5 grocery-store wines that punch above their price

You don’t need a fancy wine shop or a big budget to drink really well. Some of my favourite pours for a casual night in come straight off the grocery-store shelf — you just have to know which bottles are quietly overachieving.

A few I reach for again and again: a cool-climate Pinot Noir, light and bright and endlessly food-friendly; a dry Portuguese red from the Douro, big flavour and a small price tag; a crisp Grüner Veltliner that makes snacks and salads sing; an unoaked Chardonnay from a value region when you want fresh rather than buttery; and a good Crémant or Cava for celebratory fizz without the Champagne price.

The trick was never spending more. It’s tasting attentively, sharing the bottle, and paying attention to what you actually like. Bring one of these to your next tasting and I promise no one will guess what it cost.