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BOFFINS have found drinking wine with food is the best – and safest – way to enjoy a tipple as it slows the ingestion of alcohol.

Drinks expert Helena Nicklin suggests some good-value glasses of vino for everyday dishes that won’t cost a fortune and rates the pairings out of five.

Wine expert Helena Nicklin suggests some good-value glasses of vino for everyday dishes
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Wine expert Helena Nicklin suggests some good-value glasses of vino for everyday dishesCredit: Oliver Dixon

Fish & chips

Codorniu Vintage Organic Cava Brut £8, down from £10.50, Morrisons

THERE is only one pairing you need here – bubbles!

Fish and chips with budget fizz from Morrisons
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Fish and chips with budget fizz from Morrisons

With the savoury notes from the batter, you need a traditional-method fizz such as champagne.

If you want to blow the budget, the “real” French classic will be delicious.

On a budget, you can’t beat brioche-like cava.

READ MORE ON BARGAIN EATS

4/5

Margherita pizza

MontGras De-Vine Reserva Merlot, £6 down from £9, Sainsbury’s

A juicy Chilean Merlot like this bargain will be perfect for your pizza
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A juicy Chilean Merlot like this bargain will be perfect for your pizza

TOMATO can be a pairing challenge. Few wines really do the flavour justice, especially on a pizza when it’s often concentrated and in a puree form.

A juicy Chilean Merlot like this bargain will do the job well with its full fruity body, vine tomato flavours and velvety texture.

3/5

Spaghetti bolognese

Altano Rewilding Edition Douro £7.50, down from £10.50, Sainsbury’s

A bargain bold red will brighten up the bolognese and help you soak up all those delicious flavours
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A bargain bold red will brighten up the bolognese and help you soak up all those delicious flavours

A BOLD red is the way to go, without too much tooth-drying tannin and this Portuguese blend is perfect.

 Vibrant, aromatic, with crisp acidity and ripe fruit flavours.

Aldi’s £7 rose wine ‘tastes exactly the same’ as £26 Whispering Angel - and it’s perfect for the heatwave

It will brighten up the bolognese and help you soak up all those delicious flavours without overpowering it.

4/5

Full English breakfast

 Extra Special Crémant d’Alsace Brut £9, down from £11, Asda

This sparkling French wine will stand up to those sausages, salty bacon and a hunk of fried bread
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This sparkling French wine will stand up to those sausages, salty bacon and a hunk of fried bread

FIZZ is just about acceptable at breakfast and a full English often comes after a big night.

This is a sparkling French wine that brings lightness and elegance, yet is multi-layered enough in terms of flavour to stand up to those sausages, salty bacon and a hunk of fried bread.

5/5

Indian takeaway

Cave Des Roches Vouvray £8, Tesco

The honey-blossom aromatics and melon notes coax the flavour and cools the palate
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The honey-blossom aromatics and melon notes coax the flavour and cools the palate

HOT spice can strip fruit from wine. Whether you opt for a tikka or vindaloo, careful pairing with any curry is a must.

Your perfect match for this is a fruity white with a touch of sweetness to tame the heat.

Honey-blossom aromatics and melon notes coax the flavour and cools the palate.

4/5

Beans on toast

Enjoy the sweet-savoury style with a little bit of grip from Aldi's rosorange to support the crunch from the toast and thickness of the beans
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Enjoy the sweet-savoury style with a little bit of grip from Aldi's rosorange to support the crunch from the toast and thickness of the beans

Specially Selected Rosorange Rosé £9.99, Aldi

A CLASSIC wine pairing conundrum where a fruity rosé or orange wine would be perfect.

 Aldi has created the rosorange, a hybrid of the two.

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Enjoy the sweet-savoury style with a little bit of grip to support the crunch from the toast and thickness of the beans.

3/5

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