Wine from a Tumbler

Wine of the Week – May 25, 2012

Tesco Cava

Wine doesn’t need to be expensive, serious or thought-provoking to be enjoyable; there’s times when you just want good, simple, cheap wine. A good sparkling wine for under £5 is  rarity, but Tesco’s own-brand Cava – at £4.26 – is one of the best wine bargains on the high street.

Cava is sparkling wine that always comes from Spain: it’s made in the same way as Champagne, but often with grape varieties that are traditional in Spain. Tesco’s Cava is full of citrus flavours, loads of bubbles and, ultimately, it’s crisp and refreshing. This is a wine that’s good to drink, not theorise about, so I really don’t need to go into too much detail with this wine of the week: it’s simply good wine that’s at a great price. 

The weather is beautiful outside at the moment, so the parks and beaches will be full; if you need a bargain sparkling wine for a BBQ in the park, then you can’t beat the Tesco Cava. Stop reading and start buying for the weekend…

––––––

Colour: White (sparkling)

Made from: Xarel-lo, macabeo, parellada

Made in: Catalonia, Barcelona

Drink with: Just by itself

Priced at: £4.36

Buy from: Tesco

Wine of the Week – May 18, 2012

Vilacetinho 2011 Vinho Verde

The weather’s getting warmer, the trees are getting green… you get the picture… it’s time to find a bargain white wine that’s perfect for spring and summer. It needs to be light and refreshing; it needs to taste good by itself or with food (BBQ, anyone?); and – possibly above all – it needs to be affordable. At £6 a bottle, the Vilacetinho 2011 Vinho Verde is just the wine.

Portugal make some of the best value wines in the world: you can get high-quality reds, whites and fortified wines for bargain prices. For value white wines, I think it’s hard to beat those from the Portuguese region of Vinho Verde: you’ll often find them for around £6-8 a bottle.

All wines labelled Vinho Verde come from an area near the city of Porto and the term itself translates to green wine or young wine; it’s a fresh wine that doesn’t need ageing. You’ll generally find most wines from the area are slight sparkling or effervescent (both whites and reds), but this makes them even more refreshing in the hot weather. There also low in alcohol, so they’ll often be around 10%, which make them ideal for lazy days in the park. 

The Vilacetinho 2011 Vinho Verde is full of citrus flavours – lemon and lime – with a kick of spritz. It’s the kind of wine that’s great to take to a BBQ, to the park or to a party; it’s easy to like and easy to drink. Stock up now for the warmer months as it’s just £6 a bottle, which makes it incredible value. Vinho Verde is a undervalued wine region and it’s wines are a perfect match with spring and summer.

––––––

Colour: White

Made from: Avesso, Arinto and Azal e Loureiro

Made in: Amarante, Portugal

Drink with: Summer

Priced at: £6.00

Buy from: Portuguese Story

5 wines under £5, 5 under £10 – Tesco special

Tesco are currently offering 25% off all wine when you buy a minimum of 6 bottles online. The offer is only valid until Monday April 30th, so best to act quickly.

Many of the wines listed are actually more than 25% off; it’s a good time to stock up for summer and BBQ weather.

Unfortunately, the most recent vintage of one of my favourite bargains from Tesco - the Gran Tesoro Garnacha - isn’t as good past years, but here are 10 other bargains.

01 | Tesco Cava Brut £3.27
This is not the most exciting wine, but it’s a very solid sparkling wine at it’s normal price. At a discounted price of just over £3 it’s an incredible bargain. Need cheap fizz for a party you’re planning? Snap this up.

02 | Tesco Finest 2011 Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc £3.55
A recent wine of the week, when it was on sale for £5, and now it’s even cheaper at a ridiculous 53% off. Tastes of apple, pears and a touch of honey; a versatile wine that’s a good white option for a BBQ. 

03 | Jacob’s Creek 2010 Grenache Shiraz £3.56
Jacob’s Creek? Yep, they are one of the biggest brands out there… but they’re definitely one of the best of the big names. The wine isn’t going to win any awards, but you’ll pay more than double this price at an off license. 

04 | Dr L 2010 Riesling £4.12
This is one of the best bargains from Tesco at the moment: it’s well priced at it’s normal £7… and at 42% off, it’s a steal. Slightly sweet, with mango and lime flavours, it’s perfect for a hot day or go with spicy food.

05 | Tesco Finest 2010 Nero d’Avola £4.98
You don’t see many wines made with nero d’avola in the UK, but this one is a juicy red wine with loads of cherry and plum fruit. Comes in just under a fiver and goes nicely with all kinds of barbecued meats.  

–––––

01 | Tesco Finest 2010 Albarino £5.69
Albarino is starting to become more popular and this wine is a great introduction to the grape. It’s refreshing with loads of lemon and a slightly salty tang too. A great match for seafood or just drinking in the sun.

02 | Tesco Finest 2010 Alsace Riesling £5.69
This riesling is not as sweet as the ‘Dr L’ one above: it’s a little more restrained with flavours of lemon, lime and even a little bit of chalk. If you always drink pinot grigio, then give this a go for something different.

03 | Tesco Finest Prosecco £5.69
A bargain price for one of the most consistent Tesco Finest wines. Prosecco is easy to drink and hard not to like, which make it a great option for a party… especially at 40% off.

04 | Louis Jadot 2010 Beaujolais-Villages ‘Combe aux Jacques’ £7.47
If you find red wines too full-on or too bitter, then give this one a try. It’s full of red berries, but it’s fresh and light. Great with food and works nicely slightly chilled on a hot day.

05 | Lava 2010 Greco di Tufo £9.25
Made with the grape variety greco, which is very much under the radar, this is a white wine to wake up the palate. It’s bursting with lime and spiced orange flavours. Try this if you feel all white wines are tasting the same.