Whites Light & dry

1. 2017 Tesco Orvieto Classico

UMBRIA, ITALY (£5, Tesco) This trebbiano/ grechetto blend is a cracking little fellow and you’ll forgive the boring label when you taste the bright, citrusy fruit. A bargain for summer parties!

2. 2017 Exquisite Collection Touraine Sauvignon Blanc

LOIRE, FRANCE (£5.49, Aldi) I prefer well-chosen, budget French sauvignon blancs to cheaper New Zealand versions. This is crisp, lean and refreshing – much more my style!

3. 2017 Cortese, Araldica

PIEMONTE, ITALY (£5.95, thewine society.com) I can’t believe the price! Araldica is a first-class company. Cortese is the grape that makes Gavi – I didn’t find a worthy Gavi but this beauty wins a place by sheer flavour and value!

4. 2017 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi, Classico

MARCHE, ITALY (£5.99, Co-op)

The curvy bottle echoes the nude lady on the label and projects a romantic image. I love the clean, crisp apple and pear notes and the fresh finish.

5. 2017 Muscadet, La Marinière

LOIRE, FRANCE (£6.49, Waitrose) I’m keen on a great Muscadet, but it is a very underrated style in France. This is the best and one of the least expensive, too. Well done, La Marinière – you are a true, classic, dry, summer white wine.

6. 2017 Tesco finest* Passerina

ABRUZZO, ITALY (£6.50, reduced to £5.20 from 10-30 July, Tesco) Watch out for this! It has serious attitude and very pronounced acidity. It’s best served with creamy dishes. Think pasta and Parmesan.

7. 2017 Oxford Landing Estates, Sauvignon Blanc

SOUTH AUSTRALIA (£6.50, Tesco)

Australia’s finest budget sauvignon blanc, this is a beacon of delicious excellence and it really is a snip of a price.

8. 2017 Morrisons The Best Trentino Pinot Grigio

ITALY (£7, Morrisons) The crucial word here is Trentino. The cool climate of this foothillsof-the-Alps region makes the wine dramatic and brings a bite of freshness to the finish.

9. 2017 Taste The Difference Pinot Blanc

PFALZ, GERMANY (£7, reduced to £6 until 3 July, Sainsbury’s) I like this German pinot blanc for its slate-y freshness. It’s the perfect first glass of the evening.

10. 2017 Garganega/ Pinot Grigio

VENETO, ITALY (£7, M&S) Made at the great Cantina di Monteforte, and at a very low price, this is a ‘cheat’s soave’. I applaud its canny style because, while we might want the real deal at the weekend, this is a mid-week treat.

11. 2017 Peter Yealands, Sauvignon Blanc

MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND (£7, Booths) Yealands is a big operation yet their wines are reliable. Zesty, lemony and rapier-sharp, this wine is often discounted throughout the year.

12. 2017 La Vieille Ferme, Famille Perrin, Luberon

RHÔNE, FRANCE (£7.49, reduced to £6.49 until 10 July, Co- op) With meadow-flower notes on the nose, this has a crunchy, green apple finish.

13. 2017 Taste The Difference Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi

MARCHE, ITALY (£7.50, reduced to £6 until 3 July, Sainsbury’s) A great example of a budget Italian white wine, this has a very memorable, smooth flavour.

14. 2017 Torres, Viña Sol

CATALUNYA, SPAIN (£7.79, Waitrose)

Torres is a legendary wine estate and this wine is another sublime vintage from them.

Crisp, crunchy and vibrant, it’s a summery tipple with a Spanish tang.

15. 2017 Waitrose Grüner Veltliner

NIEDERÖSTERREICH, AUSTRIA (£7.99, Waitrose) Made by the ever-reliable Markus Huber, this is a little richer than usual and it brings exoticism to a grape famed for its controlled flavour.

16. 2017 Les Collines de Luzanet, Côtes de Gascogne

FRANCE (£7.99, reduced to £5.99 from 11 July-7 August, Waitrose) The grass notes add a summery touch to this wine – it’s a very good find from off the beaten track.

17. 2017 Taste The Difference Riesling

NIEDERÖSTERREICH, AUSTRIA (£8, Sainsbury’s) We often forget about Austrian riesling, but this is a fabulous wine with a dry, long, modern finish. Touches of rhubarb and lime bring flair, with a flourish of mouth-watering acidity.

18. 2017 Taste The Difference Vernaccia di San Gimignano

TUSCANY, ITALY (£8, reduced to £7 until 3 July, Sainsbury’s) With demure fruit and a relaxed palate, this is lovely – and the label is superb.

19. 2017 Villa Blanche, Terret Blanc

LANGUEDOCROUSSILLON, FRANCE (£8.49, Waitrose)

Made from the rare terret blanc grape, this wine packs more weight than others. When one expects the palate to fade, it rebounds with enthusiastic citrusness.

20. 2017 Tesco finest* Terre di Monteforte, Pinot Grigio

VENEZIE, ITALY (£8.50, reduced to £6.80 from 10-30 July, Tesco) With typical élan, this pinot grigio puts its rivals to shame. It’s also genuinely dry and refreshing.

21. 2017 Cheverny, Domaine du Salvard

LOIRE, FRANCE (£8.95, thewinesociety.com)

This was one of the first wines I bought for a restaurant wine list nearly 30 years ago and it’s still a superstar. It packs more weight into its flavour than normal Loire sauvignons.

22. 2016 Château Saint-Jean-deGraves

BORDEAUX, FRANCE (£8.99, Waitrose) This reminds us white Graves is a powerful style in Bordeaux. It can certainly handle fish dishes. The 2017 vintage is lovely too, due late summer.

23. 2017 Côte de Charme, Sauvignon Blanc

LOIRE, FRANCE (£9, M&S) A different beast to other Loire sauvignons, this has more juiciness and richness and a bold aroma. It’s an alluring style that captures the senses.

24. 2017 Tapada de Villar, Vinho Verde

PORTUGAL (£9, M&S) There are no inexpensive vinho verdes this year which hit the mark. This won’t bother you when you taste this wine. With super-clean citrus fruit and a spritzy palate, this epic wine is perfect with crustaceans.

25. 2017 Fenaroli, Pecorino Superiore

ABRUZZO, ITALY (£9.99, reduced to £7.49 from 11 July-7 August, Waitrose) This reminds me of a Mâcon blanc in size and shape. The pecorino fruit and texture is sublime. Drink it with chicken or fish.

26. 2017 Taste The Difference Greco di Tufo

CAMPANIA,

ITALY (£10, reduced to £9 until 3 July, Sainsbury’s) Sour and dramatic, this is a bitter greengage and yellow plum style. It has a unique appeal and is one of the finest white styles for main course fish dishes.

27. 2017 Touraine Sauvignon, Domaine de la Bergerie

LOIRE, FRANCE (£10.50, reduced to £9.33 each by the case, hhandc.co.uk, tel 020 7584 7927) This is class personified. The perfume is so pretty and delicate and the palate is lemony.

28. 2017 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 9.5%, Forrest Wines

NEW ZEALAND (£11, M&S) Winemaker John Forrest has captured all the flavour of this grape at lower alcohol levels. With its lovely aroma, this is perfect for a hot day.

29. 2017 The Gum, Pinot Grigio

ADELAIDE HILLS, SOUTH AUSTRALIA (£11.50, M&S) One of only four mentioned in all my 15 100 Best Australian

Wines Reports, this is a stunning pinot grigio with beautiful fruit and a highly attractive aroma.