half-bottle. No wonder this is my idea of paradise. The second wine list is dedicated to a wonderful selection of pudding wines - another of my little weaknesses - and some 37 of the most excellent Cognac's you'll find outside France.

The Bell Inn is already a weekend favourite among the SUV set from the big cities, so take my advice and go for a night or two during the week when it's not nearly so busy.