Hardy’s Stamp of Australia 2006 (about $8): I served this along with a number of other international wines at a wine class and this was by far the group favorite. Spicy berry flavors abound, but you won’t find this to be one of those out of control Shiraz fruit bombs. The finish is fairly soft and I would recommend drinking this wine fairly soon.

The price on this wine is unbelievable and should entice you to buy it by the case. Try it with well-aged cheeses or better yet, barbeque meats and veggies for a delicious food/wine combination.

Sticks 2004 (about $19) : An absolute gem of a red wine from the Yarra Valley in the Australian state of Victoria.

Filled with plenty of dark currant and cranberry flavors, the wine has a bit of a smoky, earthy quality that balances out the fruit and rounds out the acidity. Great with chicken, duck, turkey and a wide variety of other foods. Outstanding!

Kelly’s Revenge is a brand new series of wines from Australia that have just been released. The wines aren’t completely over the top, but for those who want decent wines for under $10 - and trust me, there are a lot of bad ones in this category - I think you’ll find them to be tough to beat.

The 2005 Shiraz (about $6) is a lighter style Aussie red, but it carries with it all the requisite flavors and spices you’d expect from this varietal. It’s full of red cherry and berry flavors, a bit of pepper and fairly soft tannins.

Also currently available is the 2006 Chardonnay (also about $6) which has a bit of a citrus aroma, plently of crisp, apple flavors and touches of oak on the finish. Pleasant, tasty and great for sipping when slightly chilled.

The winery also currently offers a 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon for the same price. Look for Kelly’s Revenge wines at the Cost Cutter shopping center on Lakeway Drive in Bellingham.

Redcliffe Winery 2005 (about $11): The Marlborough wine region of New Zealand is turning out some awfully nice stuff right now and here’s a good example of one of their Sauvignon Blancs to add to your tasting list.

This wine is packed with zingy flavors of grapefruit and gooseberry. And the finish provides a nice contrast, with a layer of herbaceousness that follows the citrus and provides the wine with a pleasant, savory quality.

Monkey Bay 2006 (about $9): Another nice Sauvignon Blanc that’s comparable to their past vintages. There’s some serious citrus and melon followed by the expected acidity that hits you in the face without overwhelming the fruit flavors. This is really an outstanding little wine for this price.

Try serving it with seafood, shellfish or enjoy it chilled all on it’s own. If you can’t travel to New Zealand, you can at least kick back with a glass of their wine and dream about it.

Last month I taught a class at Bellingham Technical College that featured wines from Australia and New Zealand. It almost seems as if wines from “down under” have become an overnight sensation in the United States, when in fact the winemaking success of these countries has been going on for decades.

If you like fragrant white wines with plenty of zip and your red wines with big, fruit forward flavors, chances are Australia and New Zealand will have something suit your tastes.

Here are a few of the class’s favorites, along with some personal choices that I think you might enjoy:

2004 Twin Beaks Verdelho (about $10): A bit of an obscure grape with Portuguese origins that has characteristics similar to a Pinot Gris. This release from Southeastern Australia is a terrific starter wine with citrus and pear flavors, ample acidity and a faint trace of sugar on the finish. Currently available at The Vines on Cornwall Avenue.

2005 Fauna Sauvignon Blanc (about $10): From the Marlborough region of New Zealand, here’s a zesty white wine loaded with flavors of gooseberry and lime and bracing acidity. Terrific with snapper, sole and shellfish.

2003 Four Emus Cabernet/ Shiraz/ Merlot (about $9): Western Australia is the home of this affordable blend that tastes a bit like a Cabernet Franc. Dark berry flavors are backed up ample tannins and a bit of an herbaceous finish. Try some at your next barbeque.

2002 Kilikanoon Shiraz (about $19): This dark, inky Shiraz from South Australia will blow you away. Plush and fat with overripe berry and plum flavors and a silky smooth finish. An incredible, must-try wine that I also purchased at The Vines.