
Aldi launches Father's Day emergency gift box service
The supermarket chain has created an 'SOS Service' to help shoppers who have forgotten or don't have time to buy a gift for the big day.
They are offering a limited number of exclusive 'Aldi SOS' gift boxes, designed to 'knock the socks off' any father or fatherly figure.
These gift boxes will include a card to personalise, a bar of Aldi's Moser Roth Chocolate, and a pair of Aldi-themed socks.
How to get the Aldi emergency Father's Day gift box
To be in with a chance of receiving a gift box, shoppers simply need to email their name and email address to SOSService@aldi.co.uk.
Boxes will be sent out on a first-come, first-served basis, so shoppers are encouraged to act quickly.
People will have until Thursday, June 12, to apply for a box, and winners will be contacted on or before Thursday to provide their delivery address.
Full terms and conditions for this can be found on the Aldi website here.
Julie Ashfield, Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, said: 'We know how much occasions like Father's Day mean to our shoppers, and we're committed to offering quality gifts at affordable prices.
'Our SOS Service means our customers can celebrate their loved ones even if they're shopping last minute, helping to make Father's Day special for everyone.'
Is Father's Day the same in the UK and the USA?
The date for Father's Day in the UK and the USA is always the same, taking place on the third Sunday in June.
For 2025, this means it will fall on Sunday, June 15 and in 2026 it will be on Sunday, June 21.
This is different to Mother's Day, which has two separate dates in the UK and the USA.
Mother's Day in the UK is marked on the fourth Sunday of Lent, while Mother's Day in the United States is not associated with any religious background.
Instead, it came into being in 1914, after a campaign was launched by Anna Jarvis, an American woman whose mother died in May.
The Economic Times reports that President Woodrow Wilson established that it would take place on the second Sunday of May.
Recommended reading:
Is there an international Father's Day?
While Father's Day is celebrated around the world, there isn't a set date that every country follows.
Countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, France, Mexico, India and South Africa celebrate it on the third Sunday in June.
Meanwhile, Brazil celebrates it on the second Sunday in August, and Australia and New Zealand do so on the first Sunday of September.
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South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Aldi giving away free £50 to customers this summer
With prices continuing to soar, this scheme may provide vital relief to thousands. It will be giving away a free £50 voucher every single day throughout July and August, offering financial relief to families feeling the pinch. That adds up to 62 vouchers in total, one for every day of the summer break, and it's open to parents across Great Britain, including Scotland, where schools finish earlier. Us walking by M&S knowing Cuthy-B is free #SuperBowl To be in with a chance of bagging one of the vouchers, parents need to send their name and email address to SummerSupportScheme@ There are no lengthy forms or complicated sign-ups – just one quick email to apply. Each day, one family will be selected at random and awarded a £50 Aldi voucher to spend in-store on whatever they need. The supermarket says families can use the vouchers however they like. Recommended reading: That could be for their weekly food shop, snacks to keep the kids going, or even treats from the Specialbuy aisle, like toys and garden games to keep children entertained during the long summer break. Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: 'The school holidays can put extra pressure on finances, especially when it comes to keeping children fed, entertained and active during the six-week break. "As the UK's cheapest supermarket, we don't believe in paying a premium for healthy, quality food and we'll always do what we can to support parents in making their money go further.'

Western Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Western Telegraph
Aldi, Tesco, Lidl and more UK supermarket recall warnings
These recalls have been issued on products for a variety of reasons, including metal being found in a breakfast food, food that may contain insects, potatoes with the wrong labels, and a popular brand of pies having incorrect use-by dates on the label. If you have bought any of the items mentioned below, you can return them to stores for a full refund. Aldi recall Aldi is recalling Inspired Cuisine Baby Potatoes with Herbs and Butter because it contains milk which is not mentioned on the label. This means the product is a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents. This is all Inspired Cuisine Baby Potatoes with Herbs and Butter, pack size 385g, for all date codes up to and including 01 July 2025. If you have bought the above product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, do not eat it. Instead return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund. For more information, please call customer services on 0800 042 0800. Tuesday 24 June 2025 - Aldi recalls Inspired Cuisine Baby Potatoes with Herbs and Butter because of undeclared milk #FoodAllergy — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 24, 2025 Pieminister recall A range of Pieminister Kitchens pies have been recalled because they have been labelled with incorrect use-by dates which may make them unsafe to eat. The affected pies have been labelled with a use-by date of June 24, 2026, instead of a use-by date of June 24, 2025. These are the pies being recalled by Pieminister: Pieminister Moo – British Beef Steak and Craft Ale Pie Pieminister Moo & Blue – British Beef Steak and Stilton Pie Pieminister Kate & Sidney – British Beef Steak, Kidney and Craft Ale Pie Pieminister Deer & Beer – Venison, Milk Stout, Mushroom and Thyme Pie Pieminister Free Ranger – Free Range British Chicken and Ham Pie with Leek Pieminister Fungi Chicken – Free Range British Chicken, Portobello and Chestnut Mushroom Pieminister Wild Shroom – Portobello and Chestnut Mushroom Pie Pieminister Mooless Moo – Jackfruit, Craft Ale and Black Pepper Pie Pieminister – Goat's Cheese and Sweet Potato Filo Pie Pieminister – Spinach and Feta Filo Pie Friday 13 June 2025 - @pieminister Kitchens recalls various Pieminister pies because of incorrect use-by dates: — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 13, 2025 A Pieminister spokesman said: 'The fresh pies, made in our Bristol bakery on one day this week, were labelled with an incorrect use-by date on the boxes. 'Pieminister Kitchens would like to reassure our customers that these pies have been produced to the same exacting standards of food safety and quality that you expect from us, and they are completely safe to eat until June 24, 2025. 'However, if you would prefer to return any pies incorrectly labelled, please contact Pieminister customer service for a full refund. You can reach us by email at hello@ or by phone on 0117 942 3300. 'Pieminister Kitchens apologise for any inconvenience this technical issue may cause our customers and assure them that we take this matter very seriously. 'We are working closely with our technical teams and have implemented additional measures to prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. 'No other Pieminister products, or batches of these products, are affected.' FSA slushie warning The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning parents not to let children under the age of 7 drink iced slushie drinks this summer if they contain glycerol. An FSA board meeting this week endorsed the advice and called for clear communication to parents and carers to help manage glycerol intake in young children. The FSA said: 'Slush ice drinks can contain glycerol as a substitute for sugar to prevent them from freezing solid. 'Consumed at high levels, glycerol can cause very low blood sugar levels and unconsciousness in young children. 'Businesses are advised to only add glycerol at the minimum quantity technically necessary to achieve the slush effect. 'While glycerol is found in some other foods, it is added at much lower quantities than in slush ice drinks.' Lidl recall Lidl is recalling one of its products because it may contain pieces of metal. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned anyone who has purchased the recalled item not to eat it. The recall affects Lidl's Harvest Basket Hash Browns. The impacts hash browns come in packs of 750g, have a best before date of May 24, 2027, and a batch code of 5144L. Thursday 12 June: @LidlGB recalls Harvest Basket Hash Browns because they may contain pieces of metal #FoodAlert — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 12, 2025 An FSA spokesman said: 'Lidl GB is recalling the above product. A point of sale notice will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. 'This notice explains to customers why the product is being recalled and tells them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product, do not eat it. 'Instead, return it to your nearest store for a full refund. For further information contact customer care on or 0203 966 5566.' Recommended Reading: A Lidl spokesman added: 'If you have bought the above product we advise you not to eat it. 'Customers are asked to return this product to the nearest store where a full refund will be given. 'We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your cooperation.' Chocolate recall Shoppers who purchased some Dubai-style chocolate products have been warned the food may not meet Food Standards Agency (FSA) standards. Some of the imported Dubai-style products could pose a risk to consumers with allergies, the food safety watchdog warned. Those with food allergies should be careful when buying the popular chocolate as some imported products may not be intended for sale in the UK and could lack a full ingredients list or allergen labelling, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said. The watchdog said it had identified a number of products that posed a health risk to consumers with allergies. Some of these products may also contain additives and colours which are not allowed on the UK market, it added. The FSA said it was surveying and sampling the products to work out the scale of the issue, and working with allergy charities in the meantime to raise awareness of the risk with consumers. It said that 'most' Dubai-style chocolate available in UK shops was safe. The FSA said: 'If in doubt, don't buy it and report any concerns to your local authority.' By law, labels must list all ingredients and clearly highlight any of the 14 regulated allergens. The FSA advised consumers to look out for labelling details to check whether a product is intended for sale here. By law, products made to UK standards should have labels in English containing the name of the food – for example, milk chocolate with pistachio paste filling – a list of ingredients with allergens emphasised, the weight of the food in grams and a best before or use by date. Labels must also include the name and address of the UK or EU business responsible for the product information. If the food is not from the UK or EU, the name and address of the importer must be included. Today we've published 'Our Food 2024: An annual review of food standards across the UK' with @FSScot. It's the fourth report since the UK left the EU and is an evidence-based assessment of food standards across all four nations. Download the report: — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 19, 2025 Jolly Rancher recall Multiple Jolly Rancher sweets sold in the UK have been recalled as they contain products that make them 'unsafe to eat' and they do not comply with UK laws, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned. Four Jolly Rancher products have been recalled, as the FSA has told anyone who has bought them not to eat them. The affected products are the Jolly Rancher Hard Candy, Jolly Rancher 'Misfits' Gummies, Jolly Rancher Hard Candy Fruity 2 in 1, and the Jolly Rancher Berry Gummies. The recall covers all pack sizes, batch codes, and best before dates of the sweets listed above. They contain Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons, (MOAH), and Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons, (MOSH), making them unsafe to eat. Wednesday 11 June 2025. Food Alert "For Action": To Consumers who have purchased and Food Businesses who have purchased and sold Jolly Rancher products manufactured by The Hershey Company #FoodAlert — Food Standards Agency (@foodgov) June 11, 2025 The FSA said: 'For consumers, don't buy them, and if you've eaten these products, there should be no immediate cause for concern, as food safety risk is low, but don't eat any more. 'These products contain mineral oil, which isn't allowed in food in the UK and may pose a food safety risk if consumed regularly over a sustained period of time.' The FSA said that the Hershey Company, who produces Jolly Rancher sweets, had been working collaboratively to remove unsafe products from the UK markets. It added that while the parent company had decided to stop supplying the UK market in 2024 some businesses still continued to import the products for sale in the UK. An FSA spokesman said: 'Although the levels consumers are exposed to are likely to be low, they may present a risk to health because they contain Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons, (MOAH), and Mineral Oil Saturated Hydrocarbons, (MOSH). 'Consumption of the affected sweets is of toxicological concern, especially in younger age groups and where consumers eat a lot of the products or eat them regularly. 'MOAH can cause damage to DNA and has the potential to increase the risk of cancer, particularly if consumed in high quantities over a prolonged period of time. MOAH is a genotoxic carcinogen, therefore no exposure is without risk to human health. 'We are asking enforcement authorities to make immediate contact with businesses who may have been supplied with or received the affected products, and to take action to ensure that the non-compliant and potentially unsafe products are withdrawn from the market and where sold at retail, recalled. 'We are also asking the Local Authorities to inform the FSA of product recall and withdrawal actions. 'If you have bought any of the above products, do not eat them. Instead, dispose of them at home. 'If you are concerned, notify your Trading Standards department or environmental health department in the local authority you purchased it.' Tony's recall Popular chocolate bars sold at a number of UK supermarkets have been recalled as they may contain 'small stones'. Tony's Chocolonely is recalling certain batches of two of its chocolate products because of the 'potential presence of foreign objects'. The chocolate bars which may contain the small stones are the Dark Almond Sea Salt Bar 180g and the Everything Bar 180g. Only certain product codes of the chocolate are being recalled. (Image: Tony's Chocolonely) These are the Dark Almond Sea Salt Bar codes and best before dates affected: 162633 with a best before date of February 28, 2026 162614 with a best before date of February 28, 2026 163061 with a best before date of April 2, 2026 These are the Everything Bar codes and best before dates affected: 4331 with a best before date of November 26, 2025 4332 with a best before date of November 27, 2025 4333 with a best before date of November 28, 2025 A spokesman for Tony's Chocolonely UK said: 'We are extremely sorry to have to issue this recall, and for the inconvenience that this will cause people who purchased these products. 'Whilst the probability of a product being affected is low, we always put the safety and satisfaction of our consumers first and that is why we have made the decision to recall these products. 'We apologise to consumers and our partners for the impact this will have. 'This recall only affects these specific products and lot codes. All other Tony's Chocolonely products remain safe to consume and are not impacted. 'Do you have a bar with the impacted lot number(s)? Please don't eat the chocolate. Instead, we kindly ask you that you return the product to the store where you bought it for a refund or replacement.' Tesco recall Tesco has recalled one of its products from supermarket shelves across the UK because they may pose a health risk to customers. The supermarket giant has recalled one of its Tesco Free From Meal Kits because they contain undeclared soya. The presence of soya, not mentioned on the label, makes them a potential health risk for anyone with an allergy to soya. The affected products are the Tesco Free From Katsu Curry Meal Kit, affecting all products with a best before date up to and including December 12. Recommended Reading: A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency (FSA) said: 'Tesco is recalling the above products from customers and has been advised to contact the relevant allergy support organisations, which will tell their members about the recall. 'The company has also issued a recall notice to its customers. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above products do not eat them. Instead, return them to any Tesco store for a full refund. For more information contact Tesco Customer Services on 0800 505 555.' Iceland recall Iceland has issued a 'do not eat' warning to its customers over a product that may contain pieces of plastic. The supermarket is recalling its Iceland Vegetable Lasagne because of the risk of plastic in the dish, making it unsafe to eat. The affected products have best before dates of July 23, 2026, and July 30, 2026. A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency also told anyone who has purchased the dish not to eat it. They said: 'Iceland Foods Ltd is recalling the above product. The company has issued a recall notice to its customers. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to the store from where it was bought for a full refund. For more information, please call 0800 328 0800.' An Iceland spokesman added: 'We are taking the precautionary measure of recalling the dates codes of the above product because it may contain hard pieces of plastic making it unsafe to eat. 'Only the best before date codes listed in this notice are affected. 'If you have purchased any of the above product, DO NOT eat it.' Granola recall A popular breakfast choice sold at Tesco, Ocado, Amazon and other outlets has been recalled because it may contain insects. Rude Health Foods Ltd is recalling its Rude Health Chocolate Crunch Granola because of the possible presence of insects. The affected product is the 400g box of granola with a best before date of October 24. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned anyone who has purchased the granola not to eat it but return it to wherever they bought it for a full refund. A spokesman said: 'The product listed above might contain insects, which may make them unsafe to eat. 'Rude Health Foods Ltd is recalling the above product. Point of sale notices will be displayed in all retail stores that are selling this product. 'These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. 'If you have bought the above product do not eat it. Instead, return it to your local store for a refund. For further information, please contact Rude Health Foods Ltd at hello@ Recommended Reading: A Rude Health Foods spokesman added: 'No other batches of the chocolate crunch granola or other Rude Health products are affected by this recall. 'If you have bought the above product we advise you do not consumer it. 'We sincerely regret any inconvenience caused to our customers.' What is a product recall? If there is a problem with a food product that means it should not be sold, then it might be 'withdrawn' (taken off the shelves) or 'recalled' (when customers are asked to return the product). The FSA issues Product Withdrawal Information Notices and Product Recall Information Notices to let consumers and local authorities know about problems associated with food. In some cases, a 'Food Alert for Action' is issued. This provides local authorities with details of specific actions to be taken on behalf of consumers.


Times
11 hours ago
- Times
The bargain summer wine list: the 51 best bottles, from £8 and under
Summer celebrations don't have to be fuelled with expensive wines. It's entirely possible to find delicious whites, good reds, mouthwatering pinks and decent bottles of fizz for £8 or under. You do have to know where to look, though. Rooting out the top 50 bargain wines here involved trying every single one of the wines that supermarkets showed at their spring and summer tastings,and plenty of the wine merchants' offerings too. It might sound like a wonderful job — but, believe me, there were as many duds as delights. Clearly 2025's perfect storm of dramatic duty hikes, a weak exchange rate and increased shipping and transport costs have been a challenge, resulting in less choice and wishy-washy, lower-alcohol flavours. Yet, for all that, there are some fantastic summer wines to be found. As always, Aldi and Lidl, the German discounters, have come to the rescue with some extremely good-value bottles. Anyone with prejudices about these no-frills supermarkets will overcome them as soon as they dive into Aldi's citrussy Pierre Jaurant French Sauvignon, £4.85, or Lidl's buttery Australian 2023 Cimarosa Chardonnay, £4.99. This summer's best bargain Kiwi sauvignon is a zingy, gooseberry and lush passion fruit 2023 Freeman's Bay Sauvignon Blanc, a £5.99 Aldi snip, or plump for Lidl's creamy, black-fruited 2023 Deluxe Australian Barossa Valley Shiraz, £7.99. Asda's wine buyers have also worked hard this summer, with the likes of a white rhône-like 2024 Extra Special Languedoc Blanc, £7.54, scented with viognier, roussanne and marsanne, and a brilliant-value-for-money, tank-method fizz, the floral, stone fruit Wine Atlas Lake Garda Sparkling, a £6.97 steal. The behemoth Tesco is fighting back on all fronts with, among others, a bouncy, apple blossom-perfumed Codorniu Herencia Cava, yours for just £7 until July 14, and a zesty red cherry-ripe 2024 Marques de los Zancos Red Rioja, £6.25. Marks & Spencer's Found range has some unusual, keenly priced bottles, plus this summer's cheapest, tastiest pink, the syrah-led 2024 Italian Rosato from clever Cantine Settesoli in Sicily, yours for just £6.50. Morrisons also has a few plums, including a lip-smacking Loureiro vinho verde, just £7 until July 15. Look out too for Waitrose's cut-price charmers, including a young, tangy unoaked claret, the seductive, violet-scented 2021 Château Margerots Bordeaux Superieur, £11, down to £8 from July 2. If I had to pick one summer party steal it would be Aldi's superior Specially Selected DOCG Prosecco Valdobbiadene, £7.99, down to £4.99 from July 10 to July 16. Prosecco's not typically my thing, but if an elegant, frothy, orchard-fruited fizz is yours, get in the queue. Happy hunting. • Read more reviews and recipes from our food and wine experts 11 per cent, Aldi, £4.15Jolly, non-vintage, bargain buy Central Valley merlot, topped up with a dollop of tintorera and dash of syrah with lashings of soft, green, plummy fruit. It makes a handy, lighter summer red, perfect with pasta and pizza. 11 per cent, Aldi, £4.85 Sauvignon is our most popular white wine by far and this summer's bargain-basement gem is a humble vin de France. Its gentle, citrussy zest, with a dab of sweetness, is the perfect picnic white and — at this price — a steal. 11 per cent, Lidl, £4.99 A cheap-as-chips, buttercup gold Aussie, bursting with the sort of light but lively, buttered glazed pineapple fruit that chardonnay fans can never get enough of. Lidl's New World offerings don't always hit the spot but this one most certainly does. 11 per cent, Aldi, £7.99, down to £4.99 from Jul 10-16 Prosecco's not my thing but if it's yours, queue up at Aldi for what's likely to be a sell-out stampede. Predominantly made from the glera grape and sweeter than most, what you get is an elegant, frothy, orchard-fruited mouthful. 11 per cent, Tesco, £6, down to £5 from Jul 15Easily the best of the non-vintage Isla Negra reds and from the same Chilean stable as Cono Sur. Bursting with ripe, smoky, blackcurranty fruit, plus a dab of chocolate on the finish, it's equally at home with red meat or veggie fare. Given away for a fiver. 12 per cent, Asda, £6.24, down to £5.50 from Jul 3-30A delicious, smoky, vanilla pod-scented rioja, with a fine, tangy finish that makes it the white wine to serve with everything from punchy summer salads to burnt barbecued fare. Despite the topsy-turvy 2024 vintage, Espartero is all easy-drinking, bright, vibrant, juicy fruit. 10.5 per cent, Booths, £6, or 2 for £5.50 each Jul 2-29Don't turn your nose up at non-vintage whites; Isla Negra's bosky sauvignon, zhuzhed up with grapey pedro jimenez, makes a refreshing, lower alcohol summer sip. With masses of green pepper and lemongrass pizzazz, it's summer in a glass. 12 per cent, Lidl, £5.79Pinot grigio is as popular as ever. The rub, though, is to find one, especially at this price, that has any flavour at all. Luckily Lidl have come to the rescue with this greeny-white, perky, lemon zest and celery salt gem from pinot grigio vines grown close to Lake Garda in the Veneto. 10.5 per cent, Co-op, £5.80A mouthwatering, light, zesty, budget summer garden party soave that, surprisingly, is a better buy than the Co-op's £8-plus version. Made exclusively from the garganega grape, this vegan-friendly soave has oodles of unoaked, crisp, zingy, lemony fruit. 11 per cent, Asda, £5.98, down from £6.48 until Jul 30Chile's best bargain basement pinot noir continues to punch well above its weight with delicious, beefy, rustic, mocha fruit. Given that this burgundy-style red is more than £8 elsewhere, my advice is to stock up now. 14 per cent, Asda, £5.98, down from £6.48 Once upon a time cheap pinotage was vile but new-era winemaking, including scrubbing dirty cellars and grubbing up virused vines, has cleaned up the grape's act and reputation. Hence this spot on, bright, coastal pinotage, with oodles of sweetly spiced black cherry charm. 11 per cent, Asda, £5.98, down from £6.24 until Jul 2Hurry along to Asda to scoop up this delightful and delightfully cheap viognier that's £2 more elsewhere. With less alcohol than previous vintages, this exotic, honeysuckle and spiced yellow peach-laden Chilean makes the perfect summer party white. 14 per cent, Aldi, £5.99Southeast European wines go from strength to strength and this unusual red from North Macedonia is made exclusively from the kratosija grape, better known as zinfandel. Crammed with sweet yet tangy, squishy red and black fruit, it's a summer must-try. 12.5 per cent, Aldi, £5.99Kiwi 'savvy' is our favourite white wine by a country mile and as usual Aldi's Freeman's Bay is the cheapest and best. A clever combo of ripe, zingy gooseberry with lashings of lush passion fruit pizzazz, this is an Aldi core line so there should be enough to go around. 13 per cent, Aldi, £5.99Juicy, fruity, easy-swigging Languedoc merlot with masses of plump, red berry fruit — tailor-made for chilling on sunny days, or enjoyed at room temperature on cold days. With a tad more alcohol than lots of cheap reds, it's the bottle to drink with burnt barbecued fare. 11.5 per cent, Lidl, £5.99Pecorino — the wine, not the cheese — is a handy Italian summer aperitif white made from an ancient grape grown halfway down the Adriatic coast in Abruzzo. Pale in hue but with wonderfully elegant, floral, herby, lemon blossom scents, it's a brilliant sub-£6 buy. 13 per cent, Tesco, £6Portugal produces brilliant value-for-money reds, including new-wave bottles like this one. It's mostly syrah and cabernet sauvignon, beefed up with a dollop of alicante bouschet and touriga nacional, making for a tasty, red plum jam-luscious, crowd pleaser. Vegan-friendly. 13 per cent, Tesco, £6A classic Aussie duo, with shiraz filling out cabernet sauvignon's hollow middle. It's a machine harvested, lush bramble-fruited, fat, hearty, non-vintage red with a dusting of French and American oak. Barbecued burgers, anyone? 13.5 per cent, Asda, £6.17Cariñena in northern Spain, a good hop southeast of Rioja, is home to some terrific value-for-money reds just like this impressive bright crimson purple garnacha. Overflowing with bold, ripe, cassis and blackberry fruit, it gives you a lot of bang for your buck. 8.5 per cent, Morrisons, £6.25, down from £7.25 until Jul 15It's hard to keep your alcohol content down in summer, but Casillero del Diablo's Belight hits the spot. Made from cinsault, carménère and sauvignon blanc, what you get is lots of ripe, peachy, fruit that will go down well at picnics and parties. • The best picnic wines to drink alfresco 13 per cent, Tesco, £6.25Tesco is on a roll, with good wines to be had from top to bottom including this impressive red rioja made exclusively from the tempranillo grape. Unoaked and harvested at night to hang onto every ounce of fruit, it's a delicious, bright, zesty, red-cherry mouthful. 13.5 per cent, Asda, £6.48Uber-popular malbec remains our No 1 red wine choice and this 2022 Mendoza edition has been pumped up with a helpful 15 per cent dab of classy, barrel-matured Uco Valley malbec. What you get is a deliciously dark-hearted blueberry and black chocolate wallop. 13 per cent, Lidl, £6.49Puglia's primitivo grape, one and the same as California's zinfandel, makes a brilliant barbecue bottle, with masses of savoury, strawberry-ripe fruit, tailor made for charred meat. Lidl sells lots of different primitivos so make certain you nab the right bottle. 11 per cent, Marks & Spencer, £6.50 Castile-La Mancha's workhorse airen grape may not be the most exciting but Bodegas del Saz's unoaked, cool-fermented 2024 gets my summer thumbs-up. Brimming with bright, ripe, easy-drinking yellow peach fruit, this screw-top white is perfect for picnics. • The best organic wines to buy now 11 per cent, Tesco, £6.50, down from £7.75, Jul 15-Aug 11It's worth waiting a fortnight to nab this refreshing Spaniard at £6.50. Made from the parellada grape and garnacha blanco, and with uncomplicated verdant fruit plus a dash of grapefruit on the finish, it's the sort of simple white we should all have in the fridge. 11 per cent, Marks & Spencer, £6.50Hats off to Marks & Spencer's buyers for rooting out this refreshing, fruity yet delicate pink from clever Cantine Settesoli in Sicily, which makes rafts of good varietal wines at keen prices. Mostly peppery syrah, with a dash of hearty nerello mascalese, it's a surprisingly light, floral charmer. 11 per cent, Tesco, £6.75, down from £7.75 until Jul 20 Rueda, a good hop northwest of Madrid, is a brilliant source of tasty, sauvignon blanc-esque Spanish whites, and this one from Pagos del Rey is a favourite. Harvested at dawn to hang onto every ounce of fruit, this organic and vegan-friendly 2024 bursts with zesty, lime peel style. 11.5 per cent, Tesco, £6.75, down from £7.50, Jul 15-Aug 11 A mouthwateringly summery, glorious Gascon white, roughly equal parts of the colombard and gros manseng grapes. Overflowing with juicy, citrus and pepped up with a tangy pink grapefruit finish, enjoy this wine as a sparky aperitif or with a seafood starter. 11 per cent, Asda, £6.97 Asda's Wine Atlas range highlights unusual grapes, regions and wine styles. None could fit the bill more neatly than the Cantina di Soave's tank-method pop. Made from garganega grapes grown around Lake Garda, it's a brilliant value-for-money sparkler with easy-swigging, light, floral stone fruit. 14.5 per cent, Asda, £6.98Turbo-charged, delightfully cheap zin from the fruit bowl of America, with masses of seductive, floral, bramble and violet fruit. Exceptional is the new name for Asda's better own-label wines and this unoaked malbec and petit verdot-enhanced zin really is a cracker. 13 per cent, Lidl, £6.99Not every Lidl Italian hits the spot but this bold, oaky, potpourri-scented charmer certainly does. From one of the finest Tuscan vintages yet, even at this humble chianti riserva level, it's a humdinger — and a keenly priced one at that. 13 per cent, Lidl, £6.99 Every bit as good as the 2023 vintage and, frankly, Lidl's best sub-£7 French white. With fuller bodied, spicy, citrus blossom and stone fruit charm, this southern rhône white, made from viognier, roussanne and marsanne, is a summer essential. 12 per cent, Sainsbury's, £7, down from £8 until Jul 1Tasty cabernet franc-based pinks like this one are wonderfully summery and perfect to crack open with Ottolenghi-inspired summer fare. Atlantique's pretty orangey-pink hue leads onto a gutsy, redcurranty palate, with a fine salty spin on the finish. 10 per cent, Morrisons, £7, down from £8.25 until Jul 15 Spritzy vinho verdes — especially those made from the aromatic loureiro grape — make handy summer fridge-door whites. Serve this light but lively, soft, floral, lemony sip as a summer aperitif or with simple white meat and fish dishes. 11.5 per cent, Tesco, £7, down from £8 until Jul 14 A keen price for one of the best Codorniu cavas on a supermarket shelf this summer. It's made with a dab more macabeo and xarelo than parellada, but no matter — this vegan-approved bubbly from the oldest family business in Spain is all apple blossom and bouncy citrus charm. • The best cava to buy now — including a £5.79 Aldi bottle 11 per cent, Tesco, £7, down from £8 until Jul 14 Love sancerre but hate the £25 price tag? Lap up this delicious sparky sauvignon blanc instead from further west along the Loire river in Touraine. Hand-picked, unoaked and cool fermented, it's brimming with grassy, gooseberry and nettle fruit that's tailor-made for fish and seafood. 12.5 per cent, Asda, £7.47Find Argentinian malbec too brutish? Take a trip to the malbec grape's first home deep in southwest France at Cahors. With lighter fruit and less alcohol, Asda's Exceptional has some of the grape's distinctive rustic, smoky style but with a delicious, minty, red fruit spin of its own. 14 per cent, Aldi, £7.49Tasty, two-thirds grenache to one-third syrah Côtes du Rhône Villages is a good step up from basic red rhône and worth paying a tad extra for. Brimming with bright, tangy, red plum skin and dried strawberry fruit, it shows just what can be done in a hot, dry year by a good producer. 12.5 per cent, Asda, £7.54 The Midi has taken a leaf out of the Rhône's book with this delightful roussanne, clairette, grenache, viognier and marsanne mix. Brimming with exotic floral scents and baked quince and yellow peach oomph, it's just the ticket with punchy barbecue fare. 11 per cent, Co-op, £8.65, down to £7.65 from Jul 16-Aug 12Australia makes lots of great pinot noir but this oak-chipped, lower-alcohol edition shows how good the grape can be under £8. With sensual, soft, floral fruit leading onto an equally delicate, gamey palate, plus a dusting of oak, it's catnip for pinot noir drinkers. 12 per cent, £7.95The good old Wine Society's Duo series wines are easy-glugging, great value for money bottles and this year's Plages is a night-harvested mostly cinsault and grenache combo plus a splash of syrah. This exuberant pink's dry, herby fruit is just the ticket with seafood. 12.5 per cent, Aldi, £7.99German pinot noir is increasingly popping up on supermarket shelves and this authentic, garnet red '23 from a good source, the Pfalz, is the mesmerising bottle to buy this summer. With light, but lively, herby fruit, plus a tickle of spice on the finish, it gets my thumbs up. 13.5 per cent, Lidl, £7.99South Australia's Barossa Valley is home to some gorgeous, creamy, shiraz tub-thumpers and this is one of them. Crammed with rollicking, bold, earthy, blackberry and black raspberry fruit, it's the sort of full-flavoured and full-bodied red that big food needs. 13.5 per cent, Aldi £7.99Aldi has long championed Portugal's characterful reds from the Douro and elsewhere. The latest vintage of this reserva is a terrific combo of all three Douro port grapes and delivers vanilla pod scents and layer after layer of deep, dark, oaky fruit. 12.5 per cent, Sainsbury's, £8, down from £9 until Jul 1 The wizard Midi winemaker Laurent Miquel creates wonderfully seductive viognier and this is one of them. Machine harvested at night to enhance the fruit, this unoaked, golden white bursts with orange blossom, nectarine and hawthorn verve. 13 per cent, Waitrose, £11, down to £8 from Jul 2-29A new wave, young, tangy, unoaked, bright crimson purple claret from the lesser Entre deux Mers region that, at just £8, is a cut-price steal. What you get is a wonderfully aromatic bouquet reminiscent of violets, pepped up with masses of plummy merlot and curranty cabernet fruit. 11.5 per cent, Marks & Spencer, £8Bulgaria is coming back, care of Domaine Boyar and the indigenous dimyat grape, topped up here with chardonnay. Unoaked but with the sort of unusual, exotic, floral spice you might expect, it's the bottle to serve to guests who have been everywhere and tasted everything. 12.5 per cent, Waitrose, £8, down from £11 until Jul 1A restrained yet refreshing new-era white rhône — a grenache-dominant blend but with a dollop of clairette, viognier, roussanne and bourboulenc in the mix too. It's all white flowers and gentle peach and pear fruit, plus sufficient backbone and body to copy with punchy summer salads. 12.5 per cent, Marks & Spencer, £8Sicily's Cantine Settesoli does a terrific job getting the best from all manner of this hot, arid island's grapes, including this elegant white made exclusively from cataratto. Unoaked and with delicious light, leafy, floral, aniseed-spiked fruit, it's an easy-drinking summer crowd-pleaser. 11.5 per cent, Marks & Spencer, £8Hand-picked corvina and rondinella grapes, with a dab of molinara, grown on hilly slopes overlooking Lake Garda, make for an arresting rosé. Chiaretto pinks have that hint of bitterness so beloved by the Italians, but Fioritura's zesty, herby palate leads onto a sweet candied peel finish. 13 per cent, Waitrose, £8, down from £10 until Jul 1I've had my eye on this limestone soil-enriched Languedoc for a while now, a wine made from 40-year-old vines and given a blast of toasty French oak. What you get is a gorgeous, creamy, nutty, sweetly spiced mouthful that's a whizz with curried chicken or a spicy salmon dish.