THERE’S no denying that once you get just one taste of delicious, pricey wine, it’s never quite the same when you crack open that £4.99 bottle of red from the offy again.
But what if that cheap bottle of plonk could taste like a £50 vintage red perfect for Christmas?
That’s the bold mission statement behind a genius new gadget, dubbed the Winewizard, that has been sweeping dinner parties by storm.
The three-in-one aerator costs £49.95, and is scientifically proven to dramatically improve any bottle by replicating the ageing and decanting process.
Backed by the UK’s leading wine institution, Plumpton College, it uses micro-oxygen methods to boost wine’s flavour, and make it taste much more expensive.
But how does it really stack up against supermarket wines – and which ones fare the best?
We got drinks expert Joe Wadsack to do a blind taste test of some of the cheapest wines around after they’d been sprayed with the Winewizard to see which are worth splashing out on.
Even after the Winewizard had been used, this red smelt quite cheap.
It was a bit jammy, and tasted like it might have been acidified slightly for balance.
It had a pretty sound finish, but was quite short and very uncomplex.
Winewizard price: £6
Price increase: 3%
This wine had quite a simple palette, but smelled a bit more leafy, and herbaceous, like a damp autumn, rather than sitting on a deck chair in Mexico.
There was a nice purity of fruit, and it was very sweet, but I was also getting some hints of residual sugar, which would’ve been added to make the wine taste better, so I didn’t think it was expensive, even after the Winewizard had been used on it.
Winewizard price: £5.50
Price increase: 46%
This was definitely my favourite. It tasted like proper wine, and as if the fruit had been picked with care.
The Winewizard definitely did its job with this, as there was a full, round flavour to it, as if the edges had been sharpened, after spending some time being aerated.
If I was forced to drink a glass of this in the pub, I’d probably have another one, and you can’t say more than that, can you?
Winewizard price: £11.99
Price increase: 92%
This wine had a lovely nose, and smelt much more complex than the others, which I thought was a sign it started off as a more expensive wine, but I was wrong!
It was a lovely, fruity, spicy wine, with some woody notes, as if it had been aged for a while. But the oak was subtle, and well-integrated, along with a nice, vanilla undertone.
There was an artificial sweetness that made me think it may not be more than a tenner though.
I was shocked when I found out this was just £3.99 and could really taste the difference when I tried it without the Winewizard after.
Winewizard price: £10
Price increase: 151%
This one had some colour, and smelt nice and pretty, with a simple, fruity aroma of pears and baked apple. But it was a lot harder to drink than to smell.
It was quite high in acid and awkward. The finish was short and rasping.
Even after the Winewizard had been used, this tasted like an entry-level wine you buy when you want the cheapest bottle – and I was right!
Winewizard price: £5
Price increase: 45%
This white wine was not good. There was absolutely no nose on it – and I could taste the sulphides that had been added on my pallet.
It tasted like a wet Labrador dog, and had no fruity flavours.
Even if that was £3.99, I’d take that back to the shop, so I can’t believe this actually costs £5.75.
Winewizard price: £3.99
Price DECREASE: 31%
This wine smelt like it should’ve been drunk more than six months ago and was already ready for the bin, but it tasted way better than it smelt.
It did actually taste like Chenin Blanc, and had a nice honeysuckle, tangy flavour, but on the nose it was a bit funky.
Yes, it is wine, but I’d recommend not drinking this. Life’s too short!
Winewizard price: £5
Price increase: 25%
This was the nicest white wine I tasted, but then it was actually the most expensive anyway.
It tasted like a blend, and not like any specific wine I could think of, but it was tasty.
Its anonymity is how I knew it was cheap, but I’d still pay more for it than any of the others!
Winewizard price: £8.99
Price increase: 30%
