Where to find the best supermarket sauvignon blanc, shiraz, malbec and more for under £10
You’ve got a tenner to spend on your favourite style of wine, and, ideally, you’d like some change back. Where on the high street to start? I tasted my way through a wide range made from popular grape varieties, plus a bunch of rosés, and trawled through the current supermarket offers to turn up the best to buy in May.
The bad news? I kissed a lot of frogs in order to find these princes; wine under £10, in these styles, is decidedly patchy.
The better news is that these 15 wines all represent great value for money – even though offers abound, most of them still sashay in at under £10 at full price.
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Sauvignon blanc
There are loads of sub-£10 sauv blancs but I was looking for a fine balance between crisp acidity and bright fruity flavours – not all measure up. Look to New Zealand, obviously, but if you like a lighter style then the Loire Valley’s Touraine region is your best bet. And South Africa can offer bargain sauvignon blanc, too.
Fairtrade Irresistible Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Western Cape, South Africa
12%, Co-op, £6.75 down to £5.75 until 5 June
Light, easy-drinking, crisp sauv blanc at a bargain price for the next few weeks. Scented like green apples and tasting like freshly squeezed lemons, it has a little sappy greenness. Sales from this wine help to fund a range of social projects in South Africa.
Yealands Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Marlborough, New Zealand
12.5%, Morrisons, £10; Sainsbury’s, £10.50 down to £8 until 14 May
The new vintage of Yealands’ reliable New Zealand sauvignon blanc is match-fit, lively and tangy with plenty of aromatic passionfruit and citrus and a herbaceous hint. Pleasing to see it on offer under £10; try it with new- season asparagus spears dipped in hollandaise sauce.
La Perriere Sauvignon Blanc 2023, Touraine, Loire Valley, France
13%, Waitrose, £9.99 down to £8.49 until 7 May
The Touraine appellation can offer better-value sauvignon blanc than many from more famous Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé nearby. This one is shot through with fresh lemon and white grapefruit, and there are light smoky, savoury notes, too. Chill it for an aperitif or match with delicate white fish or mild goat’s cheese.
Picpoul de pinet
Picpoul has proved increasingly popular over the past few years, especially during the late spring and summer months, its sappy grapefruit suiting warmer weather. But it’s tricky to find good examples under £10 – these are ones to go for:
Specially Selected Picpoul de Pinet 2023, Languedoc, France
12.5%, Aldi, £8.49
Bone-dry picpoul, with lime juice and a little citrus pithiness, and a twist of white pepper on the finish. A very refreshing white to line up for summer parties.
Ormarine Villemarin Picpoul de Pinet 2023, Languedoc, France
13%, Majestic, £11.99 or £8.99 as part of a mixed six
Bright gold, more intense than some, with lots of ripe grapefruit and yellow apples, and a long, slightly yeasty finish. Premium picpoul that will thrill with seafood, especially oysters and scallops. (Sainsbury’s has the 2022 vintage of this at £9, down from £10.50 until 14 May).
Fête des Flaveurs Picpoul de Pinet 2022, Languedoc, France
13%, Morrisons, £10 down to £9 until 19 May
Bright, fruity picpoul majoring on fresh lime and ending on a bite of crunchy green apple. I’d have this with a classic moules marinière.
Rosé
The ubiquitous Provence pink tends to come in over £10 – or, rather, the better examples do – so I spread my net further afield and came up with three catches, from north-east Italy, the Rhône and (interestingly) Corsica…
Léon Perdigal Rosé 2023, Côtes du Rhône, France
13.5%, Majestic, £9.99 or £8.99 as part of a mixed six
A perky new pink from the Rhône with a fresh strawberry scent and flavour, good balance (dry but properly fruity) and a dab of cream.
Taste the Difference Dolomiti Pinot Grigio Blush 2023, Trentino, Italy
12.5%, Sainsbury’s, £8; £20 for a 2.25 litre box
Pears and strawberries mingle in this cool-climate north Italian rosato and there’s a wisp of candy-floss, though it ends dry. A crowd-pleaser.
Isula Mea Syrah-Sciaccarellu Rosé Ile de Beauté 2023, Corsica, France
11%, Waitrose, £9.99, down to £7.99 until 21 May
Corsican rosé made from a blend of syrah with a local grape variety, which has given the wine raspberry and mulberry tones, even a little violet. It’s dry and balanced, a nice change from Provençal rosé.
Malbec
Which wine and meat lover doesn’t think immediately of malbec when firing up the barbecue? In most instances, it will come from the Mendoza region of Argentina, where its rich fruit and rounded texture has made it the country’s flagship grape. Its origins are in south-west France, however, so I’ve picked one from there too.
Taste the Difference Zurriago Malbec 2022, Mendoza, Argentina
13%, Sainsbury’s, £8
This inky purple malbec (85%, with 15% of the softer grape bonarda mixed in) is quite the bargain. Plenty of black cherries here and spicy, toasty nuances from French oak ageing. Suits premium beef burgers or chilli con carne.
Norton Colección Malbec 2023, Mendoza, Argentina
13.5%, Waitrose, £9.99 down to £7.99 until 7 May
A big bolt of black cherry hits first; it’s rich but rounded and smooth with a little vanilla lacing. Lamb chops with this, please, or, of course, grilled steak. Norton is an excellent malbec producer and this is a steal on the current offer.
Finest Cahors Malbec 2022, south-west France
12.5%, £8.50, Tesco
A malbec from its first home, France. Made for Tesco by malbec experts Rigal, here’s an unoaked version with bright juicy Victoria plums, rounded and creamy with savoury notes. Would suit a red-meat casserole or a full-flavoured hard cheese such as mature Cheddar.
Syrah/shiraz
Syrah and shiraz are one and the same grape, and as syrah in southern France it is usually blended with other grapes, especially grenache. On its own, the best bargains are from South Africa and South Australia’s Barossa Valley in particular. When serving, be mindful that these are all pretty powerful wines…
Specially Selected Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021, Australia
14.5%, Aldi, £7.49
Rich and weighty in texture, a South Australian shiraz packed with blackberries and red plums, a dark chocolate layer in there too. Needs hearty or spicy food like a big beef casserole or lamb rogan josh.
Extra Special Shiraz 2022, Barossa Valley, Australia
14.5%, Asda, £8.75 down to £8 until 22 May, and 25% off six bottles or more until 6 May
An absolute cracker at the price (especially on two current offers), Asda’s award-winning Barossa shiraz offers plenty of cassis and ripe blackberries in a ripe, slightly spicy red. Excellent with a mixed barbecue spread including pork ribs, peppery sausages and grilled red peppers.
The Wolftrap Shiraz 2022, Western Cape, South Africa
14.5%, Majestic, £9.99 or £7.99 as part of a mixed six
Made by the brilliant Boekenhoutskloof winery, famous for star red The Chocolate Block, this is a modestly priced shiraz, aromatic and full of mulberry, black plum and brambles, with spicy cinnamon and clove depths. It would love a lamb tagine.
