HAVING GRAPE EXPECTATIONS

WILL £10 buy the perfect bottle of wine?

Former Waitrose boss Mark Price believes that is the ideal price to ensure the best balance of value and quality.

That’s because the cost of producing a bottle and the duty paid on it are roughly the same for all wines.

And so, even allowing for factors like higher retail markups, a dearer bottle contains better value wine than plonk.

Mark explained: “Tax you pay is the same on every bottle, no matter how expensive. The cost of glass is also roughly the same, as is transport.

“In a £5 bottle the value of the wine is actually just 47p.

“In a £10 bottle the value of wine is just under £3. For twice as much you get six times the quality. A £20 bottle’s quality is about £6 – even better but you’ve effectively doubled up.

“So if you spend £10, you’ve hit the sweet spot.”

Te s t e r s from the International Wine Challenge selected these 10 tipples for Sunday People readers to try at Easter – and some will give you change from a tenner. This delicious and smooth sparkling wine is easy drinking – perfect to share with a special someone. Its dry apple tang and nutty finish make it irresistible with lightly spiced dishes or lamb chops. This fruity Spaniard is full of juicy strawberry flavour and a subtle hint of spicy oak. It would work well on its own or with sausages, pork chops and simple steaks.