2 days ago
From spritzers to M&S' 1.5L wine pouches – the supermarket's hottest summer drinks & prices start from £2.50
Plus the best BBQ food, appetisers and picky bits!
SIP SIP HOORAY From spritzers to M&S' 1.5L wine pouches – the supermarket's hottest summer drinks & prices start from £2.50
HOT weather calls for refreshing drinks.
And whether you're hosting friends, popping over for a family BBQ, or fancy a cold tinnie in the park, there are lots of exciting new drinks you can pick up with your weekly shop.
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Sainsbury's Taste The Difference Orange Spritz was refreshing and light on a warm evening
Credit: RM
Say hello to spritzers
Searches for "Hugo spritz" have soared by 350% over the past week, and spritzers in general are fast becoming the hottest refreshment of the summer season.
Best served chilled, and over ice if you prefer, M&S' Elderflower & Mint Hugo Spritz was a refreshing and light white wine cocktail for just £2.50.
We also tried the Spritz Cans in Limoncello, Aperitivo, and Lychee Sake flavours, with the Aperitivo reminding us of Aperol Spritz.
Talking of the Italian classic, Sainsbury's had cleverly bottled orange and peach spritzes to enjoy over ice. Light in alcohol, they were refreshingly delicious, and at £6 each (on Nectar Price), you can't not pop them in your basket!
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If you're looking for a classic holiday drink, M&S is causing a stir with its new bottles of Lightly Sparkling Sangria.
Box
When hosting, the last thing you want to do is be running back and forth to the fridge where the wine is kept, or worse, offering warm rosé to your guests.
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M&S has reinvented the box wine into sophisticated 1.5L pouches
Credit: RM
Box wine used to be the answer, but was somewhat frowned upon; thankfully, M&S has the answer: 1.5L wine pouches.
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Sophisticated and convenient, the Coteaux Varois Rosé 1.5L Pouch and the Pinot Grigio Gargenega 1.5L Pouch not only look beautiful but taste sublime on a warm day. So much so, I was a little annoyed I had to share them!
With that in mind, and not being one to gatekeep a good rosé, if you're looking for a pale, crisp glass to enjoy alone, Fabulous tried and tested the best rosé bottles from across the supermarkets, and Asda's £12.97 Screaming Devil was awarded the coveted title of being Whispering Angel's dupe.
Wine colours of the rainbow
If you're thinking, 'been there, drank all the rosés, I want to try something new and different', what about orange or green wine?
Asda's £7.82 Gros Manseng Vin Orange is an interesting option; it smells deliciously of white peach and a touch of blossom, but tastes of citrus zest and a touch of ripe mango.
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What is orange wine?
Orange wine, also known as skin-contact wine, is a product of the close relationship - or Beau Rapport in French - between the juice and the skins.
Orange wine is a white wine made in the same way as a red, with the juice staying in close contact with the skins and seeds.
This gives the depth of flavour of a red, but with the refreshing qualities of a white wine, and results in a light golden appearance with amber highlights.
As for green wine, Sainsbury's £8.50 Atlantique Vinho Verde is a great choice, made from grapes from the west coast of Portugal. It's aromatic, light and elegant with hints of mineral alongside lime and apple fruit flavours.
What about a glass of cold red? The Hugo Mendes Pitau Clarete is described as an "exciting red" wine that "can be lightly chilled" to enjoy on a warm summer's evening. If the striking artistic label doesn't conjure up dinner party conversation, the colour will as it reminded us of Ribena. At £18.25, it is a little pricey, but one to buy for an evening with friends.
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The Hugo Mendes Pitau Clarete has a really fun label
If orange, green, or chilled red wines are out of your comfort zone, fear not, The Sun's wine expert has shared a list of the classic supermarket wines you need to try this summer.
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Don't forget the picky bits!
Hosting a sit-down meal and need appetisers?
Or perhaps you have a kids' party coming up, are off on a picnic, or are getting the BBQ out, the supermarkets are going head to head with seasonal food.
Tesco
From pork pies, to sausage or cheese rolls, and quiches, plump olives and coleslaw, Tesco's Finest range has you covered.
Don't forget! Napkins, cutlery, table covers - from strawberries, to bumble bees and daisies, Tesco has a range of fun items to decorate your space.
Waitrose
There's 3 for £12 and mix and match across the BBQ selection with bavette steaks and smash burgers on offer. As well as stand-out appetiser options like the No.1 Italian Grazing Platter that will instantly impress guests.
M&S
From topped and loaded dips, to sensational sharing bags of crisps and Marmite sausage rolls, Abigail Wilson tried the whole range and revealed the winners.
Asda
Hot weather calls for ice lollies; Twisters, Fruit Pastilles, Calippos and Rowntrees Fruit Push Ups are all on Rollback at Asda.
Pop open a Pressé
When I'm not sipping rosé but at a social gathering, I tend to stick to drinking water, and whilst it's hydrating, it's a little boring. So for anyone tee-total or just not in the mood for alcohol, I was really impressed with Asda's Pressés.
The Sparkling Raspberry Pressé has a hint of garden mint, whilst the Elderflower Pressé a hint of Sicilian lemon - both went down a treat amongst the crowd - and only £2.14 on Rollback.
Even when the sun doesn't shine, you can still be transported to hotter climes with a sip of Waitrose's £2.30 Piña Colada Mocktail - and the Mojito mocktail was just as good, especially considering there was no alcohol.
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The supermarket's have stepped up their drinks game for summer
Credit: RM
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After all those tasty drinks, it's dessert time, and the supermarkets are competing in 'who has the best gelato?'
From Tesco Finest Tiramisu Gelato - which has been given a near perfect five out of five stars online - to Aldi's Lemon Meringue flavour.
The Sun's consumer team also tried all the ice lollies and found the winner to be a 23p fruit split from Morrisons.
