Looking for the best supermarket wine? Want to know which sherry to buy? Read on for the best bottles from a variety of price points…
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 dry sherry
Gold: Waitrose No.1 Don Gaspar Dry Amontillado Lustau Sherry, £11.99
A gorgeous dry sherry with roast nuts and caramelised oranges on the palate. Deep and complex, and delicious to drink.
Perfect pairing: enjoy with a wedge of manchego
Silver: Tesco Finest Fino Sherry, £6
Intensely savoury with appetising yeasty and nutty notes and beautifully crisp and dry.
Perfect pairing: Try our ham croquetas
Bronze: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Dry Fino Sherry £8
Great value fino with toasted almonds on the nose and a clean, salty finish.
Perfect pairing: sip alongside salted anchovies.
Best sweet sherry
Joint gold: M&S Lustau Rare Pedro Ximenez, £9
Bursting with figs, nuts and candied fruit, this is intensely sweet but nicely balanced and not too cloying.
Perfect pairing: Try our Christmas pudding
Joint gold: Asda Cream Sherry, £7.30
A toasty, not-too-sticky sweet sherry with pecan, caramelised oranges, dried apricots and a silky, creamy texture.
Perfect pairing: a wedge of blue cheese
Joint silver: Lidl Tio Nico Cream Sherry, £5.29
Caramelised walnuts, toffee apples and a little citric freshness in this great-value sherry.
Perfect pairing: Try our pecan pie
Joint silver: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 12-Year-Old Sweet Pedro Ximenez, £8
Silky and very luscious with layers of raisins, cinder toffee, dried figs and marmalade.
Perfect pairing: Try pouring over ice cream
