Looking for the best supermarket red wine? Want to know which red wine to buy? Read on for the best bottles, from malbec to pinot noir…
How we chose the winners
The olive team chose 21 categories for own-brand and retailer-exclusive supermarket wines, covering different grape varieties, styles and price points. The supermarkets were invited to enter one wine per category (so they had to choose carefully). Every wine was blind-tasted by a panel of olive judges (led by olive wine columnist, drinks author and sommelier Kate Hawkings), who awarded gold, silver and bronze winners. In some categories, where the standard was high, we awarded joint winners. So, if you see those labels on your next shop – trust us, these bottles are brilliant!
Like the sound of our food pairings? You can find all our recipes on olivemagazine.com
Best light-bodied red
Classic examples include pinot noir, gamay and grenache
Gold: M&S Tierra Y Hombre Pinot Noir, £7
Very perky pinot noir full of bright cherry fruit and refreshing acidity. Drink slightly chilled.
Perfect pairing: Try a glass with our rabbit terrine
Silver: Tesco Finest Central Otago Pinot Noir, £13
Juicy, earthy, savoury and supple – a very attractive, easy-drinking wine.
Perfect pairing: try our turkey sandwich recipe
Bronze: Waitrose Summer Road Old Vine Grenache, £8.49
Soft and herbaceous, with a silky texture and lush, aromatic red fruit.
Perfect pairing: Try our aubergine parmigiana recipe
Best medium-bodied red
Gold: M&S Found Nerello Cappuccio, £7
A great example of this little-known grape from Sicily; soft and aromatic with floral notes and a fresh, mineral finish.
Perfect pairing: Try our goat’s cheese and beetroot citrus salad
Silver: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Beaujolais Villages Coteaux Granitiques, £9.50
Made from the delicate gamay grape, this has vibrant scents of rose petals and blackcurrants, with a little warming spice.
Perfect pairing: Try our warm aubergine, pomegranate and onion salad
Bronze: Ocado Terreo Malbec £11.99
Plummy fruit, brisk acidity and a touch of clove and vanilla spiciness.
Perfect pairing: Try our roast duck with plums and star anise
Best full-bodied red
From mainstream classics such as malbec to lesser-known nebbiolo
Gold: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Côtes Du Ventoux, £10
Ripe with fresh cherry flavours and nutmeggy spice. Rounded, balanced and very, very gluggable.
Perfect pairing: Try our lamb shank tagine
Silver: Asda Extra Special Carménère, £6.50
Terrific value for this classic carménère, full of peppery black fruits lifted by a fresh, herbaceous finish.
Perfect pairing: Try our beef shin rendang curry
Bronze: Tesco Finest The Trilogy Malbec, £12
Crowd-pleasing malbec – muscular with plummy fruit, spice and a hint of chocolate.
Perfect pairing: Try our perfect steak recipe
Best showstopping red wine
A red wine for when you want to blow the budget
Joint gold: Aldi Châteauneuf-du-Pape, £19.99
An opulent wine – plush, rich and smooth, structured with clove spice and displaying impressive length.
Perfect pairing: Try our venison casserole
Joint gold: Ocado Hacienda Zorita Natural Reserve Syrah Arribes del Duero, £19.99
Concentrated and fruity with fragrant spiced aromas reminiscent of mince pies. Beautiful velvety texture with an elegant, fresh finish.
Perfect pairing: Try our slow-cooked pork, apricot and tamarind stew
Silver: M&S Amarone della Valpolicella, £18
Amarone is made by partially drying the grapes before they’re pressed – this gives extra richness and intensity to the lovely baked black cherries and damson fruitiness.
Perfect pairing: try our mushroom shawarma
Bronze: Asda Extra Special Amarone Della Valpolicella, £16
Very juicy and ripe, with raisiny notes along with stewed autumn fruits and bracing tannins.
Perfect pairing: try our beef wellington
Best new discovery red wine
Joint gold: M&S Found Xinomavro & Mandilaria, £9.50
These two native Greek grapes are blended into this juicy, quaffable wine with exuberant aromas of cherries and eucalyptus.
Perfect pairing: Try with our Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce
Joint gold: Waitrose Terra da Vino Surpass Barbera Passito, £10.79
Warming, velvety, Christmassy fruits, sweet spices and a rich, ripe blackcurrant nose. A silky wine perfect for winter.
Perfect pairing: Try our braised ox cheeks recipe
Silver: Asda Via Vincini Gran Rosso £8
Plush, ripe and silky, with a touch of dried-fruit sweetness and a gentle lick of vanilla.
Perfect pairing: Try our duck and shallots au vin recipe
Bronze: Aldi Greek Agiorgitiko, £10.99
Smooth and opulent but not too heavy, this is lifted by perfumed scents violets and crunchy cranberry fruit.
Perfect pairing: Try our stuffed butternut squash with feta
Best everyday red wine
Affordable yet impressive wines for everyday drinking, under £8
Gold: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Languedoc Red, £7.50
Rippling with ripe black fruits and underpinned with warming spice, this versatile wine is great for winter weekday drinking.
Perfect pairing: Try our Afghani lamb skewers
Silver: Lidl Cepa Lebrel Rioja Crianza, £4.99
Incredible value for this classic rioja, robust with liquorice and black pepper along with elegant dark fruit and supple tannins.
Perfect pairing: Try our salami pizza
Bronze: Asda Extra Special Old Vine Garnacha, £6
Old vines give intensity to the crunchy red fruits in this really appealing wine that finishes with a herbaceous freshness.
Perfect pairing: Try our veggie meatballs recipe
