Tesco’s infamous Zesty White, at just £3.65 a bottle, is an institution in student communities across the country, with the city of dreaming spires being no exception. In fact in all my journeys to Magdalen Street Tesco I struggle to remember ever seeing it fully stocked – every bottle being scooped up by a thirsty student swiftly after being placed on the shelf. Shockingly, my purpose in this article is not to inform you that this incredibly cheap bottle of wine is indeed awful, but instead to deal more constructively with the issue of drinking wine on a budget.
As the nights are growing longer, an increased desire for those comfortable nights-in with good friends can be felt in the air. Dinner parties, a great way to quench this thirst for satisfying food and (occasionally) stimulating conversation, remain popular choices for friendly gatherings among nearly all age groups. Of course, to throw a dinner party one must have a certain degree of culinary competency, but attending one requires no such thing! All that is generally required is some form of offering, generally of wine or nibbles, presented to the host of such an event and often enjoyed the very same night. However, all such ritual sacrifices to the gods of good company are not created equal. Certainly,to thank your host for all their hard work with a bottle of the aforementioned drivel with all the characteristics and appeal of a three-day-old bottle of Lucozade, may leave you without an invitation to any future functions.
Dinner parties are not for everyone however, especially those who find themselves without access to a kitchen, and the reasons to move on from Zesty White extend beyond the scope of simple good etiquette. Perhaps the desire is to dip a toe into the world of wine, gaining a little knowledge about this often daunting and mystified beverage, or simply a wish to dodge those harrowing headaches that seem to be a universal consequence of the Zesty White experience. Either way, it is worth realising that a wine far better in taste doesn’t have to break the bank! In the spirit of this, I have sought out three wines from Tesco which feasibly could elevate your regular drinking experience, and that would make for a far more appropriate dinner party gift.
Isla Negra Chardonnay/Pedro Jiménez – £6
This offering from Chile separates itself from other Chardonnays within the same price range by blending with Pedro Jiménez. It is important to note that this is not the famous PX found within the intensely sweet sherry of Southern Spain, but instead a different variety found primarily within Argentina and Chile. The Chardonnay is undoubtedly the star of the show here – delivering some lovely fruity, almost tropical notes, backed by some decent acidity that prevents the wine from falling flat on the palate. It is a fairly versatile wine that would pair well with herb-heavy dishes and any creamy pasta or chicken dish.
Shallow Bay Sauvignon Blanc – £6.75
Our next bottle comes from South Africa, and although the original price is £6.75, at the time I am writing it is available on a Clubcard offer for £6! While South Africa may be more well known for its Chenin Blanc from the perspective of white wine, this Sauvignon Blanc is a welcome exception to this trend, and at a reasonable price. Crisp, with notes of citrus and a healthy dosage of acidity, this wine is perfect for pairing with those more substantial vegetables that resurface at this time of year. Butternut squash and parsnips are great pairings, with the addition of any fish dishes, perhaps with a cream sauce.
La P’tite Pierre Rosé – £7
While not directly comparable to Zesty White due to the obvious difference in colour, La P’tite Pierre is a more than satisfactory example of a blended French rosé given its incredibly low price point, especially when considering the current Clubcard reduction to £6. Expect a surprising amount of fruit here, with a level of acidity that provides some structure but doesn’t overpower those strawberry notes. While a bottle such as this would work well with pasta, I would recommend going with seafood; prawns, clams, fish and mussels would all be in good stead if served alongside this.
Overall, it would be unfair to claim that the £3.65 student staple has no place in your fridge; its price makes it very well suited to making wine cocktails, or even to be used in cooking. That being said, when it comes to drinking wine for its own sake, or enjoying a bottle with company, an extra £3 will unlock a far more interesting and overall pleasant experience, one that can open the door to pairing wine with food and thinking more about what we drink.