There are literally thousands of different wines on offer in supermarkets and choosing the right one can be confusing. We asked wine experts which supermarket had the best wine
If you’re a wine enthusiast like me, the vast selection available in shops and supermarkets can be quite daunting. With so many grape varieties, countries of origin and price points to consider, how are we supposed to know which is the best?
Supermarket aisles are brimming with thousands of wines, making the choice even more overwhelming. Shopping by price doesn’t necessarily guarantee quality, as there are pricey wines that don’t justify their cost, while there are also plenty of affordable gems, particularly at budget supermarkets like Aldi, renowned for its wine selection.
With this in mind, I sought advice from wine connoisseurs on which supermarket offers the best overall wine selection, to help you feel more confident about your choice. I also asked them for their top individual wine picks. One store was repeatedly mentioned, suggesting it might be time to reconsider where you purchase your wine.
TV wine expert Deian Benjamin, who regularly appears on Welsh TV channel S4C’s Prynhawn Da (Good Afternoon) show and BBC radio discussing food and drink, praised Asda for having “cracked the code for wine lovers”.
He commended the supermarket for successfully “blending serious expertise with unbeatable value in a way that has fundamentally transformed wine buying in UK supermarkets”.
He added: “Their dominance is proven beyond doubt by a record-breaking haul of awards in 2025, winning more gold medals at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards than any other UK supermarket – a testament to genuine quality, not marketing spin.
“Their celebrated ‘Extra Special’ and ‘Exceptional’ ranges consistently deliver quality that routinely outperforms wines costing significantly more, making truly great wine accessible to everyone rather than the privileged few.
“For an unmatched combination of choice, award-winning quality, and competitive pricing, Asda is the undisputed champion and the smartest destination for wine shoppers today.”
However, Asda wasn’t the retailer most specialists mentioned. Stefan Weyrauch, a qualified oenologist (wine specialist) and founder of Renard Creek, a vineyard and online wine retailer, explained: “If you’re wondering which UK supermarket offers the best options overall, Waitrose continues to set the bar. Its shelves are consistently well curated, meaning you’re less likely to pick up a disappointing bottle. The options are high-quality, and the labelling is clear and informative, making it easier for shoppers to navigate styles and grape varieties.”
Jonathan Kleeman, a leading UK sommelier with over a decade of experience in wine buying for Michelin-starred restaurants and large-scale retail, stated: “Picking the best supermarket overall is tough because different ones do different things well. But if I had to choose just one, it would be Waitrose. The consistency is there all year round.
“You can walk in, in person or online, and always find a decent bottle. They do run deals and use the odd loss leader, which helps with value, but more importantly, their range leans toward quality. Yes, they carry the big, mass-market names, but you’ll also find wines from serious producers, and a bit more depth than most.
“A close second, though, is Aldi. They’ve been knocking it out of the park in terms of value. Time and again, they’ve managed to get hold of genuinely good wines at very sharp prices. The catch is consistency, when they land a really great deal, the wine tends to disappear quickly, and you may never see it again. So for Aldi, it’s a case of “grab it while it’s there. To sum up: for value, Aldi is hard to beat, but for range and reliable quality, it’s still Waitrose every time.”
Michael Pope, a British certified wine expert based in Madrid who is often cited as an authority on wine, stated: “If forced to choose just one [supermarket], I’d go with Waitrose in the UK. It offers a well-curated range covering everything from affordable everyday bottles to premium and niche labels.
“Reviewers and sommeliers regularly highlight Waitrose selections as winners in blind or expert tastings, and the chain has a strong reputation for fair, long-term relationships with suppliers, which often translates into better quality and consistency.
“If your priority is lowest cost with surprising quality, Lidl or Aldi might beat Waitrose on sheer value, but for a combination of selection, reliability, and trustworthy sourcing, Waitrose hits the sweet spot.”
Deian, who also runs the Gwin A Mwy (Wine And More) website, singled out the João Portugal Ramos Family Reserve at Morrisons, which costs £8.50 with a More Card, describing it as a “genuine revelation”.
He added: “It stands out amongst the crowded supermarket shelves showing exceptional Portuguese winemaking at a remarkably accessible price. This award-winning wine offers remarkable complexity and sophistication, easily outperforming wines that are double the price.
“The palate delivers juicy dark fruits, subtle spice, and elegant oak that speaks to decades of viticultural expertise. Perfect for autumnal nights in front of the fire, this is an exceptional wine for everyday enjoyment and an absolute must-buy.”
Stefan Weyrauch stated: “If you’re shopping for supermarket wine right now, one standout in UK supermarkets is the Torres Sangre de Toro Tempranillo. With juicy red fruit, just the right lift of acidity, and a gentle touch of oak, it works equally well with food or on its own. It’s a reliable everyday choice without stretching the budget.”
Jonathan Kleeman expressed: “For me, if you’re talking about supermarkets and wine, the safest bet is always English sparkling.
“As a category, it’s reached a level now where the quality baseline is already pretty high. So if you’re buying English sparkling in a supermarket, you’re unlikely to walk out with something genuinely bad, which isn’t always the case with other styles of wine on the shelves.”
Michael Pope, who also founded Vine Travel in 2023, a boutique wine tour agency in Spain, advised: “For a red wine, go for a Ribera del Duero. I’ve found the quality to be remarkably consistent, with ripe fruit and subtle oak that punches above its price.
“For a white, a South African Chenin Blanc has been reliably versatile for years. Great on its own or with food, offering freshness and balance without being overly fussy.
“When thinking about cost, I’d go for anything £12 and up. The reason is, a lot of the cost of a supermarket bottle goes on taxes, shipping, packaging and retailer margins, meaning that anything below can leave very little actually paying for the wine itself. With this, you’re more likely to get a bottle where the wine inside delivers on flavour, complexity, and drinking pleasure.”