October was, quite frankly, a wine tasting blur. I went to just about all of the supermarket wine press tastings, all so I can pick the best of what there is to offer in a world where wine prices are rising more quickly than the pile of empty bottles in my recycling bin. And that’s saying a lot. Here are my top wine picks for £10 and under from the recent Co-op wine press tasting:
White Wine
Irresistible Grenache Blanc, £8.50 Co-op in store
Textural whites seem to be all the range this season as the temperature drops and we crave something a bit richer. White Grenache will always give you a nice fleshy mouthfeel with notes of white peach, apricot and in this case, a smidgen of fresh herbs and vanilla spice. It’s remarkably fresh with it too.
Pair with: Roast chicken or hard cheeses.
Irresistible Marsanne Pays d’Oc, £9.65 Co-op
Another gorgeous, textural Rhône Valley white that packs a punch for its price tag. Think bruised apple, honeysuckle and stone fruit on the nose. The palate is surprisingly fresh with a slick of stony minerality and a pleasing, slightly waxy texture. This tastes much more serious than the price suggests. Fab!
Pair with: Halloumi, chicken, creamy pastas.
Zalze Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2025, £9.15 in store Co-op
One for fans of the more punchy, New World style of Sauvignon like those from Marlborough, this is an in-your-face, refreshing and zippy Sauvignon with a great balance of grassiness and citrus. It has a lovely rounded mouthfeel too, which makes it all feel balanced and adds to the drinkability. A lovely South African version.
Pair with: Strong goat cheese, salad, grilled vegetables.
Sparkling Wine
Less is More Italian Semi-Sparkling Wine, £6.95 Co-op
The fizz in its ultra light, recyclable plastic bottle is a world first, coming in at around 65g as opposed to the more standard 800g in weight. The wine is good too. Made with 100% Trebbiano Rubicone from Emilia Romagna, it’s crisp and aromatic with notes of ripe pear and lemon citrus with a mineral core. It’s a great Prosecco alternative that’s very well-priced. Worth supporting their work!
Pair with: Smoked salmon blinis with cream cheese, cold cuts and salty snacks.
Vega Medien Cava Rose NV Rosé, £10 in store Co-op
Cava has always been excellent value for money and this dark pink expression is no exception. The nose is savoury and mineral with a moreish, slightly rubbery strawberry note. In a good way. Although it’s a brut (meaning dry), it tastes a little riper and sweeter, which means that all in all it will be great with salty foods.
Pair with: Salty or slightly spicy tapas, especially hams and cheeses.
Red Wine
Co-op Irresistible Salice Salentino Riserva 2021, £8.15 Co-op in store
This lesser known Italian red wine style offers ridiculous bang for buck here, especially given it’s had a few years to mature. Dark, rich and savoury this is full-bodied and full on, packed with notes of mocha and grilled meat with tobacco leaf and a flourish of chocolate and vanilla. Definitely a food wine.
Pair with: Rich, meaty stews or roast beef on a cold day.
Albert Glas Pinot Noir 2023, Albert Glas, £9.50 Co-op in store
If it’s a much lighter style of red you’re after, then Pinot Noir is your grape and Germany is where to find it from. Beautifully bright and perky, this pretty little Pinot is all about fresh raspberry and red apple skin with a zippy, crisp acidity. There’s something saline about it too which makes it even more gluggable!
Pair with: This one is a great light red for duck, pork or turkey.
Être Affamé Cinsault 2024, £8 Co-op
With its funky looking bottle, you want this to taste as good as it looks and thankfully, it does. Smooth and tangy, this has notes of crunchy raspberry and bramble fruit with a touch of chocolate on the finish. There’s also a moreish balsamic note that lifts it. A lovely, slightly rustic food wine.
Pair with: Patés, cold cuts and meat pies.
Hidden Vines Red, Bodegas Muriel, 2024, £9.65 in store
Maturana Tinta is the hidden grape here - a Rioja variety that’s pretty rare yet in this wine, it’s the main feature. Super fruity with notes of fresh herbs and a whiff of rose petal from the Grenache, this is fun, juicy and refreshing with supple tannins and the bonus that it’s just a bit different.
Pair with: Burgers, steaks or grilled meat and veg of any kind.
Château Vieux Manoir 2022, £10.15 Co-op
For a classic, Merlot-dominant, Right Bank Bordeaux blend, this is very much on the money style-wise and a great example for the price. Silky and mineral, it’s just showing some tertiary notes from ages such as tobacco and cedar too - and all with a moreish grippiness. Great bang for buck and it looks smart too.
Pair with: Roast lamb, beef or hard cheese.
Want to know more about wine? Check out my bite-sized video wine course! It makes a great gift too 🙂
Until next time!
Helena x