For those of you who don’t buy the Daily Mail, here’s the unedited version:
Wine is getting more expensive. Full stop. And sadly, for those of us who enjoy the odd tipple, the perfect storm of rising duty, shipping costs, glass shortages, exchange rates and endless paperwork have meant that finding a genuinely good, authentic bottle for under a tenner is about as rare as a lie in when you have young kids. What’s worse is that corners are now often being cut with the very cheapest bottles. Alcohol levels are also being sneakily lowered to dodge higher tax brackets and keep prices down. Let’s face it, a proper Aussie Shiraz or a juicy Chilean Merlot doesn’t naturally rock up at 11% ABV. If it does, chances are it’s had some of the booze whisked away, spoonfuls of sugar added to make up for the thinner body and a dash of lab-made acidity to make the whole thing taste vaguely normal. In short, many super cheap wines are now more like processed commodities, even if they don’t taste bad, per se. While these may be perfectly fine if you just want a jammy booze hit after a long day (and no judgement here!), if you’re trying to actually understand what’s in your glass, these ‘Franken-wines’ aren’t your friends.
None of this is to say that all cheap wine is bad. Far from it. There are still absolute gems out there that punch way above their price tag - the sort of bottles that make you feel smug enough to post pictures of them on instagram. You just need to know where to look. And this, conveniently, is where those of us who taste our way through the supermarket wine shelves for a living get to shine. I would say that, but it’s true.
When tasting, I try to look at the price last so I can form a picture in my mind first and guess. Those that surprise me go into my articles. I often recommend wines I wouldn’t necessarily drink myself because I know they’re decent and that there is an audience for them. Here however, are ten stonkingly good white wines, all tasted this year, that I would actively purchase to drink despite having countless other bottles in the house for sampling. All overdeliver on quality for price and are fantastic examples of type. Most importantly, I would be proud to share them with the most discerning wine lovers at any party.
There’s something for everyone in this eclectic mix. Happy sipping!
Azul Marinho Alvarinho 2024, £7.47 on offer (usually £8.42) ASDA
Portuguese Alvarinho is such a vibrant, happy grape, making whites packed with zingy citrus and ripe peach with a sprinkle of sea salt. This one is immensely gluggable for a great price.
Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone White, £9.50 Ocado, £8.75 on offer at Waitrose
I’ve got back into textural whites this year and this blend brilliantly combines a creamy mouthfeel with refreshing notes of lime and orange blossom over fennel and ripe apricot.
Tesco Finest Soave Superiore Classico 2023, £8.50 Tesco
Italian Soave is so underrated and this one is incredibly well-priced for the real deal. Crisp and classy, this is dry and savoury with notes of salted almonds and green apple.
Unearthed - Austrian Gemischter Satz, £6.99 Aldi
When Aldi goes off-piste, chances are they’ve found something special. This Austrian field blend is fun, fresh and a bit different. Think juicy nectarine and herbs with a peppery kick.
Yealands Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ, £9.97 ASDA
Yealands sets the benchmark for all kinds of premium New Zealand Sauvignon, from regional blends to single vineyard sippers. This is my go-to for a classic, Marlborough profile.
Specially Selected Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie, £7.69 Aldi in store
Muscadet is back! Earthy and melon-scented with a prickle of CO2 fizz, this wine elegantly proves that white can still be affordable, delicious and complex without blowing your socks off.
Languedoc White Wine, Taste the Difference, £9.25 Sainsbury’s
This richly textured white blend is a fantastic crowd pleaser and great food wine. Think white flowers and baked apple with white chocolate, liquorice and salty minerals on the palate.
Luis Felipe Edwards Reserva Viognier, £9.50 Waitrose
I love Viognier, with its unapologetically round body and sunshine-in-a-glass notes of ripe peach, apricot and orange blossom. It’s hard to get right but this one’s fab and affordable.
Alsace Riesling Camille Meyer, £8.99 Lidl in store
Riesling is a real wine lover’s grape but others are still nervous of it thanks to Blue Nun. This one’s thirst-slaking, lime-scented and delicately floral. A wonderful way to discover the grape.
Wild Ferment Chardonnay, Gable Lodge, £8.50 M&S and Ocado
I love a powerhouse Chardonnay with a hint of vanilla spiced oak, as long as everything is in balance and it’s fresh and not too saccharine. This South African version is the bomb!
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