CAN you glug fine wine without spending more than a fiver?
Sippers stampeded to the booze aisles of discount supermarket Aldi last week to snap up Costellore Italian sparkling rosé, which was on offer and down to just £3.49 a bottle.
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And, remarkably, it is not the only highly quaffable plonk you can pick up for a rock-bottom price.
From cheap bubbles to sauvignons at a snip, here wine expert Helena Nicklin rounds up the best bargain grapes for £5 or less that still offer you decidedly drinkable drops, each with a rating out of five.
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Cimarosa Mendoza Malbec, £4.59, Lidl
MALBEC is a grape that can hold its head up at a very low price point.
And this one does pretty well.
Medium-bodied and packed full of flavour, this top-value red is less fruity than other malbecs might be, with more of a grilled meat and drier, cocoa powder vibe.
With a nice BBQ and slice of halloumi, however, it will shine alongside your grilled treats.
At less than five quid a bottle, it is well worth a go in your glass.
And if we are lucky enough to get some late summer sunshine, this one is perfect for those foodie bashes and gatherings.
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Animus Vinho Verde, £4.99, Aldi
IF you’ve ever been to the Algarve on holiday, you’ll know that vinho verde is your naturally lower alcohol, spritzy white table wine that is always a bit of a bargain.
To be honest, though, that’s the case with most wine from Portugal.
Like zesty lemon sherbet in a glass, this is simple and super-refreshing – an ideal lunchtime libation, especially if some lovely fish is involved.
At ten per cent ABV, it is a brilliant, naturally less boozy option.
One to bear in mind if you want something to sip that won’t leave you too groggy in the morning.
And all for just under a fiver.
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Chile Sauvignon Blanc, £4.19, Lidl
A NICE bottle of popular white sauvignon blanc will always offer decent flavour and bang for your buck – and if it hails from the Central Valley in Chile, as this does, that bang is even bigger thanks to the extra sunshine.
With all the duty and tax we have to pay on a bottle of vino these days, at £5 you’re not even covering the wine, so it isn’t going to be the best booze in the world.
But some styles are more reliable than others.
With its savoury-smoky notes of grapefruit and citrus, this shows what good value Chilean wine can be.
Not for the faint-hearted, but Savvy B sippers may be impressed for the price.
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Pierre Jaurant Cotes de Gascogne, £4.49 down from £4.99, Aldi
AN absolute budget-beating bargain bottle!
Gascony in south west France is home to some exceptional value, lesser-known wines like this little white blend.
Don’t be put off if you don’t recognise what is on the label.
What’s in the bottle will appeal to any white vino drinker, with its gooseberry and greengage vibe plus a nice pinch of pear and pine- apple.
A great all-rounder to sip with or without food, and just a bit different.
Lovely chilled as an aperitif, or enjoy it with some salty nibbles or your evening meal.
It will look fab on the table, too.
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Costellore Proccini Rosé, £4.49 down from £4.79, Aldi
A BARGAIN price – and even more so at the moment.
When it comes to fizz for under a fiver, it’s not easy to find lots of options.
However, these economy blush bubbles do a pretty good impression of well-known but generally pricier prosecco, with a decent dollop of sweetness.
It’s a bit clunky and lurid- looking with its bright purple foil, and not as refreshing as it could be, but the booze level is gluggably low at 10.5 per cent ABV.
Serve well chilled and it becomes much more palatable.
For the price, you really can’t argue.
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A Sip Of White, £4.99, Spar
IT’S worth noting that Spar has stepped up its low-priced wine offerings with a trio of cute-looking “critter wines”, each selling for £4.99.
The white in the range is full-bodied and very fruity, with notes of ripe pear and baked apple.
A little rough around the edges, it will benefit from being well-chilled, but it’s a perfectly decent drop for the inexpensive price tag – and it will love the saltiness of crisps or cheese.
Great if you are nipping out to the shop last minute for some snacks and sips but don’t want to splash out too much.
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Casa Mana Chardonnay, £4.09, Tesco
CASA Mana is Tesco’s own affordable wine range, featuring a red, white and rosé, all at £4.09.
Hailing from hot, central Spain, this chardonnay is surprisingly crisp and dry with a hint of baked peach character.
It is very rustic but, for the price, you can’t really complain about this white.
And if you like to splash wine into your spag bol or use it for a risotto, you could do a lot worse than this as it doubles up nicely for cooking and drinking, without costing more than a few quid.
Well worth keeping handy if you have space in the rack .
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Sainsbury’s House Soave, £4.75, Sainsbury’s
SAINSBURY’S own house bottle of white soave is a stalwart sipper that has stood the test of time thanks to its dry, easy-drinking vibe and an extremely accessible price point.
It’s an under-the-radar wine style that’s hard to get wrong.
If you’re not into the creamy almond notes of pinot grigio or the zestiness of sauvignon, this savoury sipper is for you.
A great-value grape that will definitely do the job when nicely chilled in the fridge.
That said, you might want to hide the ugly bottle back in the kitchen if you’re having friends round.
Rating: 3/5