Wine: Bargain hunting

TAKE the risk out of budget buys with one of these decent deals

If 2012 is to be the year of austerity, we will have to get better at hunting out bargains. It is still possible to find something quite drinkable at £5 or under, but you have to know where to look – and be prepared to forego classic favourites including rioja, ribera del duero, chianti, barolo, bordeaux or burgundy.

For Europe’s best value, seek out co-operative wines in lesser-known regions in warmer climates such as Languedoc in France, Puglia or Sicily in southern Italy, La Mancha in Spain and the Dunantul region in Hungary.

Wines from New Zealand, California, Oregon, Western Australia and Argentina are now over this price band but you still find deals in Southeast Australia, South Africa’s Western Cape and Chile’s Central Valley.

When sourcing budget wines, remember: tax, duty and packaging make up at least £2.99 per bottle. So if you spend under £5, you don’t get much wine for your money. You also lose real varietal character at this bargain price. I struggled more with whites than reds, which all tasted jammy and sweet but were easier to drink than the lean austere whites. For good value January quaffers, these all passed our taste test.

WHITES £5 & UNDER

Northern Italy: ASDA EXTRA SPECIAL PINOT GRIGIO 2010

(£5, Asda)

Our star buy white is a nutty, creamy pinot grigio made by Alois Lageder in the cool microclimate of the Dolomites in Italy’s Alto Adige region.

Chile: LUIS FELIPE EDWARDS MOUNTAIN VIEW SAUVIGNON BLANC 2011

(£4.99, Majestic Wine)

It may lack the finesse of sauvignons from coastal Leyda Valley but it’s good for under £5.

France: MONTGRAVET CHARDONNAY 2010 Vin de France

(£4.99, Waitrose)

A popular wine at our tasting. A clever blend of Gascony fruit which adds minerality and more tropical fruits of Languedoc with a touch of oak. Breadth of fruit, creaminess and full body.

• REDS £5 & UNDER

South Africa: DOLPHIN BAY SHIRAZ 2010

(£4.99, Marks & Spencer)

Our star buy red of the tasting: smooth, ripe, plummy with spice and pepper notes – great value from Western Cape. My bargain red to match the Burns night haggis.

Sicily: INYCON NERO D’AVOLA/FRAPPATO 2009

(£4.99, reduced from £6.49, Waitrose 25 Jan to 21 Feb)

Sicily is a great source of sweet, succulent reds: a robust gutsy blend.

Australia: ASDA OWN LABEL SE AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ 2010

(£4.48, Asda)

Light in colour and fruit compared to other Aussie shiraz, smooth and easy to drink.

Australia: MCWILLIAMS MARKVIEW SHIRAZ 2010

(£5, reduced from £8.99, until 31 January, Tesco)

A more powerful, deeper, inkier shiraz for those who like a more robust mouthfiller.

Spain: VUVUZELA TEMPRANILLO/ CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2009

(£4.49, reduced from £5.99, Waitrose 25 Jan to 21 Feb)

Tempranillo is the grape used in rioja, and here in this light, smooth La Mancha blend it is bolstered by cabernet.

Rose’s Beginners wine course starts

1 February in Edinburgh, see www.rose murraybrown.com