5 wines to buy from Lidl’s latest wine tour (August 2021)

Lidl has just released its latest limited release ‘wine tour’ selection. As I’ve mentioned before these aren’t quite the bargains they once were - only one is under £7 - but they all represent decent value for money, especially if you’re a fan of French wine.

Ventoux Blanc 2020 13% £6.99

If you like a relatively full-bodied white but would like a change from chardonnay this peachy Rhône blend should hit the spot. Would be good with roast or grilled chicken or pork.

Domaine des Deux Vallons Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Sur Lie 2019 12.5% £7.49

Absolutely classic muscadet. Dry, fresh and crisp with just a touch of nuttiness from the lees contact. Perfect for raw shellfish (such as oysters), simply grilled fish and - and this may surprise you - sushi

Val de Salis Viognier Reserve 2020 Pays d’Oc £7.99

I wouldn’t have gone so far as to claim, as Lidl does, this is ‘outstanding’ or award it 91 points but if you’re a viognier fan it’s a good buy. Here’s what I’d pair it with.

My favourite food pairings with viognier

The reds are, if anything, even better value

Les Aumôniers 2019 Séguret Côtes du Rhône Villages 14.5% £7.49

A classic generous rich spicy Côtes du Rhône red that will take you into the autumn. Think beefy pies and stews

Collin-Bourisset Morgon Beaujolais 2019 £7.99

I love Beaujolais, particularly Morgon and this is a beaut, just brimming with gorgeous cherry fruit. And you almost never find it this cheap. I’m thinking charcuterie or a big pork chop.

3 rose and 2 red wine bargains from Waitrose

Waitrose isn’t perhaps the first place you’d think of looking for wine bargains but at their summer tasting this week I found three rosés which you might want to snap up before the current offer ends on Tuesday June 1st.

Pierrick Harang Le Rosé de Balthazar 2020 Languedoc on offer at £5.99

I find it hard to believe there actually IS someone called Pierrick Harang but this crisp, dry rosé is pretty impressive particularly at this bargainous price. Definitely worth stocking up for the good weather we’re forecast to have next week.

La Bijou de Sophie Valrose 2020 Coteaux de Béziers on offer at £4.49 a half bottle (in 124 shops and online)

Half bottles of rosé are few and far between but ideal if you live on your own or just want to have a glass midweek with your partner. Fruitier than most Provence rosés and verging on the off-dry I’d like to drink this nice and cold.

L’Arene des Anges Costières de Nîmes 2020 on offer at £6.69

Sandwiched between the Languedoc and the Rhône - although it counts as the Rhône - Costières de Nîmes is a name to look out for on wine labels. This is a darker fruiter style than the Balthazar above - a good rosé to drink with food and even a barbecue.

Esprit de Trois Pierres Costières de Nîmes 2020 on offer at £6.69

Another Costières de Nîmes bargain. A good hearty Côte du Rhône-ish red for everyday drinking. Think pub grub like sausage and chips or a steak pie.

Dominique Piron Beaujolais Villages 2018 on offer at £8.99

If you’re a Beaujolais fan you’ll love this gorgeously ripe fruity example from the excellent 2018 vintage which is as good as many Beaujolais ‘crus’

You might also want to pick up a bottle of Waitrose’s 2016 Leckford Estate Brut which is made from grapes in Waitrose’s own vineyard in Hampshire. It’s the best version of the wine I’ve tasted so far - really toasty and champagne-like and is currently on offer at £19.99 instead of the usual £26.99

Domaine Roc de Chateauxvieux Touraine Gamay

If you like Beaujolais you’re going to love this 2019 Touraine gamay, from Domaine Roc de Chateauxvieux which has the same bright juicy happy-making fruit.

It’s a bit of a bargain too on a mix six deal from Majestic and is, alas, out of stock online but it’s worth seeing if you can track it down in your local branch.

I’d definitely serve it lightly chilled - they say 15-16° which is quite a bit cooler than our centrally heated homes. Great with French picnic-style food such as paté, saucisson and soft cheeses like brie, obviously, but also with duck, seared tuna - and asparagus you may be surprised to hear, especially when it’s grilled. It would work well with this week’s recipe of the week too.

See my post on Beaujolais for other pairings

Top food pairings for Beaujolais (and other gamay)