I tested hidden gem supermarket wines all under £6… best buy was buttery Chardonnay that tasted like a pricey vintage

CHOOSING the house wine isn’t only a cost-cutter when you are going out.

You can save by ­selecting a bottle of maison vino at the supermarket, too.

Just like restaurants and pubs, many stores have their own in-house tipples on the shelves that generally offer excellent value for money compared to a lot of the ­bigger names or brands.

But with so many available, how do you know which are the great hidden gems worth throwing in your trolley?

Whether they are quietly made by big vineyards for own-label retailer ranges, or privately ­produced for the big stores, here wine expert ­Helena Nicklin selects some great ­supermarket house plonks, all for £6 or less, and rates each out of five for taste and value.

House Soave 11% abv, £4.85, Sainsbury’s – 3/5

SUPERMARKET wine really can save you a lot of money compared to comparable plonk, with smarter labels found in the same aisles.

This Sainsbury’s stalwart has been around a long time because it pours a reliably decent drop.

Sainsbury’s “house”; range offers tipples of all colours, mostly for a competitive £6 and under, and this choice is a very sippable staple.

Crisp and dry with subtle nutty notes, its body feels lighter with its recently ­lowered ABV, but it still does the job if you’re after a glass of something fresh.

A house plonk for ­peanuts!

At under a fiver, you could pay more for snacks you’ll scoff with it, so you can’t really argue.

Pinot grigio 10.5% abv, £4.85, Morrisons – 3/5

MORRISONS’ house wine offerings range from under a fiver to some far pricier plonks.

But at the more affordable end of its own-label range of bottles, there’s not much to dislike about this pinot grigio, which is a brilliant grape for making expensive, neutral white wines.

This Italian vino is no exception and, although it’s 10.5%, it does well at the lighter abv, showing fresh, super-dry notes of pear with a splash of almond.

Lovely with a nice salad in the summer and the labelling looks fresh and modern, too.

It’s a decent house drop at this price point.

Tastes best if you drink it nice and cold.

Estevez Chilean Merlot 11% abv, £4.15, Aldi – 5/5

AS well as their more premium own-brand Specially Selected range, Aldi’s wine buyers also work with producers such as this one to offer some super bottles that you can’t buy elsewhere.

There’s been a big change for UK wine recently, with those over 11% abv incurring hefty duty rises.

This has made once-affordable wines more costly.

To keep prices low, some of the alcohol is being replaced with sugar in many cases.

Some wines taste better for it, but others are awful.

This budget red may have had the less-booze, more-sugar treatment, but it’s delicious.

A black-currant-scented winner at a great price.

Round & Plummy Red – 10.5% abv, £5.75, M&S – 4/5

HATS off to M&S for making a properly affordable range of wines that taste good.

In fact, most of the bottles you’ll see on their shelves are their own ranges.

And within those you’ll find ­tipples at different price points, including the most affordable Classics and Expressions collections.

This entry-level Chilean red is another example of a New World wine that has recently seen its abv come down to keep it cheaper on the shelves.

It’s now even richer and plummier than before, thanks to an extra spoonful of sugar.

Still, it’s a balanced, big and ballsy pick.

And, most importantly, it’s also great value.

Casa Mana Chardonnay 11% abv, £3.99, Tesco – 3/5

TESCO has a massive selection of house wines bearing the retailer’s name in store, making them easy to spot.

The supermarket introduced its Casa Mana range a few years ago, with lots of well-priced, chuck-in-your- trolley choices.

With many regularly on ­special offer with a Clubcard, too, they are pretty good grapes.

The best of the bunch, in my ­opinion, is this gutsy Spanish Chardonnay with its rustic peach and melon flavours.

It’s a reliable drop for drinking, cooking or even mixing up a spritzer.

It could be a tad fresher, but I’m not going to argue at £4.

You’d pay far more than that for a glass at the pub.

Cimarosa Chardonnay 11% abv, £4.79, Lidl – 5/5

LIDL’S house wines are not just the ones labelled under the store’s own pricier Deluxe range.

You’ll find a selection of other sips that are exclusive to the retailer – and the Cimarosa brand falls into this category.

It’s a name to look for when doing the shop, and it’s a top seller for a reason – it’s decent and very affordable.

This buttery Aussie ­Chardonnay packs a punch for the price without being synthetic.

There are also some pretty classy, savoury oak notes there, too.

Low-cost bottles don’t have to look cheap, and this is a great example of a fancy label that ­suggests far more luxurious grapes than the price.

Great stuff.

Nice Drop Tempranillo 11% abv, £4.11, Asda – 3/5

ASDA’S Nice Drop house wines are only available in store – and here’s one that does what it says on the bottle.

A nice drop is exactly what you’ll get in your glass.

This bargain red is made with the same grape as the far more expensive Rioja, but this own-brand Spanish sipper is still packed with notes of earthy strawberry and spice.

Possibly a tad rustic, but I think it’s much better with food, so try opening it when you are having cold meats or a beef steak and you’re golden.

It’s definitely one for summer ­barbecues.

And it’s also great for adding a dash to your spag bol sauce if there’s any left in the bottle.

Fairtrade Colombard 12% abv, £5.65, Co-op – 4/5

CO-OP has a decent, well-priced ­selection of own-brand wines that are great for grabbing when you nip in to pick up your milk.

The store is also a great supporter of Fairtrade vino and the profits from my South African pick go towards several social projects in this country supporting pre-school children and the elderly, which is something to applaud.

This refreshing white is good glugging, too – easy and ripe, with notes of honeydew melon and zesty citrus.

Serve well chilled and it’s enjoyable alone – or sip as an accompaniment to white fish or roast chicken.

A perfect weeknight bottle that won’t break the bank.