In May 2026 I was invited to the Waitrose Spring Press Tasting in London, an impressive showcase featuring 181 products across wine, fortified wine, beer, cider, spirits, soft drinks and ready-to-drink categories. I managed to taste almost all of the non-fortified wines on show, amounting to around 120 wines.
One of the most notable developments was the continued expansion of the Waitrose No.1 range, with six new additions taking the total own-brand wine selection to more than 80 wines. The range continues to demonstrate the retailer’s growing confidence and ambition in premium own-label wine.
Waitrose has also enjoyed a number of significant commercial successes over the past year. Sales of own-brand wines are up 11% compared to last year, while USA fine red wines have increased by 21%. Alsace white wines are up 13%, English and Welsh sparkling wines have risen by 11%, and Portuguese white wines have seen particularly strong growth at +21%.
The retailer’s achievements have also been recognised internationally at the 2026 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC), where Waitrose won Best Classic Supermarket, Best Online Supermarket and Best Sustainable Supermarket.
Here are the wines that stood out the most for me from the tasting:
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV Champagne 12% £40.00
A classic blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, matured on its lees for three years before resting for a further six months prior to release. Pale lemon in colour, it has green apple, lemon, pear, brioche and biscuit notes from the lees ageing. Crisp citrus and orchard fruit are joined by bready, biscuity complexity and a hint of almond. It is brut in style, with a long, elegant finish.
Ferdinand Bonnet Vintage Brut 2014 Champagne 12.5% £40.00
Made from 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay from Les Riceys in the Côte des Bar, this Champagne remained on its lees for eight years. It has a similar style to Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut, but with greater intensity, nuttier depth and riper fruit flavours. The extended lees ageing gives it extra richness and complexity.
Waitrose Loved & Found Vermentinu Rosé Brut NV 10% £9.50
This sparkling rosé from Corsica is made with 85% Vermentinu and 15% Niellucciu. It has a vibrant aroma of fragrant honeysuckle and lychee, followed by ripe pineapple flavours and a subtle hint of cherry. Lively acidity keeps it fresh, leading into a refreshing saline finish. It is sweeter than I usually prefer, but still very enjoyable and excellent value for sparkling wine.
Waitrose Loved & Found Nero di Troia Rosé 2025 12% £9.50
Made entirely from Nero di Troia, one of Puglia’s native red grape varieties, with fruit sourced from organically grown, low-yielding vines averaging 25 to 30 years old. Pale gold in colour, it has an intense floral and red fruit character. Ripe raspberry comes through clearly, with good length and a fresh finish. This is good value and works well for people who want more flavour from their rosé.
Queen Côtes de Provence Rosé 2025 Provence 13% £18.50
A blend of 70% Grenache and 30% Cinsault, conceived and led by Roger Taylor of Queen, with winemaking by Valérie Courrèges, who is known for premium Provence rosé. This is the same wine previously found in Sainsbury’s, with Sainsbury’s and Waitrose acting as official supermarket suppliers. Rose gold in colour, it is very aromatic, with classic strawberry, redcurrant, pink grapefruit and white flowers. It tastes dry and very fruity, with ripe raspberry and citrus supported by brisk acidity.
Waitrose Loved & Found Grolleau Gris 2025 8.5% £9.50
Made from 100% Grolleau Gris, an ancient and rare grape variety native to the Loire Valley. The lower alcohol level of 8.5% is achieved through selective leaf plucking in the vineyard, which reduces photosynthesis and lowers the sugar available for fermentation. It spends 8 to 14 months on the lees, adding texture. White flowers and zesty citrus fruits lead into crisp green apple and juicy white peach, with a clean citrus and mineral finish.
Laurent Miquel Nocturnes Viognier 2025 12% £10.50
This 100% Viognier is matured on its lees for two months before bottling to enhance texture and build complexity. It has ripe apricot, pear, peach and floral notes, followed by fresh stone fruit flavours. Lighter and fresher than some Viognier styles, it keeps the variety’s fruitiness without becoming heavy.
Waitrose No.1 Inama Soave Classico 2024 12% £17.00
Made exclusively for Waitrose & Partners by Inama from 100% Garganega. Pale lemon in colour, it has intense lemon, white peach and white flower notes. Crisp citrus and stone fruit are joined by a honeyed touch and subtle almond. Full and rounded from lees ageing, it has far more character than many insipid supermarket examples of Soave.
CVNE Rioja Blanco Reserva 2021 13.5% £15.00
Made from 100% Viura, this is a return to the classical style of CVNE Blanco Reserva, originally produced in the historic Haro winery mainly for local consumption. The wine was aged for 18 months in barrel and a further six months in bottle, and this is only the fourth vintage since its relaunch after years of obscurity. Intense and complex, it brings together white flowers, pear, apple, toast, cream and smoke. Creamy and structured, it has a very long, soft finish where fruit blends with savoury, smoky oak and seems to stay in the mouth forever.
Journey’s End Clovelly Viognier 2026 12% £10.50
A 100% Viognier with expressive peach notes and touches of mandarin. Medium-bodied and textured, it delivers ripe, succulent stone fruit flavours with a slightly oily viscosity. Fresh, bright acidity balances the richness, while the flavour is full and the length is impressive.
The Doctors’ Sauvignon Blanc 2025 9.5% £10.00
Made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc, this is vibrant and herbaceous, with green grass, passion fruit, red capsicum and citrus zest. Intense tropical fruit flavours come through, especially passion fruit and gooseberry, matched by racy, lively acidity. Despite the low alcohol, it is not too sweet and does not feel compromised.
Rohe Rapaura Sauvignon Blanc 2025 13% £19.50
This 100% Sauvignon Blanc has an intense classic Marlborough character, with passion fruit, guava and grapefruit alongside hints of fresh-cut grass. Crisp and light-bodied, it brings dominant gooseberry, lime leaf and green apple flavours. The style is bright, direct and very fresh.
Joseph Drouhin Côte de Beaune 2019 14% £40.50
Made from 100% Pinot Noir, this Burgundy is delicate and fruity, with red berries, floral hints and a touch of oak. Medium-bodied, it has a refined, soft and juicy tannic structure. I initially passed it over because of the price, but its flavour won me over on a second taste.
Château La Croix de Marbuzet Saint-Estèphe 2021 12.5% £22.50
A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Ripe blackcurrant fruit comes through strongly, lifted by subtle spice and a finely integrated, elegant oak influence. Smooth, medium tannins give balance, while the finish is long and persistent. The oaky aromatic character lingers pleasantly.
Thymiopoulos Atma Xinomavro 2023 13% £13.25
Made from 100% Xinomavro and pale in colour. It is very aromatic, with blackberry fruit alongside pronounced coffee, cedarwood, pine and leather. Dry and medium to full-bodied, it has savoury tannins with blackcurrant, plum and cocoa flavours. The result is distinctive, structured and full of character.
Masi Costasera Amarone Classico 2021 15% £39.00
A blend of 70% Corvina, 25% Rondinella and 5% Molinara. Deep ruby-garnet in colour, it has dried cherry, fig, raisin, cocoa and sweet spice. Powerful yet balanced, it delivers concentrated fruit, dark chocolate and roasted coffee. Off-dry and slightly sweet, it is full-bodied, warming and rich, with a very long finish. A great example of supermarket Amarone, a category that can often disappoint.
Waitrose No.1 Rioja Reserva 2020 13.5% £14.00
Made from 90% Tempranillo, 5% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano. It has deep aromas of dried red fruits, leather, tobacco and sweet spice. Mature red fruit carries through, with a silky texture and a dry, medium-bodied style. The tannins are medium but soften significantly with food, leading to a long, elegant and savoury finish.
La Rioja Alta Viña Alberdi Rioja Reserva 2021 14% £22.00
Made from 100% Tempranillo. High in intensity, it combines ripe red fruits with balsamic notes of vanilla, caramel, cinnamon and roasted coffee. Round and balanced, it has lively acidity and supple, silky tannins.
Nanny Goat Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024 13.5% £20.00
This 100% Pinot Noir is complex and fragrant, with black cherry, bramble, red plum, floral notes and hints of spice. Juicy and intense, it brings red cherry and plum together with dried herbs, forest floor and earthy savoury undertones.
Tread Softly Pinot Noir 2025 South 10.5% £10.00
Made entirely from Pinot Noir, this is extremely aromatic, with fresh red cherry, strawberry and cranberry, plus delicate floral notes and subtle hints of spice and earth. Light-bodied, smooth and vibrant, it has bright red fruit flavours and soft, integrated tannins. The lower alcohol keeps it easy-drinking without losing fruit.
Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz 2024 Padthaway 14.5% £13.50
A 100% Shiraz with intense ripe blackberry, especially eucalyptus, spice, cedar and dark chocolate. Opulent, smooth and full-bodied, it brings ripe plum, dark berries and mocha flavours. Rich and generous.
At these tastings we are always given a tasting booklet listing all of the wines alongside space for notes. The level of detail provided can vary considerably between supermarkets, but I have to say that Waitrose remains one of the most thorough.
There is a huge amount of background information and technical data included for each wine, which makes the booklet genuinely useful. Waitrose also provides an assessment of each wine’s aroma and palate profile. Normally I tend to ignore official tasting notes, whether in booklets or on bottles, preferring instead to form my own opinion. For some reason, probably convenience, bottle descriptions often reflect what a wine is supposed to taste like for that particular style, rather than what that specific wine actually tastes like in the glass. However, Waitrose tasting notes are usually close to and certainly better than my quick assessments, which actually makes my job considerably easier.
Overall, it was pleasing to see that Waitrose continues to innovate while still making the most of established favourites within the range. The Loved & Found range is particularly exciting and shows a willingness to explore lesser-known styles and regions. Meanwhile, the No.1 range truly delivers on what it sets out to achieve. In my view, it remains the strongest own-brand wine range across all UK supermarkets.
Please note that prices are subject to change and can often drop further during the regular 25% off Mix 6 promotions. Not every wine is stocked in every branch, but the full range is available to browse and order online via Waitrose Cellar, with next-day click and collect available from any Waitrose store except Jersey and Guernsey.
