I’m a drinks writer — this £4.85 supermarket white wine is a ‘delicious’ bargain

I’m a repeat offender… guilty of overlooking white wines in favour of rosé and chillable reds in summertime.

Yes, when the sun comes up, I stampede (can one person stampede?) to the rosé aisle like it’s the last call for boarding on Ryanair.

But it looks like I might be in the minority, as white wine is steadily taking over from red as the world’s preferred style. In France, sales of white wine are now overtaking those of red, rosé and orange. That could partly be down to Taylor Swift mentioning white wine 19 times in her albums, but also to changing tastes and the popularity of lighter cuisines, such as South East Asian.

According to the latest data from SOWINE/Dynata Wine & Drinks Barometer, here in the UK, we’re actively seeking out Sauvignon Blanc when we buy French wine (31% of the 1,000 UK adults surveyed), followed by Merlot (29%), then Chardonnay (26%).

Even more surprisingly, 89% of those surveyed said they drink white wine compared to 81% who drink red, which must have red wine producers feeling a bit chaud under the collar.

See, red wine has dominated global wine guzzling for more than 30 years, so this white wine renaissance is causing a bit of a stir. Even red-wine-producing powerhouse, Bordeaux, has included new white grapes like Spanish Albariño in a surprisingly non-traditional move.

And it’s not just the fresher styles people are after, either.

Nope, there are still some of us that are closeted lovers of unapologetically big, bold, rich and fruity whites but we keep our traps shut in fear of being shamed by the low-flavour, low alcohol movement that’s happening around us. I’m talking Chardonnay in particular.

Back in the 90s, buttery Chardonnay from Australia in particular became a lightening rod for cancellation. The ABC Club (Anything but Chardonnay) was joined by millions, and it was also unkindly labelled as ‘cougar juice’. That’s as outdated as Prosecco once being known as ‘lady diesel’ (never by me, just to be clear). And although it’s unlikely that those oaky, buttery, 15% abv behemoth whites will land back in our good books, I’m thankful that people are looking for well-made white wines with more pronounced flavour and texture again.

If you’re looking for something new to try, here are 10 delicious wines you can buy from the shops right now, all for under a tenner…

Chevalier de Fauvert Chardonnay, France, £4.85, Lidl

This is proof that Chardonnay no longer tastes like it’s been made by a carpenter, or put together by a Lurpak dairy farmer. It’s light, unoaked, fresh, bright and deliciously peachy, think orchard fruit with squeeze of lemon and you’re in the ballpark. A weekday wonder at under a fiver.

Le Manoir du Baron Viognier, France, £4.94, Asda

Don’t discount this budget viognier. Why? Because it doesn’t need a discount, it’s already under £5. Plus, it punches above its price with a pillowy texture and flavours of apricot and honeysuckle. There’s more than a whiff of waxy florals on the nose, think walking past a blooming jasmine plant while you’re on holiday.

Espartero, Tempranillo Blanco, Spain, £5.50, Asda

Tempranillo Blanco is a natural mutation of regular Tempranillo, you know, the most-widely-grown red grape in Rioja. The white version was literally stumbled upon by a wine grower in the late twentieth century. It delivers a zesty, juicy and vaguely tropical white, with undercurrents of red plum, which I could just be imagining.

Extra Special Rueda, Spain, £6.75, Asda

Three wines in a row from Asda, they must be doing something right. This is a banging (I hate that word) white made from the Spanish Verdejo grape. Bright, citrussy with bags of fresh green apple flavours and a delicious grassy note on the finish. It goes super well with grilled prawns or a corner of Manchego too.  

The Long Coast Chardonnay, Chile, £7 (Mix 6), Majestic

I’m forever saying how Chile is one of the best places to find value for money, but this is something else. Made from Chardonnay with a dab of Muscat and Gewurztraminer, it’s dry, rich and full of lemon posset and mango skin flavours. No notes (apart from the ones I’ve given).

The Best Cotes de Gascogne, France, £7.50, Morrisons

For lovers of lively whites with good energy, this one feels like you’ve been plugged into the mains, in a good way. A blend of 60% Colombard, 25% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Gros Manseng, it gives lovely lime and greengage character and a bracingly citrus lip-smack on the finish.  

Specially Selected Barossa Chardonnay, Australia, £8.19, Aldi

Strap yourself in for a richer style of Chardonnay, but rest assured, this is well made. Barossa Valley in South Australia is famous for brawny wines, typical of such a sun-drenched region. Here, we have upfront flavours of ripe yellow peach, toasted hazelnuts and a lick of spice to go with your pork snags on the barbeque.  

Rimini DOC Bianco, £8.50, Italy, Majestic

An opulent Italian white with flecks of Mirabelle plum and Mayer lemon, with a distinctive coastal saline note on the finish. It’s made entirely from local Italian grapes Trebbiano, Bombino Bianco and Grechetto, and I’m all for championing indigenous varieties. After all, no one can make your own grapes like you can. Capiche?

Taste the Difference Chilean Viognier, £9.75, Sainsbury’s

I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like Viognier; it’s plush, pillowy and anything else beginning with ‘p’, apparently. A great example how approachable this grape can be, all hazelnut brittle, peach and honey, in a dry way. I gave it three stars and put ‘v. good value for money’ when I first tasted it, so it’s definitely worth a whirl.

Specially Selected Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, £9.99, Aldi

Sometimes, I find Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc so over the top it becomes a cartoon version of itself. Too much passionfruit and gooseberry for its own good. Aldi’s is a more restrained style; bone dry, mineral and energetic, with whispers of passionfruit and lime still intact. There’s a lovely purity and boat loads of herbaceous intensity. Dip your feet into your kids’ paddling pool this summer and get sipping. 

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