Five bottles for just a fiver: Expert reveals the best budget bottles to pick up at the supermarket that are still bursting with flavour
Baffled by too many choices? Stumpted by jargon? Here is the Mail’s expert advice on what five bottles you can buy for just over a fiver this month.
Monte Plogar Gran Reserva
Lidl, £5.49
This wine was clearly a bin end and it’s a real bargain. For those who like aged Rioja with its leathery, wild strawberry spice, this Spanish red provides epic bang for buck.
Animus Portugal Red
Aldi, £5.99
Portugal is a great place to go for bargains because there are often blends of grapes no one has heard of, nor can pronounce. This red is packed full of smoky liquorice and concentrated blackcurrant.
Left: Monte Plogar Gran Reserva, Lidl, £5.49. Right: Animus Portugal Red, Aldi, £5.99
Co-op Fairtrade Irresistible Sauvignon Blanc
Co-op, £6.15
For the very low price, this South African Savvy B knocks it out of the park for fleshy, tropical fruit mixed with a zesty freshness. A rounder style of Sauvignon than a Kiwi or a Loire.
Sainsbury’s House Soave
Sainsbury’s, £5
While this white gets zero points for packaging, the wine inside is 10/10 for the price. A classic Italian Soave which is golden, cool, dry and yeasty. Understated and totally gluggable.
Pecorino Terre di Chieti IGP
Waitrose, on offer for £5.99
Waitrose is known for its high-quality wines and this one has 25 per cent off until September 26 so grab it now. Crisp and dry with subtle tropical fruit and a nose of white flowers, it’s light and pretty, and just a bit different.
Left: Sainsbury’s House Soave, Sainsbury’s, £5. Right: Pecorino Terre di Chieti IGP, Waitrose, on offer for £5.99
Great wines for less
The best wines can be expensive, but there are cheaper, quality alternatives.
Chablis? Try Verdicchio
The Italian Verdicchio grape makes affordable wines that are bone dry, often with a saline chalkiness and subtle, yeasty character, like Chablis.
Try: Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, £6.75, Sainsbury’s
St Emilion? Try local Merlot
Merlot-dominated claret such as St Emilion can be costly. Alternatively, try a local Merlot-dominant blend from grapes planted in Bordeaux.
Try: Pierre Jaurant, Bordeaux Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon, £5.29, Aldi
Champagne? Try Cremant
Cremant sparkling wines offer amazing value because they are made in the same way as Champagne, but from French regions other than Champagne so they can’t use the name.
Try: M&S Classics Cremant de Bourgogne Brut, £12.50, M&S and Ocado.
If you like Chablis, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi from Sainsburys (left). If you like Champagne, try M&S Classics Cremant de Bourgogne Brut (right)
Chateauneuf? Try a Cotes-du-Rhone
Chateauneuf-du-Pape is an exclusive wine made in the Southern Rhone near Avignon. Cotes-du-Rhone is produced from the same grape varieties in the region.
Try: Classic Cotes du Rhone, £6.99, Waitrose
Sancerre? Try a Touraine
Sancerre fans pick Touraine Sauvignon Blanc because they prefer its delicate style to bombastic New World styles.
Try: Extra Special Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, on offer for £9, Asda
Helena Nicklin is an award-winning drinks writer, broadcaster and judge for international drinks competitions.
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