OLLY SMITH unveils its Christmas corks that you can get your hands on – for less than a dozen!

Generosity is the watchword when it comes to a festive drink. But in these cash-strapped times, you don’t need to spend a fortune to enjoy good wine – as the selection of fabulous Christmas corks here shows.

From bold, spicy reds well above their weight to elegant bubbles foaming with flavor – at a fraction of the cost of a vintage champagne – these supermarket purchases won’t cost you more than a dime and most are priced significantly lower than that.

The trick to finding a festive bargain is to pick a superior bottle from a lesser-known region or winemaker.

This allows your money to go a lot further, but without you having to compromise on taste.

There are red wines to perfectly accompany your roast turkey and its trimmings, or whites to accompany a festive fish dish, and dessert wine and port to make your figgy pudding or Stilton sing.

There are even a few budget beer options and champagne which, at just under £15, is too good to miss. With awards like these, we can all raise our glass to a waterfall of joy this year. Cheers

Roaring Reds

Burdizzo Chianti Riserva 2019 (12.5%) £7 Asda

The real deal for a punchy red above its price, with aromas and flavors ranging from cherry blossom to tea. A great party red to accompany bites.

2019 Zinfandel Lodi Definition (14%), £8.99 Mix Six Majestic

Lush and fruity, this full throttle red can handle the birdie plus all the accompaniments from stuffing to cranberry sauce. Pour yourself a tall glass and relax!

Finest Valle de Colchagua Merlot 2020 (14.5%) £8 Tesco

Bargain alert! This bold, spicy red with fruit darker than a pellet in a coal mine is a terrific winter warmer and your number one candidate for beef dishes this holiday season.

Les Hauts de Saint Martin Saint Chinian 2020 (13.5%), £9 Coop

Splendid sumptuous red flavored with muscles. It reminds me of a good Châteauneuf-du-Pape without the exorbitant price. Colossal value for money this Christmas and incredible with a roast.

Lisbon Bonita 2020 (13.5%) £10 M&S

Your insider tip for value for money thanks to lesser-known varietals such as Caladoc, Castelão and Touriga Franca, which are blended to create a brilliantly balanced red from vineyards around sunny Lisbon. Spicy, full and elegant.

Fortified Fab

Dessert wine: Brown Brothers Orange Muscat and Flora 2022 (8%, 37.5cl) £8.50 Tesco

Imagine a sweet tangerine dipped in sorbet and you’re close to the tangy fruitiness of this syrupy wine. I love it served over ice, but try it on its own in small glasses for a sweet treat this Christmas.

Sherry: The Best Pedro Ximenez (17%, 37.5cl) £6.50 Morrisons

Serve this sweet and sticky wine chilled with your Christmas pudding. This sherry is an echo of sweet and sumptuous dried fruits in liquid form, and a wine that instantly spreads good mood!

Porto: Taylor’s First Estate Reserve Port (20%) £8.50 (available until 01/01), Asda

A gorgeous, sweet, luscious port like this is a Christmas staple with your Stilton — or try pouring it with a few squares of dark chocolate. Deep, rich and spicy, it resembles the fruity cousin of mulled wine.

Liqueur: Taste the Difference Spiced Ginger Biscuit Flavor Irish Cream Liqueur (15%, 700ml) £9 (on sale until 31/12) Sainsbury’s

Gorgeous for a festive drink, it’s a delicious, sumptuous treat, with generous creaminess and all the sweetness you could want.

Terrific fizz

Specially selected Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry DOCG (11%) €10.99 Aldi

The key words on the label here are “Extra Dry”, which actually means that this prosecco is a little fruitier and sweeter than one that says “Brut”. It’s also DOCG, which means it’s top quality prosecco. All that for less than ten pounds? Magnificent!

Taste the difference Pignoletto Vino Spumante Brut NV (11%) £9 Sainsbury’s

I can’t resist the waterfall this bubbly brings. A lovely alternative to prosecco from Italy, this Pignoletto is a crisp, pristine mousse that’s great fun for a party.

Specially Selected Crémant de Bordeaux Rosé (12.5%) €10.99 Aldi

A terrific crowd pleaser that reminds me of strawberries, with a light mist of icing sugar. A decent quality cheery pink bubbly for under ten pounds.

Sweet Asti Spumante DOCG 2021 (7%) €5.75 Tesco

It’s a frothy, exuberant Italian delight that has a similar scent to elderflower, with a bit of exotic lychee sorbet. Serve chilled from the fridge in white wine glasses. A treat with desserts this Christmas – even Christmas pud!

Star of Timberlay Crémant de Bordeaux Brut NV (12%) £10 M&S

A top-notch bubbly – with fruity vitality and sumptuous satiny bubbles – that reminds me of the fizz that costs twice as much.

FIZZ M&S Fizzero Rosé low alcohol (0.05%) £4.50 M&S and Ocado

Sparkling and fruity, this easy drinker gets the job done for the holidays when you put the sauce aside

wonderful whites

Soave Classico 2021 (12.5%) €7.99 Waitrose

This white has the flair of a tango-dancing pineapple and satsuma, sourced from 60-70 year old vines grown on volcanic Italian soil. Solid quality for the right price.

Ferdinand Mayr Exklusiv Grüner Veltliner 2021 (12.5%) €8.25 The Wine Society

What a stunner! Immense vitality, a tangerine dream of a wine with zesty freshness and the pristine appeal of a bright, frosty Alp. If you are a dry white wine lover, try this Austrian Grüner!

Paul Mas Clairette du Languedoc 2021, 12.5%, £8.50 Coop

Brimming with sinew and verve, it has a superb fleshy style wrapped in a crisp citrus attack and a saline finish. A real donut for Christmas prawns or other festive dishes based on shellfish.

Finest Vina del Rey Albariño 2021 (12.5%) €9.50 Tesco

A fruity and luminous dazzling from the northwest of Spain. Airy and chilled like a day at the beach, it’s sumptuously light and refreshing, just what you want with shellfish this Christmas.

Found Weissburgunder 2021 (12.5%) £9.50 M&S

Try this aromatic and silky gem from Germany. Puffed up with pear blossom aromas and full of meaty, fruity sensations, there’s a magical flavor with a bright zing. Wonderful!

…AND ABOUT THE ROSÉ

L’Escarpe Coteaux d’Aix Rosé 2017 (13%) €7 (free until 25/12) Morrisons

This is a chic rosé from the south of France to accompany shellfish or to sip as an aperitif this Christmas season. The bottle looks the part and the blend inside lives up to the mark – it’s clean, hearty and delectable. A bit of pink magic from Morrisons.

Ale and hearty

Two Tribes Dream Factory Pale Ale (4.4%, 330ml) £1.76 (available until 01/01) Waitrose. Hopped

brilliant beer that has a nice balance of tropical citrus flavors. Made in London, this pale ale is the very definition of modern brewing in all its glory.

Estrella Galicia 0.0% €10.00 (per case of 12 x 330 ml) Majestic

I buy it and drink it mid-week. It tastes super refreshing and served cold from the fridge, it always hits the mark.

PS two bargains for just over £10

Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos 2014 (9.5%) €14.99 Lidl

This orange-sweet Hungarian gem is perfect for serving cold with your Stilton this Christmas. The sweet contrasts beautifully with the saltiness of cheese and it is one of life’s greatest pleasures!

Champagne Carpentier Brut (12.5%) €14.99 Lidl

What a delicious wine! A terrific richness in round almonds is key to matching the full range of Christmas flavors, and it’s the best champagne I’ve tasted all year for under £15.