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Perfect bank holiday wine

The last time I tasted as much wine as I have in 2024 was 1990. Back then I was tasting treats like Blue Nun, Echo Falls and Matheus Rosé. I still love some of those wines and especially loved those days. I am very happy to report that the supermarket selection is a great deal better now.

With the Bank holiday round the corner. I have a few quick tips and tricks to make the most of vino in the sun:

Serving temperature

Open red wine and put it in the fridge 20 mins before you serve it. Giving it time to breath for a bit and is pleasantly cool to drink . As opposed to the rather jammy 27 degrees that it could be.

Choosing a winner

Generally with Supermarket wine picks the obvious choice is the wrong one. Try to avoid big brands where all the money has gone into marketing rather than what’s in the bottle. Instead take a risk and go for smaller less known regions and supermarket own ranges. If you see a Treixadura (white) or Negroamaro and Touriga Nacional (reds) or something else equally unpronounceable in the £8-£12 range then go for it, it’ll generally be there because the supermarkets wine buyer really fell in love with it and took a punt.

Do's and don'ts

I know I’m mainly speaking to chefs here but don’t go too far down the rabbit hole of food and wine pairing. If you feel like pairing a light white wine and beef liver stew then go for it. Having fun with wine is way more important than getting it “right”.

With that in mind here are my 4 top recommendations for the imminent bank holiday weekend. Some of these wines you’ll see on my Instagram feed and some you’ll see soon, if you watch. They are all fantastic and great value for money. So get yourself down to Lidl, Waitrose, Sainsburys or whoever and set yourself ready for a great 3 days!

Favourite white under £10.00

Waitrose Blueprint Vinho Verde – In an age where it’s almost impossible to get a Chablis for under £15 this crisp fresh zinger of a wine is an absolute steal at £6.99. It’s got a lively bit of spritz which brings the acidity and fruit together and keeps me coming back for more. Think fresh green apples and quince and believe me, there’s not much better out there for the money.

Favourite red under £15.00

Trulli Primitivo – When you turn on the gas and get near the £15 mark you should really start getting wines that are generous and classy and Southern Italy is where I love to go hunting.

The home of both Primitivo and Negroamaro, these wines are ripe, fleshy and full of ripe black plum like fruit. I’ve recommended a wine I import here, a Primitivo di Manduria that’s turned the ripe black plum almost in to a prune and added a whack of blackberry and spice. It’s one heck of a mouthful of red at £14.95 but it’s real beauty lies in it’s balance and elegance. Try it with a bbq’d chunk of lamb.

Best fizz under £15.00

Sainsbury’s Crémant De Loire, Taste the Difference 75cl – Here’s a super sparkling wine, made in the same way as Champagne and it’s under £11 a bottle. Why would anybody buy Prosecco? Blended from Chenin Blanc & Chardonnay it’s fresh, fruity and vibrant with a hint of brioche notes from the time spent in bottle. It also comes in pink which is a must on a hot summers day.

Best rosé under £10.00

Vielle Ferme Rosé – This has fast become a giant supermarket staple. It’s my one exception to the ‘don’t buy a brand’ rule. The chicken wine may not have the kudos of Whispering angel, but it’s a very juicy, fresh, dry, strawberry tastic Rosé for £8.50. Made by an extremely well respected wine family/company – The Perrin’s.

That should get the party started this bank holiday weekend. All 4 wines are TG certified bangers and there are many more on our Supermarket shelves today. My advice, again, is to be brave and have a play, you’ll find some crackers as you go.

You can find more recommendations from Tom here.