WINE LIST

This quintet, including two lively Italians and an entertaining claret, make ideal party guests!

1 2016 Château Tour Chapoux, Bordeaux, France £9.39, reduced to £6.99 until 1 January, Waitrose

I was thrilled to find this budget claret, and even more excited when I learned of the deal! You can match this medium-weight, blackcurrant-themed red to all manner of meaty dishes, and don’t forget washed rind cheeses – an epic combo.

2 2017 Montidori, Sangiovese Romagna, Italy £8.99, reduced to £6.99 until 1 January, Waitrose

A number of ‘cheat Chiantis’ are popping up in our shops, a welcome trend. The sangiovese grape can make very impressive red outside its home in Tuscany, and this wine is a great example. It tastes like a decent Chianti but is a fraction of the price.

3 2017 Sorso, Pinot Grigio, Abruzzo, Italy £6.50, Morrisons

A bright, fresh, zesty party wine, this energetic pinot grigio has a little more depth of pear-skin flavour in its mid-palate than you would normally find in a PG, and this broadens its appeal. It makes it both a worthy aperitif and a wine that’s perfectly suitable to be drunk with starter dishes.

4 2017 Taste the Difference Côtes du Rhône White, France £8, reduced to £7 until 1 January, Sainsbury’s

Bolder and richer than the PG above, this is a main-course wine made from a heady blend of grenache blanc, bourboulenc, viognier, roussanne and clairette. All these grapes pull together with their stone-fruit flavours to make a lusty, juicy white.