Yes, you CAN get fine wine for a fiver! 4/5
With news a third of quaffers don’t like spending more than a fiver on a bottle, Femail drink expert HELEN McGINN says...
The thought of it is enough to make a wine buff choke on their Chablis. According to a new survey by consumer research group Kantar, one in three UK wine drinkers don’t like spending more than £5 per bottle.
It’s said anything north of that feels too expensive for a quiet night in. But, after a decade of tax hikes and subsequent rising wine prices, sniffing out bottles at this level is becoming increasingly difficult.
Spend £5 on a wine and a staggering 64 per cent of the cost now goes to the Treasury. That’s £2.23 per bottle before VAT. Take out the packaging, shipping and distribution costs — and the retailer’s cut — and you’re left with less than 50p worth of wine in the bottle.
As a former supermarket wine buyer — and a lover of a bargain — I know from experience that cheap doesn’t always mean cheerful. It can mean insipid and downright ropey.
Spend just a little more and you’re likely to get better value for money and a greater choice of wines. The sweet spot, quality-wise, is often between £7 and £9. After that, you’re likely to be paying more because the wine is made in smaller quantities or has a prestigious name.
however, there are plenty of drinkable wines costing a fiver or less. you’ve just got to know where to look. If you just grab a random bottle off the shelf at this price, it’s more likely to be a miss than a hit. But follow my guide and you could come away with a real bargain.
you can now even find organic and Fairtrade wines at this price, as well as ones from famous regions including Beaujolais and Cotes du Rhone. When it comes to countries, head for wines from Spain and France, southern Italy and Chile. They might not linger on the palate, but they won’t leave a bad taste, either.
here’s a selection of the best of the under-£5 bunch on the shelves…
White CLEVER BLEND cotes de Gascogne colombard Sauvignon Blanc, £4.99, Lidl
A CLEVER little blend made from the relatively cheap (and relatively bland on its own) Colombard grape, brightened up with aromatic Sauvignon Blanc. It’s from south-west France and tastes like it’s worth at least a couple of quid more. 3/5
DINNER-PARTY STAR Tesco Vina del cura Rioja Blanco 2017, £5
A GLORIOUS white Rioja made from the Viura grape. It’s lemony with a floral twist, and there’s no oak to get in the way of the lovely citrus flavours. It’s dinnerparty worthy — no one will guess it’s only a fiver. 5/5
CHRISTMAS PICK Gers 2018, £5, Marks & Spencer
ANOTHER gem from Gascony in south- west France. It’s made from the Colombard grape by one of the best co- operative producers there. Bright and light, with hints of ripe pear and crisp apple, this is certainly one to stock up on for Christmas parties. 4/5
FRUGAL FAIRTRADE co-op Fairtrade chenin Blanc 2018, £4.80
THE Co-op fields a strong range of Fairtrade wines and, amazingly, some come in at under £5. This one from South Africa is fantastic — think tropical fruit salad in a glass. Fairtrade funds have helped improve a community centre in the region where the wine is made. 3/5
ZESTY SURPRISE Makaraka Sauvignon Blanc 2018, £4.99, Aldi
CHEAP Sauvignon is at least usually best approached with caution. But this one from new Zealand is a pleasant surprise. It’s zesty, with enough of that trademark Sauvignon character to not leave your palate feeling cheated. 4/5
HARD TO RESIST Morrisons Soave 2018, £4.35
IF YOU’RE after an inexpensive Italian white with classic, soft lemon flavours and a hint of almond, this is it. OK, so I’d rather have a bottle of Morrisons’ smarter Soave Classico, but, at more than £ 2 cheaper, it’s hard to resist this bargain. 3/5
Rosé CITRUS TWIST Yallaroo Rosé, £4.99, Aldi
FROM Australia, this is as pale as a provence rosé, but not quite as dry. It’s crisp, with light raspberry flavours and a twist of citrus. It’s a good-looking bottle, too, if you like that sort of thing. 4/5
OH-SO QUAFFABLE Waitrose Ripe & Juicy Spanish Rosé, £4.99
THIS might be as basic as the Waitrose range gets, but it definitely delivers what it promises. The Garnacha grapes add plenty of plump red berry flavours. This is dangerously quaffable. 3/5
PINK AND PERKY Mountain Vineyards Rosé, £5, Tesco
THIS is a great addition to the Tesco range. Made from grapes grown in the Western Cape of South Africa, it has a fresh, tropical flavour. It’s properly pink and perky — and much better than some costing a bit more. 5/5
A REAL WINNER Tesco cotes du Rhone 2018, £4.50
WHEN I tasted this, I had to check the price with the buyer. Twice. I couldn’t believe a wine this good, from such a famous French region, could be this cheap. If you’re throwing a party, make sure this wine, with juicy red fruits and a gentle kick of spice, gets an invite. 5/5
HINT OF VANILLA Baturrica Tarragona Gran Reserva 2012, £4.99, Lidl
FROM Spain’s Tarragona region, this looks suspiciously good for the price, with its gold cage and sleek label. But what’s inside more than matches up, with gorgeous bramblefruit and a hint of vanilla.
JUICY GEM Tesco Beaujolais Rouge 2018, £5
OFTEN the best way to find a good, cheap wine is to look for an unfashionable region, where prices tend to be sensible. But Beaujolais is on a roll at the moment, so I am thrilled that this one manages to sneak in at a fiver. I adore its just-squashed raspberry jam flavours and allround juiciness. 5/5
ORGANIC AND EARTHY Toro Loco Organic Red, £4.99, Aldi
THE other wines in this delightful range fly off the shelves, and I love this organic addition. It’s a little rough around the edges, but given that it’s ( a) organic and (b) cheap as chips, I’m more than happy to embrace the earthiness. Made from the Bobal grape, grown in the Utiel-Requena region in Spain, it’s an absolute bargain. 4/5
FRUITY FIND co-op South African Red, £4.60
ANOTHER gem from the Co- op, this is a mediumbodied fruity red from the Western Cape of South Africa. It’s made from the Cinsault grape, more commonly found lurking in a blend alongside other grapes, but here it takes centre stage. It’s a cracking price for such a drinkable red. 3/5
BARGAIN BEAUTY cepa Lebrel Rioja Joven, £4.99, Lidl
THIS is basically a baby Rioja. The word joven means young in Spanish, and indicates the wine hasn’t been anywhere near an oak barrel. Made from the Tempranillo grape, this is bold and bright with characteristic raspberry and black cherry flavours. At 13 per cent ABV, it’s not a beast. And, at this bargain price, it’s definitely a beauty. 4/5