In the first of our Tried and Tested series, the Clever Gretel team headed to their local supermarkets to see if cheap wine really means cheap quality. All but two are under £5
Wollemi Shiraz, Australia (£4.50 at Sainsbury’s)
Maybe you’re a student, or maybe you’re not. Either way you’re on a budget and the bottom shelf is a minefield and a wasteland, so choose carefully. At my nearest Sainsbury Local, I stan’ for Wollemi’s shiraz-merlot blend. At this price point there aren’t many reds that won’t leave you with a savage headache, a cavity, or both. Wollemi, imported out of South Eastern Australia produces an accessible, jammy shiraz with a full-bodied peppery finish which should go well with most protein dishes short of a New York steak. Having your first post-pandemic dinner date? If you don’t want to spend more than a fiver, this is my pick.
Peter Mertes Liebfraumilch, Germany (£4.79 at Waitrose)
If you’re not a fan of sweet wines, you may want to steer clear of the Liebfraumilch. This has the smooth, viscous texture of a dessert wine and is fairly heavy on the palette. But like all good sweet things, this wine is addictive, and proves to be a lovely treat alongside a lean, mean chickpea curry, a stir fry, or anything with a coconut milk base. It’s good all year round: from warm balmy summer evenings in the park, to cosy movie nights in the long winter months. If you’re looking for a good time though, you may have to search for something stronger. This wine only just tickles the tipsy buds at a measly 9.5%. A sensible choice for a school night rather than a weekend bender.
Co-op Malbec San Juan, Argentina (£5.25 at Co-op)
An old wise man once said that every wine under £15 tastes the same, so you’d better go for the cheapest one! This Malbec is a good way to pretend that you’re drinking something fancy. Its floral notes will put you in a good mood after only a few sips, and its light undertones are perfect to start the night drinking it as an aperitif, as it isn’t too thick. Light enough to be drunk alone, but tasty enough to be accompanied by some cheeses and charcuterie. A safe choice if you aren’t sure what the vibe of the dinner you’ve been invited to, this is the wine to bring a smile to your face.
Peter Mertes Shhh It’s Riesling, Germany (£6 at Co-op)
It’s worth knowing budget secrets like this German Riesling. At 11.5 % it is classified as dry, so mercifully, unlike most of the cheap wines available in the supermarket, it is not sickeningly sweet. If you are partial to an expensive Burgundy Chardonnay but are forever looking in vain for an alternative that is affordable but drinkable, this is your bottle. It is crisp and clean with notes of citrus and feels refreshing and bright as opposed to sugary. Perfect for pairing with seafood or a salad when a warm summer evening actually happens. That said, you might as well keep it in your fridge all year round because at this price point it is nothing other than a godsend. The comic-style label is also fun, if silly, and brings nearly as much joy as the wine itself.
Toro Loco Superior £4.20 at Aldi)
This seven-pound wine trapped in a four-pound bottle offers no surprises and no disappointments. It tastes precisely how all red wine tasted when you were a teenager and had no idea what the difference between a merlot and pinot noir was. It’s dry, full-bodied and not too acidic. It could easily be a fairly basic Spanish red, but the quirky backstory of it being Aldi’s own “international-award-winning” bottle gives it a much needed personality. Though it probably won’t impress your girlfriend’s step-mum, it will go well with your pasta or home-made burger, and at that price point it is an absolute steal.
Words by: Samuel Shaw, Fiona Holland, Clotilde Nogues, Scarlett Sherriff and Weronika Strzynżyńska