Flavour Spend: 'My trick to help you beat the Rachel Reeves' new tax on bottles of wine'

And you will need something to drink, and again, cost is important, but so is flavour and value for money.

Now that duty is charged on the alcoholic strength of a wine, and VAT is added on top you will need a calculator to work out exactly what proportion of the cost of your wine is going directly to the Chancellor.

So here is a game. Try to make sure that you get more from each bottle than the Government, while keeping your overall spend at a tenner or less.

Here are some of the best new additions and new vintage wines from the latest tastings and, to save you doing the sums, alongside each one is the total tax take that goes to the Government, as well as the amount of money actually spent on the bottle of wine.

I have called this the Flavour Spend. Each one of these wines has a greater spend on the wine than the Chancellor scoops up in tax, which makes them taste even better.

White Wines

Koha Sauvignon Blanc 2025, Marlborough, New Zealand, Marks and Spencer £7.50: Only 6% alcohol which is achieved by spinning part of the wine so fast that the alcohol comes off like separating cream from milk. And the rest of the wine holds all the crunchy, nettle and passionfruit flavours.

The Tax Take is low on this at just £2.44, while the Flavour Spend is a magnificent £5.06.

The Best Assyrtiko 2025, Naoussa, Greece, Morrisons down from £10.50 to £9 with a More Card until June 23: A delicious summer sunshine wine with lime-zest, a hint of creamy peach and a definite sea-pebble crunch on the finish. A great-tasting aperitif, and fabulous with grilled fish. Tax Take £4.37, Flavour Spend £4.63.

Finest Terre di Monteforte Pinot Grigio 2025, Veneto, Italy, Tesco £9.25: A Pinot Grigio from high altitude vineyards near the Dolomites. Great flavours of ripe pears, crunchy apple and citrus. Tax Take £4.41, Flavour Spend £4.84.

Loved and Found Carricante 2025, Sicily, Waitrose £9.50: Local Sicilian grape Carricante makes this wine full of fresh citrus fruit with a fine, elegant structure and a crunchy minerally note. Just 12% alcohol, so Tax Take is £4.34, Flavour Spend is £5.16.

Ormarine Villemarin Picpoul de Pinet 2025, Languedoc, France, Majestic £9.50 on a mix six deal: There are many Picpouls in the shelves, but this one consistently wins awards for its bright citrus fruit and a minerally crunchy finish as well as the winery’s approach to sustainable grape growing and the environment. Tax Take £4.33, Flavour Spend £5.17.

Rosé Wines

Bijou Terre de Providence Rosé 2025, Languedoc, France, Co-op £9.25: Deceptively pale and delicate in colour but its Cinsault and Grenache grapes give delicious, crushed raspberry and strawberry fruit and a clean citrus finish. Tax Take £4.29, Flavour Spend £4.96.

Pink Flamingo Organic Camargue Rosé 2025, Languedoc-Roussillon, France Waitrose down from £12.50 to £9.35 until June 23: From vineyards located on the sandbanks between the Camargue and the sea, where their closest neighbours are wild flamingos on nearby wetlands.

Ungrafted vines, organic cultivation and real attention to detail gives rounded peachy flavours with food-friendly balance. Tax take £4.31, Flavour Spend £5.04.

Found Susumaniello Rosé 2025, Sicily, Italy, Marks and Spencer £10: A rare, ancient grape from the ‘heel’ of Italy, Susumaniello has a tongue-twister name, and a terrific taste of ripe red plums and cherries with a refreshing finish. Tax Take £4.41, Flavour Spend £5.59.

Studio by Miraval 2025, Perrin, Languedoc, France, Tesco down from £12.50 to £10 with a Clubcard until 15 June: Local grape Tibouren with Cinsault, Grenache and Rolle adds a distinctive edge to the aromas and texture of this wine. It has gorgeous redcurrant, raspberry and nectarine flavours. Tax Take £4.53. Flavour Spend £5.47.

Taste the Difference Côtes de Provence Rosé 2024, France, Sainsbury down from £11.75 to £10 until 9 June: From the Fortant co-operative which brings together 100 farmers in Provence to make a wine with creamy strawberry fruit and a clear citrus style. Tax Take £4.41, Flavour Spend £5.59.

Red Wines

The Best Chinon 2024, Loire, France, Morrisons down from £9.25 to £8.50 with a More Card until 23 June: Bags of raspberry and redcurrant fruit from 100% Cabernet Franc grapes, with silky, soft tannins and top notes of violets adding interest.

Pour with grilled lamb and tagines. Tax Take £4.17, Flavour Spend £4.33

Al Fresco 2024, Navarre, Spain, Co-op £8.75: A fresh, lively unoaked light red from Navarra, made to go in the fridge for drinking on a warm sunny day.

100% Garnacha grapes provide bags of ripe strawberry and red cherry fruit with a crisp freshness that is perfect with a lunchtime barbecue. Tax Take £3.98, Flavour Spend £4.77

Exceptional Central Otago Pinot Noir, New Zealand, Asda £9: The Tax to Flavour balance on this wine is on a knife edge with the Chancellor and the consumer getting around half each, but this dark cherry and plum fruit is worth a lot more than its price, so go on, buy it. Tax Take £4.49, Flavour Spend £4.51

Gérard Bertrand Le Chouchou Grenache-Syrah 2025, France, Waitrose down from £13 to £10 until 23 June: At just 11% alcohol, duty is low, but taste is high. It is a light red wine, full of crunchy raspberry and pomegranate fruit with a hint of spice.

Keep a bottle in the fridge for end of the day emergency refreshment. Tax Take £4.19, Flavour Spend is a delicious £5.81.

Maruxa Mencia Valdeorras 2024, Spain, Tesco, down from £12.75 to £10 with a Clubcard until 9 June: The Mencia grape used to scour the tastebuds with acidity but no more. It has been tamed.

This is a fine example with bright, juicy blackcurrant and strawberry fruit, layered with spice and hints of hazelnuts. Can be chilled on a hot day. Tax Take £4.65, Flavour Spend £5.35.