Aibu to ask for your wine suggestions

[MyKingdomForACaramel]

Am going to family for Christmas and wanted to bring a nice selection of wine - I’m on a bit of a budget this year - but appreciate it’s all I’m bringing (I usually host so a few bottles rather than catering for ten is a saving!!)

Anyone seen good bargains for decent wine in the supermarkets?

Aldi or Lidl are your friend here!

How many do you need and what's your total spend? White or all red?

Anything by Barefoot is always a winner, even with my dad who doesn't even like wine.Bottles range from £5.90-£8 depending where you shop.

Both! I stood in Lidl last week just baffled - was going to just maybe go by the ratings on the 'special' bit.

Last year was a bit more flush so served up several Sancerre's, Beaujolais, but that's just not going to happen this year - so really want to make sure I get something that's lovely (though of course everyone has different tastes, so it will depend anyway).

What's yr budget per bottle? A y hint where to start? White, red, rose, sweet, dry...?

The "Tourainne" in Aldi is about £5.50 per bottle and is very similar to Sancerre.

If you like white, Tesco Finest Picpoul de Pinet is always recommended on mumsnet wine threads and is my favourite. It tastes alot more expensive than it actually costs and is currently on offer for six quid a bottle instead of seven.

Hmm ok - well maybe a total budget of £80 - £100 for around 6 bottles I suppose - so perhaps some nicer and some less so. For me - I like very dry whites and full bodied reds - but then I suppose it's not just for me, so a mix. Thankfully don't have to worry about fizz, as DH has a case that was a gift from work.

The Toro red wine in Aldi is good.
Winemaker's selection in Sainsbury's or Finest in Tesco is usually a safe bet. They may have a 25% off if you buy 6 bottles.

Victoria Moore in the Daily Telegraph is good. Have a google on 'best budget wines' or 'best wines under £5' or whatever your budget is. Some are perfectly ok. You don't taste it after the first glass anyway. Hic.

Chateau Neuf du Pape is my favourite red. Not cheap bit always a winner.

Tesco finest wines are excellent. Try the Soave Classico, it is really rich without too much acidity so is a great food wine as well.
Also from Tesco is a new wine called Beronia from Puglia. It's is unbelievable. Its full of cherry flavours. Think it's about a tenner a bottle.

With that budget, it's a good budget, I'd go to majestic.

Waitrose...

White: Leitz Magdalenenkreuz Riesling Kabinett - £13.99

Red: Chateau Liversan Haut-Medoc 2014 - £10

Online:

Le Volte dell'Ornellaia 2015 - £20

Have you got time to order a case? You’d get an introductory offer case from any of the online wine sellers like Laithwaite’s etc for that, and it’d be a nice decent mix

Frantically scribbling all of these down! The Beronia sounds lovely! (May have to get a test bottle!

Agree, go to Majestic. You'll get a better more interesting selection there. Generally you get better value from less famous or fashionable regions, so £8 of wine from Fitou will be better than £8 of wine from Bordeaux.

Don't buy from Laithwaites, join the Wine Society and get from them. It's a Co-op and the wines are consistently good across the board.

@Donners312 - Really! I've searched high and low for a cheap alternative to Sancerre - I will definitely give that a go!

Apothic red is a lovely wine and currently on offer in Morrisons for £7

Ah you’re all great! So many suggestions that I’m wishing I asked sooner so I could sample one or two

Malbec (picture of cowboy in space helmet!) in Asda and Hardy's stamp, 6 for £25, doubt you'll get cheaper. Both are very nice and turning up with a case is always good. Tesco and Saint bury sometimes do 25% off if you buy 6, temporary deals.

My favourite inexpensive wine is from Aldi (don't like to say cheap!). It's a sparkling (Cremant du Jura), and is basically Champagne, but from a different part of France, so doesn't get the name. It's lush. It's £8 I think.

Is it for a particular meal? I've found Waitrose / Majestic are very good at pairing wines with food and finding something that suits your palette.

Victoria Moore recommended that one I think. Cremant would be a good choice.

Picpoul De Pinet (a French dry white) is £6.00 in Morrison's just now. It usually costs around £9.00.

Do you or anyone you know have a Costco card?

There’s a lovely Red Baron de Lay, and some Barolos that are also nice. Range from £7ish per bottle up to £25 depending on the year.

Malbec for red - but specifically Argentinian Malbec it's proper lovely.

And as for white? Def go New Zealand Marlborough - Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc is lush but Ned or Brancott Estate are great too. None break the bank on a price per bottle (co-op have VM on special atm for £7.50 so £2 off) but are 'good' wines if that makes sense? I may have had a couple of glasses of villa maria tonight 😜