If there's one thing guaranteed to lift the spirits at this time of year, it's the promise of a table laden with good food, great company and a glass of something delicious.

Yet with budgets tighter than ever, it's becoming increasingly tricky to find a bottle of wine that feels both special and affordable.

Supermarkets are fighting hard to keep the prices on wine aisles attractive but the rising cost pressures for wine producers are real.

But fear not, you don't need deep pockets to drink good wine if you know where to look.

As an expert wine writer and broadcaster, I've done the hard work for you, tasting more than 4,000 bottles from all the major retailers to uncork the supermarket stars that punch well above their weight.

Most retailers are giving hefty discounts to those who buy six bottles. Savings are better still for those with store loyalty cards. I've also unearthed plenty of wines that represent exceptional value for their individual price tag.

Whether you're looking for something to drink with traditional turkey for a big family gathering, a great wine to partner a veggie dish or some fizz to add sparkle to your party, there's a bottle – or several – whatever your budget. Happy Christmas!

TURKEY

When it comes to turkey – or chicken – with all the trimmings, the best wines in my opinion are textural whites and lighter reds, which work well slightly chilled.

Around £5 

Le Manoir du Baron Viognier, £5.14, Asda  

A soft peach and apricot-scented beauty that glides around a roast turkey with a weight and texture that complements the festive bird perfectly. One of the best bargains around.

Around £10

Beaujolais Nouveau, £7.47 mix six price £5.60), Asda  

If you prefer red but don't want anything too heavy, this affordable Beaujolais nouveau could be for you. It's all bright berries, violets and bounce without being too simple or too sweet.

Around £15

Cerasuolo di Vittoria by Santa Tresa, £15.50 (mix six price £11.63), Ocado 

STYLISH Sicilian red blend of Frappato and Nero d'Avola is a more savoury, gently grippy, cherry-and-spice wine that works wonders with cranberry sauce. It's worth bulk buying and adding to gift hampers to get the discount.

SPLASH OUT

Pierre Ponnelle Montagny 1er Cru, £24, Co-op

If you're after an upmarket white that feels tailor-made for the big Christmas bird, treat yourself to this Montagny. White Burgundy is expensive but this gently oaked, peach-scented version offers great value compared with other wines of its quality. It tastes like it should be twice the price, too.

BEEF

Bold wines with structure and swagger, as well as a juicy dollop of fruitiness, are needed for beef.

Around £5

Toro Loco Tempranillo Bobal, £5.29, Aldi

ONE of the most impressive budget reds I've tasted this year. It is all bright, berry fruit and soft spice but without the heavy-handedness that cheaper reds often display. You'll be tempted to open a second bottle.

Around £10

The Best Côtes du Rhône Villages Sablet,£9.75, Morrisons

This Côtes du Rhône is full of rich black fruit and has a wonderfully savoury warmth that feels as though it wraps around roast beef like a cosy festive scarf. It's a proper fine wine for under a tenner.

Around £15

Finca Lalande Organic Cabernet Franc, £10 (was £12), Waitrose

Refined, Argentinian red brings bright redcurrant, herbs and earthiness. Perfect for roast beef with Yorkshire puds. It combines Old World class with New World charm with a complexity that suggests a higher price tag.

SPLASH OUT

Taste the Difference Amarone, £22.50 (mix six price £16.88), Sainsbury's 

It's hard to beat this delicious Amarone for sheer decadence and value. The luxurious, velvety, chocolate-and-cherry richness makes it the perfect partner for a rib of beef, especially with a sticky cherry or plum sauce.

VEGGIE

Many festive vegetarian dishes lean towards herbs, pastry and creamy sauces, so to complement them you need wines with lift and freshness.

Around £5

Vista Castelli Trebbiano D'Abruzzo d'Abruzzo, £5.25, Tesco

Trebbiano is Italy's workhorse grape and often makes wines that are uninteresting, especially when this cheap. Not so here! This has real charm with gentle pear and almond notes alongside a slick of salt and crisp acidity.

Around £10

Beronia Rueda Verdejo, £8 (was £12), Waitrose

Verdejo from Rueda in Spain is one of the best all-rounder whites and this bottle is hard to beat. Think lime citrus, fennel and a lively, saline snap that cuts through winter tarts and dishes such as mushroom Wellington.

Around £15

Robert Oatley Signature Series Chardonnay, £13.75, Co-op 

White Burgundy lovers wanting something richer to pair with roasted squash or nut roasts should pick up this creamy Aussie beauty, which is full of ripe stone fruit and has a gentle vanilla lift. A stonking price for a fine wine.

SPLASH OUT

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc, £22 (was £26.50), Waitrose

If you want to impress with a well-known name, you can't go wrong with Cloudy Bay – the wine that started the New Zealand Sauvignon revolution. It's zesty and polished with a thirst-slaking, stony complexity guaranteed to make any veggie spread feel positively glamorous. Get another 5 per cent off when you buy any six wines, too.

FISH

The style of wine you'll need with fish depends on the kind of dish and how it is being cooked.

Around £5

Varzea Vinho Verde, £4.89, Lidl

Portuguese Vinho Verde tastes limey, spritzy and goes perfectly with lighter fish and seafood dishes such as prawns or smoked salmon. A brilliant and inexpensive offering.

Around £10

Viña Pomal White Rioja 2023, £11 (mix six price £10), Majestic

For something weightier, this white Rioja offers ripe pear, a touch of oak and enough body to flatter cod, haddock or even a Boxing Day fish pie.

Around £15

Yealands Reserve Pinot Gris, £12 (Clubcard mix six price £9), Tesco

If you're into upmarket, fuller-bodied styles of Pinot Gris from Alsace, you'll love this New Zealand version. Think fleshy melon and apricot with honeyed, poached pear. Superb with creamy, even mildly curried sauces. A French version would easily be double the price.

SPLASH OUT

Laurent Delaunay Les Grappillages Chablis, £18 (More card price £14), Morrisons

This offers that clean, flinty freshness Chablis lovers adore. A smart buy for a premium wine style which would normally be a lot more expensive. A guaranteed hit with any seafood centrepiece.

GAME

Pheasant, duck and venison all call for deep, flavoursome wines with earthy charisma.

Around £5

Estevez Chilean Merlot, £4.15, Aldi

Plummy and generous, this is an ideal bottle if you're on the lookout for an inexpensive partner for game.

Around £10

Ramon Bilbao Crianza Rioja, £11.25 (Clubcard mix six price £8.43), Tesco

EXTREMELY well-priced to begin with at just over a tenner, but a real bargain with the Clubcard offer. With cherry, vanilla and spice notes, it's a classic match for pheasant or duck breast.

Around £15

Symington Florao Portuguese Red, £15.50 (mix six price £11.63), Ocado

This gorgeous, brooding Portuguese red with dark berry fruit and velvety tannins feels built for wintery game dishes. A serious tasting, premium red that punches well above its price tag, as so many Portuguese wines often do. Fine Claret alternative.

SPLASH OUT

Tenuta Casenuove Chianti Classico, £22.50 (mix six price £12.50), Majestic

If you're looking to push the boat out, take a look at this multi-buy discount. With sour cherry, leather and fresh herbs, this wine is a sensational pairing with venison and tastes far more expensive than its offer price suggests.

HAM

The perfect wine pairings for ham are bolder styles of rosé or fruity, light-to-medium bodied reds.

Around £5

Corte Alle Mura Chianti, £5.69, Lidl

Ridiculously inexpensive Chianti over-delivers on flavour with its tangy, sour cherry and aromatic, cinnamon-like notes that will pick up on the festive flavours in the ham.

Around £10

Vinca Organic Sicilian Red, £9 (Clubcard mix six price £6.75), Tesco

This medium-bodied Sicilian is an ideal match. A blend of Nero d'avola and Syrah, think earthy, red plum and raspberry with a little grippiness. Great if you've gone for a sticky, five-spice glaze.

Around £15

Arbousset Tavel Rosé, £13, Tesco

Tavel is a premium French appellation that's famous for darker, savoury rosés. Rare to find them at the supermarket – and at this price. A refreshing option to cleanse the palate from the more intense glazes with its wild strawberry and liquorice-scented tones.

SPLASH OUT

Rock Angel by Whispering Angel, £23.50 (was £27.50), Waitrose 

I swear by upmarket rosé as it goes with everything. This packs a flavour punch with its red berry notes and chalky texture. It also picks up on the juiciness of ham.

 FANCY SOMETHING SWEETER?

Sweet and fortified wines come into their own at this time of year, whether you're sneaking a sip with a handful of Christmas chocolate or serving them alongside a show-stopping pudding. Here is my pick of the best value bottles.

PORT

Cockburn's Special Reserve Port, £11.50 (was £15), Morrisons 

Port comes in all colours and moods from inky ruby reds to mellow tawnies, crisp whites and even rosé. Cockburn's sets the benchmark for brilliant Port at every level and this

Special Reserve drinks like something twice the price, even before the discount. Expect ripe red and black berries, a whiff of violet and a splash of juicy, spirity damson.

Serve: Slightly chilled with anything chocolate or a classic match for Stilton.

MADEIRA

Henriques & Henriques Full Rich Madeira, £12.50, Waitrose

Named after the Portuguese island where it's made, Madeira is a fortified wine that deserves enormous appreciation, especially given the time and craftsmanship involved and the sheer value it offers. This bottle represents exceptional value from a premium brand and tastes like something twice the price. It sits at the top of the sweetness scale, full of dried-fruit and nutty notes, yet lifted by razor-sharp acidity that keeps everything fresh.

Serve: The ultimate partner for mince pies and figgy pudding (you could even drizzle it over the top).

DESSERT WINES

Tesco Finest Sauternes, half bottle, £12, Tesco   

This French sweet wine, a luscious blend of Sauvignon and Sémillon, usually comes with a hefty price tag. But Tesco has sourced a delicious example that feels premium without blowing the budget. Think honey, citrus, toasted almond and a hint of candied orange peel.

Serve: Chilled with salty blue cheese. It is equally lovely with fruity puds or anything that calls for a refreshing zip to cut through the sweetness.

Brown Brothers Orange Muscat & Flora, half bottle, £8.75, Tesco 

IF you fancy something lighter than the other sweet tipples (and more wallet-

friendly than Tokaji) then this prettily perfumed Australian white is a delight. Made from Orange Muscat with a splash of the rare Flora grape, it is elegant, gently sweet and only 9.5 per cent ABV, so feels less heavy and syrupy than most.

Serve: Well-chilled with fruit tarts, meringues or a bit of Gorgonzola Dolce.

Fantastic fizz that won't cost you a fortune

Some of the best bargains right now are on bottles of bubbles. Supermarkets offer a huge range of fizz of all styles, plus great value own-label champagnes – and big money off top brands – which is great news for us all. There's excellent quality to be found whether you're seeking affordable bottles for a large gathering, a celebratory fizz for a special meal or creating cocktails. All the bottles I've chosen offer cracking value. So hurry, they won't be around for long. 

Party all-rounders 

Fiari Ribolla Gialla,£7 (was £8), Co-op

A gorgeous Italian fizz made with the lesser-known Ribolla Gialla grape. It is crisp and dry with notes of elegant white flowers, pear and a moreish, salty tang. A more interesting alternative to Prosecco. The bottle, complete with glittery label, looks the part, too.

Crémant de Loire Brut Rosé NV, £8.99, Lidl

Lidl has long been a great spot for value, Loire Crémants. This well-priced, perky pink mixes crunchy raspberry and cherry notes with a thirst-slaking, mineral backbone. It's delicate enough to sip alone or to have with light canapés.

Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut, £15.49, Aldi

This bargain Champagne often beats the big brands in taste tests. With its biscuity notes and rich, golden colour, this is the real deal at an affordable price when only Champagne will do. It's versatile with food, too.

Special dinners

Specially Selected Méthode Cap Classique, £7.49 (was £9.99), Aldi

Food-friendly South African is surprisingly (and deliciously) serious for its price tag, which got just much lower! Made like Champagne and with the same grapes, it's rich, golden and savoury. Great with roast chicken or battered foods.

Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée NV Champagne, £39 (was £54), Co-op

LP's posh non-vintage fizz is one of the classiest, most elegant Champagnes with its creamy mousse and subtle floral, brioche notes. Well worth splashing out on and Co-op just made that easier to do by knocking £15 off a bottle. Grab it while you can.

Pommery Rose Brut Champagne NV, £40 (was £52), Waitrose

If you are looking for a big brand rosé Champagne, Pommery's pink is stunning. Creamy and complex with notes of dried rose, cranberry and red apple, it's exceptional at the offer price. If you buy another five bottles of anything, you'll get another 25 per cent off, too.

Sparkling Cocktails

Finca Miguel Cava Brut, £7.50, M&S

There's no point spending a fortune if you're going to mix wine into cocktails. This refreshing, Spanish sipper brings all the classic, savoury Cava flavours and won't add too much sweetness. Perfect with cassis in a Kir Royale.

Specially Selected Crémant de Loire, £6.69 (was £8.99), Aldi

Light, bright and easy drinking, this refreshing fizz makes the perfect canvas for more complex sparkling wine cocktails, such as a French 75. At this price, you can be generous with it, too.  

Allini Pinot Grigio Blush Spumante, £5.99, Lidl

This simpler, sweeter – and more affordable – Italian pink is crying out for a splash of raspberry purée to make a Raspberry Bellini. If you use fresh raspberries, it's one of your five-a-day, too!

Perfect with Puds

Lucotto Moscato Spumante Rosé, £5.98 (mix six price £4.49), Asda

Desserts need wine that's as sweet or sweeter than them, otherwise the wine can taste metallic or the food bitter – and a sparkling vino can be incredibly refreshing. This one is light and frothy with notes of lemon, grape and rose. Ideal for anything delicate and sugary, such as pavlova.

Sainsbury's Demi Sec Champagne, Non Vintage, £24, Sainsbury's

People forget about demi-sec when pairing wine to food but it makes a great match for richer and sweeter things. This will love dishes such as creme brulée and macarons.

Nyetimber 'Cuvée Chérie' Demi-Sec, Sussex, £30 (mix six price, was £42), Majestic

This brand put English wine on the map and this off-dry sparkling is so well done it won't seem like a 'sweet' wine but rather deliciously fruity. It will stand up to lighter, sugary treats such as pavlova and raspberry tart.