Following my selections  from the recent Marks & Spencer, Tesco and Waitrose tastings here’s what I thought were the best of Sainsbury’s white wines and rosés with suggested food pairings. Highlights were the very good value Italian whites 

Sainsbury’s Soave Colli Scaligeri 2008 £3.99
One of a trio of impressive cheap Italian whites with the smooth, slightly almondy taste you expect from Soave but don’t normally get at this price. Would be good with a risotto primavera and spring vegetable pasta sauces

Sainsbury’s Frascati Superiore 2008 £3.97
Pleasant fresh, crisp Frascati - made for spaghetti with clams or other seafood pastas (without tomato sauce, I suggest)

Sainsbury’s Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico 2008 £4.09
One of my regular favourites, this dry, slightly earthy white is a great pairing for difficult-to-match globe artichokes. Good for antipasti and seafood salads too.

Rocca Vechhia Pinot Grigio 2008 £9.99
Interesting how much more you need to pay for fashionable Pinot Grigio. A good intense example that would pair well with light pasta, rice and seafood dishes but it should be at least £2 cheaper. Look out for special offers.

Taste the Difference Gavi 2008 £6.99
A good choice if you find Italian whites a touch characterless. Nicely rounded and peachy this would go well with a creamy risotto or chicken in a creamy sauce.

Casa Mia Fiano 2008 £5.99
I have to admit Fiano partly appeals to me for the frivolous reason that it’s an anagram of Fiona but it’s an appealing wine too - rather more luscious than the Northern Italian whites. Good for simply grilled seafood and fishy pastas

Taste the Difference Vouvray 2008 £6.96
Another good value wine from the reliable Taste the Difference range though these off-dry wines are slightly difficult to pair. Best as an aperitif, with chicken salads or (but a bit more hit and miss depending on the seasoning) gravlax

Finca Las Moras Viognier 2008 £5.99
This Argentinian Viognier must be one of the best value examples on the market - a really big-flavoured wine that would work well with spicy (but not too spicy) south-east Asian salads and chicken dishes and mild curries like kormas.

Sanctuary Sauvignon Blanc 2008, New Zealand £6.99
As nice a vintage of this old Sainsbury’s regular as I’ve tasted. (Normally I find it a bit course but this is quite elegant and Loire-like. Almost a poor man’s Sancerre.) Pair with seafood and salads especially with asparagus.

Sacred Hill Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008 £8.99
A richer, more weighty New Zealand SB with a nice touch of passionfruit flavour. Would match rich seafood salads like crab mayonnaise or scallops cooked Asian-style.

Taste the Difference Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2007 £7.99
A classy, creamy cool-climate Chardonnay from one of South Australia’s premier growing regions, the Adelaide Hills. Very good with anything with a creamy, buttery sauce.

Domaine de Sours Bordeaux Rosé 2008
The best of a rather disappointing selection of rosés. Deceptively dark in colour - it’s actually quite dry though with some attractive raspberry fruit. I’ve found this style is a good all-rounder with Chinese food. Try a duck salad with berries too.