We're approaching what could be a beautiful bank holiday weekend, when we all like nothing better than enjoying the long weekend in the sunshine round the barbecue with friends, drinking far too much. Nothing sets you up for the week ahead of trying to cram 5 days work into 4 like sunburn, indigestion and hangovers. Marvellous. And Sainsbury's choose this moment to hit us with their mega 'Buy 6 bottles, get 25% off' deal. Impeccable timing. My cooler and rack are nicely stocked, so I had no intention of buying any wine this week, but this is too good a deal for a bargain hunter to miss.
Taking advantage of this offer online is a good shout. Like the other major supermarkets, Sainsbury's sell higher priced and better quality wines online than they stock in most stores. They sell upmarket Italian reds like Barolo, Brunello and Amarone for £23 each, which is extremely cheap, and that's before taking off the 25% if you buy at least 6 bottles. But they're not really what this blog is about. I went down to my local store and picked up 6 bottles at less than a tenner each, that will go nicely with the usual fare: burgers, steaks, sausages, chicken, seafood, fish and salads. I've ignored some fairly standard choices to accompany barbecues - there's no big Shiraz or Cabernet and I didn't pick up a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio. But I think this is an interesting range that is varied enough to offer something for everybody. From lightest to heaviest:
Taste the Difference Soave Classico - £7.00 - 12%
I picked this up as I'm a big fan of crisp, zesty Italian whites generally, and I was looking for a change from Gavi. This ought to do the trick. Made from 100% Garganega, it's light and refreshing with a bit of citrus on the palate, will compliment marinated prawns nicely and can be served good and cold if the temperature soars past 20. Yep. If.
Taste the Difference Awatere Valley Marlborough Riesling - £8.00 - 12%
Something a bit more complex now, from a region much more commonly associated with Sauvignon Blanc. We're again talking about a dry, crisp white, but there's a bit more going on here. Citrus aromas are joined by something a bit more herbaceous. This will also go nicely with seafood, but can stand up to a bit of zing, and would probably be OK with sausages too.
La Grande Nuit Pays d'Oc Chardonnay - £6.50 - 12.5%
I wanted to pick up a Chardonnay, to offer something a bit fuller than the Soave and Riesling, but I wanted to avoid something huge and buttery that's been brutally murdered by oak. This will do fine. Being from southern France it's no shrinking violet, having been exposed to more sun and warmth than you get in Burgundy. There are some tropical flavours coming through but it's still a good fresh wine. Great with chicken, but will work with seafood too.
Winemaker's Selection Valpolicella - £6.00 - 12%
On to the reds now, and we start with a really fruity little number. The Valpolicella wine region is in the province of Verona, and borders the Soave region. It's made predominantly from the Corvina grape, but is blended with Rondinella, Corvinone and Croatina. I'll probably stick this in the fridge for 10 minutes before serving. The red berries and cherry flavours will go nicely with lamb, and vegetable skewers - peppers, onions, halloumi etc.
Marquis de Montino Rioja Joven - £6.50 - 12%
The word 'Joven' in the title is key here. This is a young Rioja, that hasn't had a couple of years in oak like Reservas or Gran Reservas. What you get is a much fresher and fruitier wine that's great with tapas, meaning that it's versatile enough to go with burgers, sausages, seafood, vegetables and chicken, as well as Rioja's classic partner, lamb. Perfect! This one could also be served very slightly chilled if it's a hot day.
Morador Mendoza Fair Trade Malbec - £8.00 - 14%
Everything else in the list has been light to medium-bodied and easy drinking. This is a much more serious and heavier wine, and is the ideal match for steaks and burgers. No light red fruit flavours here, we're dealing with black fruits and spice. This one isn't getting near a fridge either.
So that would be my 6, with a normal retail price of £42. Take off the 25% and it's a ludicrous £31.50. Nice one, Sainsbury's.