FORGET glugging glasses of house white – when it comes to plonk, the latest craze is all about posing with poultry. Nicknamed “The Chicken Wine” online owing to its bird-themed branding, the £8 French tipple La Vieille Ferme has become the latest cult bottle for Gen Z boozers. The clucking great pink has gone down a storm on social media, with celebrity fans including singer Charli XCX, who declared it the official “Brat” booze. And it’s not the only quirky vino to go viral. Here, drinks expert Helena Nicklin gives her verdict on the latest social media all-stars, giving each a score out of five. La Vieille Ferme Rosé aka Chicken Wine £8.50 (now £7), Sainsbury’s4/5 THIS famous, fowl-themed French pink plonk with the chicken on the label is now so popular on TikTok that discounter Aldi has brought out its own not-so-subtle tribute bottle (Le Petit Poulet, £6.49). The original poultry plonk, though, is still perfectly judged for the more premium price tag, with its cool notes of citrus and strawberry. Silky and supple, it slips down far too easily, as Generation Z have discovered for themselves. If you really can’t get enough of the rooster it’s also available by the box for £15.50 (where it’s even better value). Joy Juicy Red Wine £3.95, Asda2/5 HAT’S off to Joy for knowing exactly who they’re aiming at with their vibrant-looking, simple sippers. And this is another bottle with real eye-catching looks and colour that has led to it going viral. Gone are grape varieties and countries of origin. Instead, we have analogies for cosy jumpers, juicy berries and mischievous elves. The wine in the bottle mirrors the styling: very simple and sweet. It’s suggested that you mix this with lemonade, oranges and strawberries for a wine-themed cocktail. Perfect for first-time drinkers but vino aficionados should swerve. Specially Selected Rosorange Rosé £9.99, Aldi5/5 COMBINING two vino trends was always going to be a risk but, with this, it has paid off in spades. And not only has it gone down a storm on social media but even the wine pros like it. A hybrid-style -bottle, which is half French rosé and half orange wine, it has the moreish texture and bergamot notes of the latter with the ripe strawberry fruit of the former. The resulting tangerine colour will look great in your glass and on your feeds but it’s also a fine one to sip. Not just a novelty bottle, this is a great intro to orange wine and I think it’s well worth the premium price tag. Jam Shed Shiraz Red Wine £8, Tesco3/5 AS far as wine names go, this vino does exactly what it says on the label. Very sweet and jammy, with a slick of vanilla wood that’s a bit rough around the edges – a bit like licking a new shed (or at least that’s how I imagine that would be!). Still, the branding is eye-catching, which is why it’s become a trendy sipper and I suppose if you really, really love strawberry jam, then chances are that you might like this too. In the real world and off the grid this vino is possibly a bit of a one-glass wonder for most people, though. Ca’ Del Lago Rosato IGT Trevenezie £6.99, Lidl5/5 ANOTHER vino to go viral and I’m not sure Lidl actually knows just how good this wine is for the price. It’s a seemingly accidental dupe of a much more famous rosé produced around the corner in Lugana, near the Italian home of George Clooney, called Cà dei Frati Rosa dei Frati, which sells for around £25 a bottle. Delightfully different, this soft, rose-tinted tipple will appeal to everyone with its pear and white peach flavours and a slick of saline. Definitely a trending wine to take note of and taste for yourself.A proper lesser-known gem. 19 Crimes Red Wine £9.50, Morrisons3/5 FOR a drink that’s been talked about in leading wine circles as “19 Crimes against winemaking”, as a hugely -commercial tipple this is actually not too bad. If you’re after a powerhouse vino with lots of very sweet, ripe fruit and -flavours of caramel and vanilla, there’s no ignoring this -Australian red. Best with grilled meat or cheese to smooth it out, it’s big and unsubtle, which is why it packs a punch with its branding and has been a hit online – but in many ways that’s all part of its charm. Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé £19, Sainsbury’s4/5 IT’S been around for a long time but unlike another, ahem, “softly spoken divine wine”, Brad Pitt’s French pink Miraval has not lost any of its quality punch over the years. And still huge on TikTok, it shows no sign of losing its popularity on social media either. In fact, dare I say it, over time it’s actually got better. A beautiful bottle inside and out, this lean and quietly confident pink sipper put celeb rosé on the map – and the rest have been playing catch-up. It’s not the cheapest cult tipple but for what you get when it’s on offer it’s very well priced. M&S Classics Malbec £8.50, M&S4/5 A VERY recent addition to the online trending wine list is this great-value Malbec from M&S which influencers and grid gluggers have been quick to pay attention to. As the label suggests, this is a classic example of the grape from Argentina: ripe and smooth with notes of mocha, vanilla, blueberry and blackberry. Not too sweet and with just enough grip, it would be impressive at twice the price. One for pouring, sipping and savouring with your sizzling Friday night steak.
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