Some of them are, to be frank, rather unfashionable wines that would force any discerning dinner party host to conceal the label. Others are from that iconic wine-making region of, er, Romania. But all have one thing in common — they’re all deeply drinkable vinos costing £6 or less.
And today that price tag is certainly something to take note of. For the average price of a bottle of wine in the UK is set to break through the £6 barrier this year —despite the fact that almost ten million drinkers currently spend less than £6 for their bottle of plonk. That’s close to half of the nation’s wine drinkers.
It’s all down to years of wine tax hikes taking their toll, with prices rising at an increasingly fast rate in recent years. In fact, wine has seen more duty increases than spirits, beer and cider since 2010, with 50p in every pound spent on wine bought to consume at home now going on tax.
Here, our drinks expert Helen McGinn navigates her way through a selection of £6 bottles so you know what low-priced gems to snap up — and what you should definitely avoid.
If you’re one of the £6 drinkers who won’t countenance breaking the bank for your wine, this is the guide for you…
Whites
Unfashionable has never been so scrumptious
Loire Muscadet 2018, £6, M&S
You might think that the more you pay for wine, the better the quality. But it’s more complicated than that. Big brands mark up their prices to cover sizeable marketing budgets.
And wines from unfashionable regions that aren’t dinner party trendsetters — like this one, from the understated Loire Valley — is great value for money.
Loire Muscadet 2018, £6, M&S: The wine is rested on its lees (yeasts after fermentation) for about a year, adding depth of flavour
Yes, Muscadet might not be the wine to set the world on fire but if you want a cool, crisp glass of fresh citrus-flavoured white at the end of your day, this is properly refreshing.
The wine is rested on its lees (yeasts after fermentation) for about a year, adding depth of flavour.
Vino Verdict: 3/5
The ultimate fridge door banker
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, £6, Tesco
This is a no-fuss take on New Zealand’s most famous wine. From the Marlborough region, it’s light and lemony with a twist of gooseberry. And it’s what I like to call a fridge door banker. A very gluggable buy.
Vino Verdict: 3/5
New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, £6, Tesco: This is a no-fuss take on New Zealand’s most famous wine
A peachy dream from sunny france
Voyage au Sud Vermentino, £5.99, Waitrose
Vermentino might sound Italian, but the grape is grown in France, too, where it’s often known as Rolle and is found in Provence rosé. But it’s a gorgeous grape on its own and can be light or richer depending on where and how it’s made.
This one’s from a co-operative in the Languedoc-Roussillon region and it’s a peachy dream. Taste-wise, it lies somewhere in between Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Perfect when you can’t decide between the two.
Vino Verdict: 4/5
Voyage au Sud Vermentino, £5.99, Waitrose: Vermentino might sound Italian, but the grape is grown in France, too, where it’s often known as Rolle and is found in Provence rosé
Reds
A Romanian juicy gem
Waitrose Romanian Pinot Noir, £5.99, Waitrose
Cheap Pinot Noir can, in many cases, prove to be a false economy. Most are too thin and weedy to do this delicate fruit any favours. But this one — made by an innovative producer in Romania (a country which, believe it or not, is the sixth biggest wine producer in Europe) — manages to bring out the grape’s juicy side with lovely raspberry and cherry flavours. Buy a decent French Pinot Noir and you might pay double.
Vino Verdict: 3/5
Waitrose Romanian Pinot Noir, £5.99, Waitrose: Cheap Pinot Noir can, in many cases, prove to be a false economy
It’s simply a-douro-ble!
Douro Red, £6, Tesco
Normally associated with wine served from decanters, the Douro Valley is where fortified wine Port comes from. But it also makes fantastic red wines and, again, because it might not instantly spring to mind when thinking about buying red, the prices are relatively sensible.
This is a typical blend of grapes including Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Tempranillo with buckets of flavour. Think bramble fruit and a touch of earthiness. Definitely worth the price tag.
Vino Verdict: 4/5
Douro Red, £6, Tesco: Normally associated with wine served from decanters, the Douro Valley is where fortified wine Port comes from
Big, bold and boozy
Cotes du Rhone 2018, £6, M&S
Not for the faint-hearted, this one. Packing a hefty 14.5 per cent alcohol, it’s big and bold and loaded with black fruits, a big kick of spice and plenty of teeth-gripping tannins. And given how well known the Cotes du Rhone name is, prices for their cheaper wines, like this one, remain relatively good value.
Made from a blend of Grenache and Syrah grapes, you get a lot of flavour for your money. And that always goes down well.
Vino Verdict: 5/5
Cotes du Rhone 2018, £6, M&S: Packing a hefty 14.5 per cent alcohol, it’s big and bold and loaded with black fruits, a big kick of spice and plenty of teeth-gripping tannins
A stonkingly good plonk
Exquisite Argentinian Malbec, £5.99, Aldi
You can’t move for Malbec on the shelves nowadays, but not all of them come from this particular higher altitude spot, the Uco Valley in Argentina’s Mendoza region. Altitude helps bring out the fruit in the grapes and this one is packed with plum and blackberry fruits, sprinkled with spice.
This has come down in price (it used to be £6.29), so make the most of this stonking value wine before it goes back up again.
Vino Verdict: 5/5
Exquisite Argentinian Malbec, £5.99, Aldi: You can’t move for Malbec on the shelves nowadays, but not all of them come from this particular higher altitude spot, the Uco Valley in Argentina’s Mendoza region
A tasty italian job
The Wine Atlas Negroamaro, £6, Asda
Another hidden gem — this is from southern Italy and made from a local grape known for its deeply coloured wines. One of the best selections on Asda’s shelves, The Wine Atlas range showcases little-known grapes from around the world and they’re all under £6, so definitely worth hunting out. This is a favourite, big and earthy with masses of blackberry fruit flavours and a hint of mint.
Vino Verdict: 3/5
The Wine Atlas Negroamaro, £6, Asda: Another hidden gem — this is from southern Italy and made from a local grape known for its deeply coloured wines
Rose
Fresh and fabulous
Exquisite Sud de France Rosé, £5.99, Aldi
Remember, rosé is for life, not just for summer. And this is one of the best southern French rosé wines around at this price. It’s not from Provence — if it were, it would be almost double the price — but it’s from nearby vineyards and made from a similar blend of grapes.
If you like your wines with plenty of fresh cherry flavours balanced with citrus, you won’t be disappointed. Great value.
Vino Verdict: 5/5
Exquisite Sud de France Rosé, £5.99, Aldi: If you like your wines with plenty of fresh cherry flavours balanced with citrus, you won’t be disappointed
Sparklers
Light spritz hits the spot
Vale dos Pombos Vinho Verde 2018, £6, Co-op
A brighter, lighter option for anyone wanting a glass of fizz but without quite so much alcohol, this is just 9.5 per cent. Made from a blend of Portuguese grapes including Loureiro, Trajadura and Arinto, this Vinho Verde (meaning green wine) is zippy and comes with a slight spritz. It’s all about the crunchy green apple fruit flavours, topped off with a big squeeze of lemon. Seriously refreshing stuff.
Vino Verdict: 4/5
Vale dos Pombos Vinho Verde 2018, £6, Co-op: A brighter, lighter option for anyone wanting a glass of fizz but without quite so much alcohol, this is just 9.5 per cent
…and the £6 wines to avoid
Boring, Boring don’t bother!
Dolphin Bay Chardonnay 2019, £6, M&S
Life is too short to drink bad wine. And that includes boring wine. This one, I’m afraid, is just too ‘meh’.
Vino Verdict: 0/5
Disappointing fizz falls flat
Allini Prosecco Spumante, £5.99, Lidl
Now, I’m usually not fussy when it comes to Prosecco, but sometimes you really do get what you pay for. This is flat on flavour. Disappointing, even at this price.
Vino Verdict: 1/5
- Helen’s new book, The Knackered Mother’s Wine Guide, is out now (£8.99, Bluebird).