As 2022 opens, here are a pair of great value options, together with a run-down on the current High Street wine promotions.

It’s great to be back after what I trust was an enjoyable and healthy Christmas break.

Temporary freedom from the “Two sizeable posts a week” routine certainly allows me time to reflect on the bigger picture such as freshening up the site and tying it more closely to its subscribers’ main priorities.

More about that in the future.

This time, though, I am mirroring the classic Top Tip posts I used throughout 2021 with a look at recommendations to make exhausted wallets smile – along with a supporting review of supermarket promotions.

As ever, use any images or hyperlinks shown to help make things a bit easier when browsing online or shopping.

Top Tips

Today’s spotlight goes on a Romanian white that continues to provide some of the best value on the High Street and this is joined by a Portuguese blend that represents sensational wine for its price

Revisiting a Star from the East

Don’t let its unpronounceable name deter you, this lovely wine from a hugely impressive operation in Romania is brilliant fare whether as a “drink anytime” tipple or to accompany gently spiced oriental food.

Light bodied (with just 11.5% alcohol) and delightfully perfumed, 2020 Wine Atlas Feteasca Regala (£5 at Asda) has soft pear, apricot and red apple flavours coupled with modest sherbet influenced acidity, floral elements and hints of sweetness.   

Now to the western end of Europe

Perhaps because it is led by a little-known Portuguese grape variety (trincadeira), this red blend is astonishing value for money, easily outperforming most similarly priced offerings in sight.

Smooth and medium bodied, 2018 Mimo Moutinho Portuguese Blend (£3.99 at Aldi and 13%) delivers rounded loganberry and bramble flavours supported by clove, cocoa and vanilla components, gentle acidity and minimal tannin.

Current offers and promotions

At Tesco

A range of wines are currently on discount at Tesco (but almost exclusively for Clubcard holders) and involve reductions of a pound or two with discounted prices starting at £4.50.

These deals are available online and in Tesco Main Estate stores but most end on 24 January 2022 athough most wines discounted to £4.50 go up to £5 a week earlier (on 17 January).

Here is a helpful link.

At Sainsbury’s

Promotions at Sainsbury’s run though until 18 January (or a day or so earlier online) and apply to main stores but not Sainsbury’s convenience stores. The current promotion reduces prices by, typically, £1- £2 on around 100 items with 40 of them from the “Taste the Difference” own label range.

Once again, here is a helpful link to allow you browse through the options yourself.

At Asda

Deals at Asda do seem extensive, but many involve beers (often on a “4 for 3” basis where such deals are possible). Details on expiry dates for promotions are sparse but this link will allow you to look through what is available.

At Morrisons

Like Tesco, deals at Morrisons do not end until the week after next (25 January). As their website illustrates, they seem to have a wide range of discounts (tailored to exclude – or only available in – Scotland and Wales).

Most reductions are in the 11% to 40% range – Charles Rousseau Sauvignon Blanc (down from £10 to £6 being the biggest). Once again, here is  a link to an appropriate page on the retailer’s website; this one covers white wine but you can arrow back to find others.

At Waitrose

The latest promotion at Waitrose also runs to 25 January and offers discounts on around 120 items – bringing some down to £4.99 with cash reductions (such as the one pictured) along with discounts of 20%, 25% or 33%.

Once again, here is the link to what is a well set out promotions page.

At Co-op

In contrast to most others, Co-op deals apply to the whole of January but are nicely themed to separate out low alcohol and Veganuary promotions from the others.

The Co-op structure with (often autonomous) local groupings make all-encompassing web coverage – and, indeed, talking about discounts – difficult so a summary of their promotion appears at the foot of this page but, as ever, check the price in your local store before committing yourself.  

At M&S

M&S have taken a broader view, highlighting what they see as overall trends and relating those to wines they have on offer.

As with the Co-op, showing all that online is not so easy given the link M&S have with Ocado, so here are some of the reductions available in M&S physical stores for the rest of January.

Check before putting anything in your basket though – the price on the shelf is the definitive one.

WasNowFromUntil
Bordeaux White2020£7.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Bordeaux Rouge2020£7.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Tierra Y Hombre Pinot Noir2020£7.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Tierra Y Hombre Sauvignon Blanc2021£7.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Garganega Pinot Grigio2020£7.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Puglia Rosso2020£7.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Pheasant Gully Sauvignon Blanc2020£7.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Gold Label Chardonnay2020£7.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Tapa Roja Old Vines Monastrell2020£7.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Wave Break Merlot2019£7.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Terre Di Chieti Pecorino2020£8.00£6.003rd Jan31st Jan
Spier Bay View Sauvignon Blanc2021£9.00£7.003rd Jan31st Jan
Laurent Miquel Languedoc Chardonnay2020£9.00£7.003rd Jan31st Jan
Norton Malbec2021£9.00£7.003rd Jan31st Jan
Norton Chardonnay2021£9.00£7.003rd Jan31st Jan
La Bonita Lisboa Portuguese Red2019£9.00£7.003rd Jan31st Jan
La Prendina Estate Pinot Grigio2019£9.50£7.503rd Jan31st Jan
De Martino Cabernet Sauvignon2019£10.00£8.003rd Jan31st Jan
Lirac Les Closiers2020£10.00£8.003rd Jan31st Jan
Notte Rossa Primitivo di Manduria2019£11.00£9.003rd Jan31st Jan

And those promised Co-op promotions:

CO-OP WINE DEALS RUNNING FROM 05 JANUARY TO 01 FEBRUARY INCLUSIVENOW (£)WAS (£)SAVE (£)
Villa Garducci Pinot Grigio Trebbiano (Italy) Available in Co-op stores nationwide5.007.002.00
Eagle’s Pass Chardonnay (South Africa) Available in selected Co-op stores nationwide5.007.002.00
Las Moras Barrel Select Malbec (Argentina) Available in Co-op stores nationwide6.258.252.00
Leyda Valley Syrah (Chile) Available in selected Co-op stores nationwide8.0010.002.00
Finca Traversa Tannat Merlot (Uruguay) Available in selected Co-op stores nationwide7.008.001.00
Montes Reserva Chardonnay (Chile) Available in selected Co-op stores nationwide7.008.001.00
Vintales White (South Africa) Available in selected Co-op stores nationwideOnly 5.00
Vintales Dry Red (South Africa) Available in selected Co-op stores nationwideOnly 5.00
The Reckoning Old Vine (U.S.A) Available in selected Co-op stores nationwide6.507.501.00
Vale Dos Pombos Vinho Verde (Portugal) Available in selected Co-op stores nationwide5.506.000.50

Join me again next Thursday when the focus will be the annual review of what to drink at those Burns Suppers on or around the bard’s birthday on 25 January.

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