So we could be heading for a double dip: a slump back into recession. At least that’s what I was reading and hearing in the news today (oh boy).

Ever the optimist, I’m telling myself that it’s the ‘silly season’ and the media are just desperate for scare stories. Could this also explain why UFO sightings and the discovery of a new hospital super-bug, have hit the headlines?

As a wine scribe, the only plus side to the recession was that it gave a new focus on wine selections. Nobody wanted to forsake their bottle of vino on a Saturday night but they didn’t want to spend as much on it.

Subsequently my inbox was carpet-bombed with credit crunch wines. In the main it was all marketing guff, to the extent that I promised myself never to write credit crunch, in relation to anything vinous, ever again.

But just in case we are slipping back down that slope, here are three wines that won’t break the bank (I promised myself never to write that again either).

The first two are from Bedale-based Firth & Co, run by Andrew Firth. Andrew was the former boss of Thirsk based wine merchant Playford Ros, which was acquired by House of Townend last year. The wines are listed under the Firth’s House Selection category. The list can be viewed online at firthandco.com and orders placed by telephone (01677 451952).

Cantele Telero Bianco 2009 is a decent quaffing wine from Italy’s Puglia region. Made from the indigenous bombino grape, it delivers bags of grapefruit and lemon flavour, with a smooth mouthfeel and just a little lift of acidity on the finish.

However, the highest mark goes to a fantastic Bordeaux-style red from South Africa, Klein Steenberg 2007. This is a very impressive wine at the price, a velvety smooth blend of merlot and cabernet, brimming with plums, cassis and cigar-box notes. It is balanced and long and could pass for a Château wine at triple the price.

Lastly, Las Rocas Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, a new addition to the shelves at Asda from Chile’s Central Valley. Capable and good value, if you take up the three bottles for £12 offer, it’s quite the textbook cabernet. Full, minty and fruit forward, with blackcurrant, cherry, vanilla and smoky oak notes, it has some structure too.

• Cantele Telero Bianco 2009 , £5.82 from Firth & Co 17/20.

• Klein Steenberg 2007, £6.46 from Firth & Co 19/20.

• Las Rocas Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, £5.25 at Asda (or 3 for £12) 17/20.