Supermarket Wine Sweep

17-Dec-2025 | Luisa Welch

I have tasted them all, so you don’t have to….

It’s that time of year when corks start popping and supermarkets start unveiling their festive wine offers. New and returning wines tempt us from the aisles, but sometimes it’s a matter of ‘so may wines, so little time’, or not knowing what to choose for the upcoming festivities.
Here is a round up to help you navigate the sea of wines out there and make your shopping a little simpler and perhaps more pleasant.
Morrisons invites you to elevate your festive dining experience with their ‘hero wines’, perfectly selected to complement every meal.

The inspiration behind their ‘Best’ wine collection comes from wine experts who are passionate about sourcing great wines from the world’s finest producers. Like the opulent Gran Reserva Chilean Pinot Noir made in partnership with Ventisquero Wine Estates, winner of Wine Enthusiast New World Winery of the year 2024, and selling at £12. Or Costières de Nîmes, a luscious blend of white grapes which produce a wine brimming with peach, citrus and floral notes, at just £10.

Also look at the ‘Block Series’, a selection of wines born out of Morrison’s passion for farming and agriculture: with the best grapes coming from top vineyards around the world, and only from a particular block or parcel in that vineyard, to ensure the best expression of a particular terroir and climate. Worth trying is Block 8 Saperavi, Georgia’s national red grape from the upcoming wine producing area of Kakheti. The iron-rich soil in this particular block brings an earthy complexity to the wines, which are rich and velvety with flavours of plum, blackberry and wild mushroom. This one is £20.

And Block 18 Albariño from the saline, mineral rich soil in Salnes area of Rias Baixas in Spain, a perfectly balanced wine with notes of salted lime, elderflower and nectarine with a tangy mineral finish. At £18 it’s not the cheapest but it’s certainly one of the best Albariño I have come across.

Also try the wickedly delicious liqueurs like Donovan’s Speculoos Caramelised Biscuit Country Cream at £7, a good selection of sherries and ports, and of course their sparkling wines, from Prosecco starting at £6.50 to Champagne Veuve Devanley Rosé at £28.

Aldi always hits the spotlight for having premium bottles without the price tag. Famed for its multi award-winning Champagne Veuve Monsigny Brut at £14.95, elegant with a lingering finish, the supermarket has recently unveiled its new bottles for Autumn and Winter.

The line-up combines new discoveries with returning festive favourites, featuring everything from rich, fireside reds to crisp whites, ideal for hearty seasonal dishes. The Cigales Rosé from Spain at £8.99 for example, it’s not just for summer. Its vibrant acidity makes it a surprisingly partner for winter dishes too. Or their Chassaux et Fils Fitou, a gorgeous red from the South of France at £6.49, full bodied with a deep colour, an expressive mix of black and red fruits and a delightful spiced nose. Fruity and silky on the palate, and a long complex finish, ideal to accompany richer dishes.

Providing a delicious end to a festive meal, Fletcher’s 10-Years Old Tawny Port at £13.49 is a classy and rich wine with amber hues. Aromas of dried hazelnuts and currants are complemented by flavours of citrus peel, marzipan, and walnut. Perfect with cheese and chocolatey desserts.

Tesco have also increased their premium range creating a selection of 20 Fine Wines in cooperation with Lay & Wheeler, and in total have launched 108 new wines this year. They have won 180 medals at the International Wine Challenge and the International Wine & Spirit Competition, and have been crowned Supermarket of the Year. So, a stroll along the wine aisles may well be in order if you are stocking up for the festive season.

New this season is Tesco Finest Greek Assyrtikó at £11, from grapes sourced across the cooler, northern area of Western Macedonia, where mineral-rich soils and night-time breezes help preserve the natural acidity of the grape. This one is quite floral in style unlike other more mineral Assyrtikó from the islands, but it’s very pleasant, zesty and delicious, and a good introduction to this all-Greek wine variety. Also new is La Burgondie Beaujolais at £9, which captures the fresh aromas of the Gamay grape. Unoaked and with a delicious acidity despite its 13.5% abv, this is an all-round winner at the festive table.

Another multi-award wine is Tesco Finest Margaux, especially the 2021 currently on shelf. A classic Bordeaux blend from one of the famed left-bank appellations, this is £25 but worth every sip. ‘One to buy’ is the impressive Devil’s Corner Chardonnay from Tasmania, Australia’s cool region, made by the respected Brown Brothers family. This wine has been crafted from estate grown grapes and was partly fermented in oak. Youthful, dry, with tons of melon and nectarine aromas, but also zesty and citrussy. It’s a steal at £15, for the quality and style. My last but not least recommendation is Antigal Uno Malbec 2023 from Mendoza, Argentina. This signature award-winning red wine comes from a single vineyard and it’s utterly delicious, £12 well spent for the style and quality.

Lidl really surprises when it comes to its wines. It was Good Housekeeping Institute’s Best Supermarket Wine Retailer of the Year in 2024 and shortlisted for several other awards this year. Their ‘Wine Tours’ have become nothing short of legendary, there are six Wine Tours per year each offering a different collection. Each wine in a ‘Tour’ has been cherry-picked by independent tasters and Masters of Wine, and chosen for quality and good value. The Tours take you beyond the Everyday Range, and still don’t break the bank.

The November Wine Tour features a delicious French fizz from the Loire, Cremant de Loire filled with flavours of green apple, zesty and very refreshing. Ideal as an aperitif or with smoked salmon and a must for those who like dry sparkling wines. Scoring 89 points, it’s £10.99.
High scoring Chateau Plagnac, 90 points and just £8.99, is a delicious Merlot based Bordeaux with a good depth of flavour and smooth tannins. It’s a good example of what fabulous value can be found in Bordeaux currently, and if you don’t drink it now, it could keep for a couple of years. A must for lovers of a classic Bordeaux

Also scoring 90 points is the mouthwatering Camille Meyer Riesling from Alsace, a lovely example of a bone-dry Riesling: fresh, aromatic and very moreish. Expect flavours of lemon blossom and lime, and a long dry finish. Perfect with pâté or a red pepper and goats’ cheese tart, and a must at just £8.99 it’s an absolute must.

A final offering from Lidl: Chianti Riserva Corte alle Mura 2021 at just £5.69. Full of Italian charm, this riper style of Chianti shows that typical sour dark cherry tang and herbiness but also red fruit and mocha. An ideal wine which is easy drinking and a crowd pleaser at the table.

You can never have too much of a good thing, and these wines are good, so happy wine shopping!