BACK from your summer break and want to keep the sunshine vibes going? Then it’s time to open a bottle of vin de vacances – holiday wine.
Affordable, easy-drinking regional styles from tourist destinations see a surge in sales during August and September, as we return to the UK and seek out similar sips.
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Greek wine searches have risen by 67 per cent at Ocado, while French rosé is up 64 per cent.
But which bottles really keep the holiday feeling going? Wine expert Helena Nicklin tries some that cost around a tenner.
Costa del Sol, Spain
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- Old Vine Garnacha, £8.49, Lidl
- RATING: 3/5
THAT delicious rustic red which was always plonked down by the waiter alongside the pork skewer pinchos and patatas bravas?
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The chances are it was an old vine grenache, or garnacha as it’s known in Spain.
Older vines concentrate the grape juice so there’s always a lot of bang for buck flavour-wise that is all about red berry spice.
It’s fab with a slight chill too, so you might also have had it in a sangria.
This is a bargain Costa del So-lovely bottle.
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Puglia, Italy
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- Found Susumaniello Rosé, £10, M&S
- RATING: 5/5
IF you have been lucky enough to spend time in Puglia, in the heel of Italy, you will know the wines are off-the-scale delicious.
But they are also authentic and really good value.
With the extreme heat this summer, the chances are you will have switched from red primitivo to a rosé made with local susumaniello like this.
Elegantly pink, silky and with tangy raspberry and rose notes. Pair with ripe tomatoes and buffalo mozzarella or a pizza.
Languedoc, France
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- Specially Selected Picpoul de Pinet, £7.99, Aldi
- RATING: 3/5
MISSING balmy French nights with a bowl of moules frites? Then there’s only one wine you’ll be craving: A salty, citrusy Picpoul de Pinet.
With its tall, embossed green bottle, this regional white is easy to spot and you won’t struggle to find it at great prices here either. The look adds to the holiday-at-home feeling.
This Aldi version is the real deal and keenly priced. Prawns served any way will work perfectly with this for that evening meal by the harbour feel.
Provence, France
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- Fleurs de Prairie Luberon, £9.25, Asda
- RATING: 4/5
IN the Luberon region of inland Provence, the rosé tends to be more juicy and cheaper than on the coast.
Think traditional games of petanque in the village on the gravel, with the smell of the lavender flowers.
Glug this Asda wine while it is on rollback to £8.50.
Grab some nibbles too – a baguette with too much butter, or a tray of sliced veggies drizzled in olive oil to bring those relaxed holiday vibes back home.
The bottle is very pretty too.
Santorini, Greece
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- Athlon Assyrtiko, £7.49, Aldi
- RATING: 4/5
YOU know a wine has hit the big time when it becomes an Aldi best seller.
While Greece’s flagship Assyrtiko grape shines most brightly from Santorini, it is also super- pricey directly from there.
This cheaper tipple from the mainland can still give you much of the crisp, citrus and peach notes you will remember from those tavernas, being served with a bit of grilled fish and halloumi.
You can easily recreate those fab Greek foods to go with it.
Majorca, Balearics
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- Found Balearic Island Red Wine, £12, M&S
- RATING: 4/5
A BIT of a splash-out at £2 over budget. But as it is so rare to find a Balearics bottle stocked here, it’s worth it.
This one is gorgeous. Made from the local callet and mantonegro grapes with a splash of cabernet sauvignon, this is medium-bodied and flavourful, packed with baked strawberry, cinnamon spice and subtle herb flavours.
Authentic, quirky and interesting. Serve with meaty rice dishes and a chilled, Spanish playlist. Only loses a point for being over £10.
Sicily, Italy
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- Aiosa Lucido, £8, Tesco
- RATING: 5/5
MADE with the lucido grape from this volcanic Island.
It is super-refreshing, crisp and pure, with subtle floral aromas and flavours of white peach and lemon citrus. Perfect as an aperitif or with some sheep’s milk cheese, as it would be served on the Italian island.
Tastes way more expensive than the price tag suggests, too.
It will slip down a treat with some pasta.
Or sip it outdoors very chilled and pretend you have just got back from a day at the beach.
Algarve, Portugal
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- Bodacious, £6.75, Morrisons
- RATING: 4/5
BODACIOUS by name, bodacious by nature. If you’re a fan of the jammy-style reds that explode in your mouth with flavours of sweet, brambly fruit dipped in chocolate, you will love this plucky Portuguese pick.
Made with many of the grapes that make the famous ports, this is bold and velvety.
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Gorgeous with spicy cured meats.
If you ordered a bottle of the house tipple with a long lunch in this region, it would likely have been similar to this one.