Morrisons Pick List

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4 June 2026

Welcome to my latest Morrisons wine round-up. I have tasted over 250 wines from the two tastings at the recent Morrisons Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer press events to find the best bottles. This is a bi-annual summary updated every June and December, designed to help you navigate the aisles and discover the best value and quality available.

Here are my top recommendations, grouped by country, complete with vintage, price and a quick tasting note for each. Keep in mind that availability varies by store, and these prices can drop significantly during 25% off promotions.

France

020 Vacqueyras 2023 (£20) – This full-bodied red delivers rich flavours of cassis, strawberry, and violet alongside lively acidity.
Le Relais du Roi Principauté d’Orange 2024 (£13) – A smooth and elegant Grenache and Syrah blend offering intense strawberry fruit and very low tannins.
Champagne Charles Clément Brut NV (£25) – A well-balanced Champagne boasting pleasant brioche and apple flavours lifted by a crisp, fresh acidity.
The Best Côtes de Gascogne 2024 (£7.50) – A vibrant white bursting with zesty grapefruit, pineapple, and sharp citrus notes.
Etienne Leclair Signature Collection Champagne 2016 (£30) – A fine, elegant Champagne with precise citrus flavours and deep brioche complexity from extended lees ageing.
The Best Viognier 2025 (£10) – A generous and soft white filled with ripe stone fruit, honeysuckle, and ginger aromas.
Block Series 017 Chardonnay Limoux NV (£14) – A rich and creamy Chardonnay combining orchard fruit with nutty, oaky complexity.

Spain

016 Manzanos Graciano Rioja 2023 (£16) – A pure, distinctive expression of high-altitude Graciano with floral aromas, soft black fruit, and a gentle spicy finish.
Las Dos Caras, Ribera Del Duero 2022 (£11.50) – An approachable, easy-drinking Tempranillo centred around ripe cherry and gentle blackcurrant notes.
Cuatro Rayas Four Lines Verdejo 2025 (£10) – A crisp and refreshing white packed with zesty lemon, lime, fennel, and a light almond twist.
The Best Albarino Calamata 2024 (£12) – A bright and fresh wine combining lemon, lime, and peach with a crisp, mouth-watering finish.
The Best Toro Roble 2022 (£12.25) – A bold and warming full-bodied Tempranillo layered with rich blackberry and dark chocolate flavours.

Italy

The Best Organic Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2024 (£8) – A smooth, rounded bargain offering impressive depth with dark fruit, chocolate, and subtle earthy spice.
Collezione Privata Rosato 2024 (£8) – A gently sweet and highly distinctive rosé defined by its striking pear drop character.
The Best Chianti Superiore DOCG 2024 (£10.50) – A generous medium-bodied red leading with lovely aromas of cherry, plum, and sweet oak.

England

The Best English Sparkling Grand Reserve Brut NV (£24-£25) – A complex, layered sparkler featuring notes of baked pastry, apple, and butter with fine bubbles and excellent length.
Bolney Classic Cuvée NV (£32) – An elegant and beautifully balanced sparkling wine showing deep brioche and apple notes.

Germany

Kurstenstein Riesling 2024 (£5.50) – A refreshingly sweet Riesling with bright citrus, tropical aromas, and a sweet apricot flavour.
Kylie Petit Rosé NV (£8.25) – A slightly fizzy, easy-drinking rosé offering pronounced raspberry, peach, and subtle almond notes.

New Zealand

The Best New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (£10-£10.25) – A classic grassy and tropical Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc given extra texture and a subtle musky edge by a touch of Riesling.

Australia

De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon NV (£7, half bottle) – A remarkably smooth and sweet dessert wine lingering beautifully with lovely apricot and almond flavours.
The Best Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024 (£11) – A rich and full-bodied Shiraz packed with plush dark fruit flavours, spice, and chocolate depth.

United States

The Best Californian Chardonnay 2024 (£12.75) – An appealingly rich Chardonnay balancing creamy texture and gentle oak sweetness with ripe apple and pineapple.
Cabana Rosé NV (£8.50) – A distinctly sweet and bold Californian rosé bursting with strong raspberry aromas and flavours.

South Africa

The Best South African Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (£9) – A zesty, fresh white featuring clean aromas of gooseberry, lime, and green pepper.

Chile & Other Origins

The Best Gran Reserva Chilean Pinot Noir 2024 (£12) – A refined, fruit-forward Pinot Noir delivering lively red cherry, soft cranberry, and violet flavours.
Casa Sofía Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (£10) – An expressive white showing crisp citrus and tropical fruit with a zesty, pungent finish.

Pick Lists

Did You Know?

Nearly a third (32%) of UK consumers say they have already used AI for alcoholic drinks advice. More

Among socially active wine buyers, 37% have bought a wine recommended online. More

In 2026, 72% of consumers now think wine knowledge is essential to appreciation, up 20 percentage points on 2025. More

Rías Baixas wines reached more than 107 countries in 2025 and exports represented 31 per cent of the denomination’s total sales. More

Light Strike Can Cause Wine Degradation in Just One Day. More

People actively adjust their wine choices depending on who might see them. More

In the UK, 73% of Alcohol is Bought From Retail Rather Than Hospitality. More

UK wine production reached 124,377 hectolitres that year, meaning the UK accounted for roughly 0.05 per cent of world output. More

For Crémant, grapes must be harvested by hand and the wines must undergo at least nine months’ ageing before release. More

In 2024, the UK was the second-largest export market for Champagne globally, after the United States. More

Local UK bottling of wine represents about 40% of imported wine. More

Around 1% of people, typically severe asthmatics, have a sulphite sensitivity. More

A large 80% of Australian wine arrives in the UK in bulk. More

Only about 0.02% of Australia’s landmass is dedicated to vineyards. More

In 2024, New Zealand produced only 1% of the World’s wine. More

In 2024, the US imported 37% of World production of Pinot Grigio and the UK was is in second place at 27%. More

In 2024, the UK was South Africa’s largest export market, with 40% of total exports. More

In 2024, the United Kingdom imported 22.3 million bottles of Champagne, a decline of 12.7% compared to the previous year. More

Larger Champagne producers source grapes from as many as 80 different vineyards throughout Champagne. More

Champagne houses and growers collectively produce around 300 million bottles annually. More

In 2025, the Champagne region was home to about 2,124 Champagne houses and approximately 19,000 growers. More

Provence is one of the leaders in the conversion to organic viticulture, with 61% of vineyards certified. More

8% of the South Africa’s grape production is Fairtrade-certified. More

Up to 80% of wine aroma compounds come from grape skins. More

Glycerol is the third-largest component of most dry wines after water and alcohol which is why they so often feel ‘smooth’ or ‘silky’ in the mouth. More

Humans are more than 400 times more sensitive to bitter than sweet. More

Humans can detect the earthy molecule geosmin at about 100 parts per trillion and camels are so sensitive to it they can locate damp ground from roughly 50 miles away. More

During the phylloxera crisis of the nineteenth century, 90% of Europe’s vineyards were destroyed. More

In 2025, for La Vieille Ferme, also known as “The Chicken Wine”, sales surged by 49.4% to £110.8 million. More

In 2025, in the UK, Yellow Tail held the top position with sales, marking a 9.8% increase over the previous year. More

In 2024, the UK was the second-largest wine importer in volume and value. More

In 2024, the UK was the fifth-largest wine-consuming country globally. More

In 2025, global wine consumption continued its downward trend, estimated at 214.2 million hectolitres, the lowest since 1961. More

In 2025, online alcohol sales had a 20% increase in value over five years. More

In 2025, the number of UK vineyards rose to 1,104 and wineries to 238, with land under vine expanding to 4,841 hectares, a 510% increase since 2005. More

Moët Hennessy alone commands nearly 46.66% of the Champagne market, with the top three producers together holding about 61%, and the top five controlling over 72%. More

In 2024, the Champagne market was worth roughly €3.92 billion. More

In the marketing year 2023/24, white wine accounted for roughly 55% of Spain’s output, whereas red and rosé together made up about 45%. More

In the UK, 92% of wine is consumed within 48hrs of purchase. More

The majority of wines, 95%, use commercial rather than wild yeast. More

Between 0.5 and 10 litres of water, per litre of wine, are needed for cleaning during winemaking. More

Machine harvesting can achieve up to 100 tons of fruit per day vs 1 ton for a human. More

In Germany, 2025 was the smallest wine vintage since 2010. More

The majority of vineyards, 90% in 2019, are farmed with heavy chemical interventions. Only 6% are organic. More

90% of low and coastal areas in south Europe and California will no longer be able to produce good wine by the end of the century. More