TESCO

When budgets are tightening, many of us switch to own-labels – and that’s no bad thing to do at Tesco, whose talented buyers have put some very good wines into the supermarket’s Finest range, in particular. You will need to own a Tesco Clubcard to get the sharpest prices, as all wine promotions are now available only to members of that scheme.

Some of the best-value wines are those you might not pick unless you know to go for them, such as Tesco Finest Tingleup Riesling

2021 Australia (12.5%, Tesco, £10), a dry riesling with the tang of a sauvignon blanc and flavours of lime and bergamot.

For Clubcard holders, Tesco now has a buy 6+ bottles* get 25% off deal running in England, Wales and Northern Ireland until December 4. *Excludes fortified wines, Wine Route wines and bottles under £5 in England and NI and bottles under £7 in Wales.

BEST-VALUE WHITE:

Marqués de los Zancos Rioja Blanco 2021, Spain

(12.5%, Tesco, £5)

This refreshing Spanish white is very good value indeed. White rioja is sometimes oaked; this one isn’t, so it’s not in the vanilla-and-woodspice mould. Instead expect a refreshing, lemony white.

BEST-VALUE RED:

Tesco Finest Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2019, Italy

(13.5%, Tesco, £7)

A super wine that is stunning value. All ripe cherries with a hint of dust, it is a great accompaniment for pasta dishes and aubergine parmigiana.

CHOICE CHRISTMAS FIZZ:

Tesco Finest Blanquette de Limoux 1531 2020, France (12.5%, Tesco, £9.50)

A brilliant, breezy sparkling wine from the French Pyrenees made with mauzac and chenin blanc grapes and which tastes of green apples and hawthorn.

BEST-VALUE WHITE:

E H Booth & Co Gavi 2021, Italy (13%, Booths, £8.85)

A seriously good gavi with the creamy feel of a chablis, a hint of bay leaf and a pithy lemon finish. A very versatile white that’s great with smoked salmon.

BEST-VALUE RED:

Emiliana Adobe Carménère 2021, Colchagua Valley, Chile

(13.5%, Booths, £8.85)

Think mulberry jelly, blueberries, assam tea and a hint of spice; this is a richly flavoured red that tastes like it costs north of a tenner.

CHOICE CHRISTMAS FIZZ:

E H Booth & Co Champagne Brut Rosé NV, France

(12%, Booths, £27.50)

There’s something ultra-decadent about rosé champagne and this is a lovely one.