{"id":847,"date":"2025-03-08T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/?p=847"},"modified":"2025-03-19T21:43:13","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T21:43:13","slug":"im-a-drinks-writer-dont-write-off-these-end-of-season-wines-under-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/08\/im-a-drinks-writer-dont-write-off-these-end-of-season-wines-under-10\/","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019m a drinks writer \u2014 don\u2019t write off these end-of-season wines under \u00a310"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n\t\t\"Rob\t<\/div>
Try these wines before Spring fully kicks in (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s sunny, the crocuses are out and we\u2019re finally free of dark mornings. That can only mean one thing\u2026<\/p>\n

It\u2019s time to make a beeline for the end-of-season wines in the supermarkets<\/a> before the spring\/summer<\/a> ranges come in.<\/p>\n

Hang on though, are there actually specific wines for different seasons? <\/p>\n

Yes, just like fashion<\/a> and food, wine<\/a> ranges are given a seasonal shake-up right about now. It\u2019s out with the rich and heavy, in with the fresh and nimble. I mean, it makes sense, we\u2019re not looking to guzzle walloping reds and buttery whites whilst wearing a t-shirt. Not on my watch, anyway. Plus, you can\u2019t eat<\/a> seasonally without drinking seasonally, fact.  <\/p>\n

A proportion of wines<\/a> in many a range that will be ditched come the warmer weather<\/a>. And even those that remain have no place in our drinking repertoire if they don\u2019t match the season. It’s a case of so many wines, so little time. We’re can’t be getting bogged down with seasonally inappropriate bottles.<\/p>\n

Think of springtime drinking as you would getting dressed. Early spring is famously that awkward hinterland that calls for that winter\/summer hybrid outfit; winter coat, whipped off at the slightest glimmer of sun to reveal a summer tank top or t-shirt underneath. We\u2019re accessorising it with a scarf, umbrella, wellies and sunglasses, naturally. Well, it\u2019s the same situation for wine, minus the \u2018whipping off\u2019 part.   <\/p>\n

The best end-of-season wines under \u00a310<\/h2>\n

The best thing about this time of year is that there are deals to be had. Though, to caution you, with the whole duty mess as it currently stands, wine prices have gone up and promotions aren\u2019t looking nearly as compelling as they used to be.<\/p>\n

But that doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune. With that in mind, here are some wines to grab before they lose their seasonal relevance, and they’re all under a tenner.<\/p>\n

Big Fin Chardonnay, Australia, \u00a36.99 (save \u00a32), Waitrose<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Big\t<\/div>
A wine with tropical flavours (Picture: Waitrose)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yes, buttery Aussie Chardonnays have made a comeback. And though they were great at comforting us through the long winter months, there are much fresher options for spring\/summer. This one has the joyous flavours of a tropical beach breakfast, think White Lotus only less twisted. It has fleshy flavours of sliced pineapple, mango and papaya on hot buttered toast.<\/p>\n

Irresistible Macon Villages Cave de Lugny, France, \u00a39, Co-op<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Irresistible\t<\/div>
A peachy wine from Co-op (Picture: Co-op)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Sub-\u00a310 Burgundy makes me nervous. It\u2019s always such a lottery as to whether it\u2019s actually going to be any good. Luckily, we can breathe a sigh of relief, as this one\u2019s peachy, literally. It\u2019s unoaked, so not a million miles from the purity of Chablis in style. If you\u2019re a fan of stone fruit, mouthwatering dry whites with a pinch of dried herbs, you\u2019re in for a treat. Disclaimer, you can drink this into spring, no problem.<\/p>\n

Taste the Difference Fronton Negrette Ros\u00e9, \u00a38.50, France, Sainsbury\u2019s<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Taste\t<\/div>
A classic ‘winter ros\u00e9’ (Picture: Sainsbury’s)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ros\u00e9 is a spring\/summer staple, so it\u2019s surprising that this one is on my list. So, why is it? Because I\u2019d class this one as a \u2018winter ros\u00e9\u2019. It\u2019s darker in colour than the barely-there pinks we mainline in warmer weather, ideal for hearty dishes and chillier weather. There\u2019s some delicious fruity flavours of blackberries and raspberries, alongside liquorice and Palma violets.<\/p>\n

Des Tourelles Bordeaux Superieur, \u00a36.75 (save 75p), Tesco<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"A\t<\/div>
This one is exceptional value (Picture: Tesco)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This used to be \u00a35 a couple of years ago, ah, good old duty and inflation. Still, it\u2019s exceptional value at just under \u00a37, for an everyday sipper from Bordeaux. And though it\u2019s not overly complex, it\u2019s delicious, frankly. Stuffed with black cherry, mocha choca, blackberry and creamy almond flavours in this Merlot-dominated blend. <\/p>\n

Specially Selected Italian Aglianico del Vulture, Italy, \u00a37.99 (save 50p), Aldi<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Specially\t<\/div>
An uber savoury grape (Picture: Aldi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This has kept its place in Aldi\u2019s range, and interestingly, it’s still categorised as a \u2018seasonal line\u2019 even though it was also in their autumn\/winter collection. Anyhoo, with an unapologetically hearty style, it\u2019s made from the uber-savoury Aglianico (alli-an-iko) grape. When it\u2019s youthful, like this one, you\u2019ll get a mouthful of leather, cured meat and dried dates. It\u2019s rustic, structured and earthy, in the best way possible.<\/p>\n

Molise Biferno 2018, Italy, \u00a39.50, Italy, Co-op<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Molise\t<\/div>
A great ‘bring round to someone’s house wine’ (Picture: Co-op)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a \u2018bring round to someone\u2019s house\u2019 wine, if you know what I mean. I’ll explain why. It’s a talking point that will set tongues wagging, made predominantly from the Montepulciano grape. From southern Italy, this brooding red is all prune and sweet baking spices in flavour, with a concentrated kirsch note woven through.<\/p>\n

Mucho Mas Vino Tinto, Spain<\/strong><\/strong>, \u00a38, Sainsbury\u2019s<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Mucho\t<\/div>
A gutsy Spanish red wine (Picture: Sainsbury’s)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

What\u2019s the saying? Not ‘mad as a March hare’, but ‘March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb’. Well, this gutsy Spanish red will get you through the lion part, no problemo. What we have here is a spicy blend of Tempranillo and Syrah, unusually, aged in American oak barrels for four months to bring in sweet coconut notes.<\/p>\n

And there’s one more bottle that has to get an honourable mention here, although I’m sorry to say it does cost more than \u00a310…<\/p>\n

Taste the Difference Discovery Collection Loin de L\u2019Oeil, France, \u00a311.50 (save \u00a32.75) Sainsbury\u2019s<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n
\n\t\t\"Taste\t<\/div>
Sainsbury’s have some great options in their Discovery selection (Picture: Sainsbury’s)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I\u2019m a fan of Sainsbury\u2019s Discovery Selection, mainly for promoting off the beaten track wines like this one. A French regional wine, from the south-westerly Gaillac region, made from a white grape you don\u2019t see around too often. The grapes are left to partially dry out on the vine, which adds boatloads of concentration, plus the wine is then aged on its yeast lees for winter-warming, mega-rich creaminess.<\/p>\n

\n

\n\t\t\t\tLooking for more expert drinks content?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n
\n

If you count yourself a purveyor of the finer things in life, Metro\u2019s Drinks Column is where you need to be.<\/p>\n

Immerse yourself in the world of good drink, fronted by industry expert Rob Buckhaven \u2013 a place for readers to whet their whistle with the latest and greatest in the world of drinks. From unpacking the best supermarket wines<\/a> from Aldi, Tesco and Lidl, to introducing audiences to the wallet-friendly Cremant out-bubbling the fanciest of French Champagnes<\/a> (or the best wines to drink after sex<\/a>), this is a haven for those who love to celebrate.<\/p>\n

Stay ahead of the curve<\/a> as Rob plucks from the vines the wines of the season and the spirits you need to know about; speaking with experts and mixologists while unpacking the latest concoctions, finding the best non-alcoholic options<\/a> for those looking to moderate, discovering the best food pairings for your drops, and going up against the latest TikTok chatter to demystify the liquid landscape.<\/p>\n

Can you really make cheap vodka taste expensive by putting it through a Brita filter?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

What happens when you put wine in a blender?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

And, truly, how <\/a><\/em>should<\/em><\/a><\/strong>\u200b we be storing our wine?<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Read More.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Do you have a story to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Try these wines before Spring fully kicks in (Picture: Getty) It\u2019s sunny, the crocuses are out and we\u2019re finally free of dark mornings. That can only mean one thing\u2026 It\u2019s time to make a beeline for the end-of-season wines in the supermarkets before the spring\/summer ranges come in. Hang on though, are there actually specific […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":849,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/847"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=847"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":859,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/847\/revisions\/859"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/849"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/curiousdrive.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}