Co-op Pick List

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4 June 2026

Welcome to my latest Co-op wine roundup. Over the recent Autumn/Winter and Spring/Summer press events, I have tasted over 140 wines from the two tastings to find my favourite bottles available at the Co-op. This is a bi-annual summary updated every June and December, designed to help you navigate the shelves and discover everything from excellent value weekday bottles to top choices for special occasions.

Below is my curated list of top picks, grouped by country, complete with vintages, prices, and a quick tasting note for each. Please note that not all bottles are in all store, prices may change and some of my followers have previously reported price differences between stores.

France

Irresistible Languedoc, 2024 (£10.15) – This rich, deep-coloured red blend balances dark fruit flavours with soft tannins and a hint of oak.
Château Beau-Site Saint-Estèphe, 2019 (£25.00) – A well-integrated, oak-aged Bordeaux delivering strong dark fruit aromas and a rich, structured taste.
Les Pionniers Vintage Champagne, 2023 (£33.50) – An outstanding, elegant Champagne offering inviting notes of rich brioche and baked apple.
Les Pionniers Champagne Brut, NV (£24.00) – A classic, refreshing Champagne with a harmonious mix of toasty brioche, apple, and citrus.
Irresistible Limited Edition Grenache Blanc, 2024 (£8.50) – A fresh, great-value white presenting bright citrus, juicy peach flavours, and a smooth mouthfeel.
Coeur de Cardeline Rosé, 2025 (£8.75) – A delicate, pale salmon rosé featuring lovely strawberry, pink grapefruit, and crisp white flower aromas.
Irresistible Viognier, 2025 (£8.65) – A dry yet richly textured white with intense apricot flavours, oaky vanilla aromas, and a slightly oily, full mouthfeel.

Germany

Albert Glas Pinot Noir, 2023 (£9.50) – An elegant, almost pink Pinot Noir full of lively cranberry, red cherry, and delicate floral notes.

Spain

Cune Imperial Rioja Reserva, 2019 (£22.50) – A traditional, confident Rioja packed with rich dark fruits, woven vanilla oak, and a slight tannin grip.
Muriel Tempranillo Vendimia Seleccionada Rioja, 2023 (£10.95) – A lighter, fruit-forward Rioja bursting with red cherry and strawberry aromas that is perfect when served slightly chilled.
The Hidden Vines Red, 2024 (£9.65) – An unoaked, distinctly different Spanish red blending Maturana and Garnacha to deliver floral cherry and plum flavours.
CVNE ‘Maruxa’ Mencía, 2023 (£12.00) – A dry, red-fruited and unoaked Mencía lifted by violet notes and a light liquorice edge.

Italy

Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore Palazzo Maffei, 2021 (£14.00) – A velvety, richly spiced red with Morello cherry and chocolate flavours gained from refermentation on Amarone skins.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva, 2024 (£9.00) – A fuller, richer take on Montepulciano that brings strong red fruit, vanilla, and dark fruity flavours.
Salice Salentino Riserva, 2021 (£8.15) – A full-flavoured Negroamaro from Puglia offering deep, dark fruit aromas and satisfying richness.
Less is More Trebbiano Rubicone, NV (£6.50) – A surprisingly flavourful, semi-sparkling white in a recycled plastic bottle that delivers bold pear and apple notes.

Moldova

Casa Felina Sauvignon Blanc Feteasca Alba, 2024 (£7.50) – A bright, punchy white packed with intense tropical kiwi, passion fruit, and zesty citrus.
Casa Felina Merlot Feteasca, 2023 (£7.50) – A brilliant, off-the-beaten-track red offering generous blackberry and plum characters at excellent value.

Portugal

Irresistible Alvarinho, 2024 (£8.50) – A vibrant, zesty white full of fresh melon, peach, and citrus notes that lead to a long, clean finish.
Irresistible Douro, 2023 (£8.50) – An authentic, unoaked red delivering bold raspberry flavours that punch well above its price tag.
Quinta De São Sebastião 1000 Paths Lisbon Red, 2023 (£6.50) – An easy-going, fruit-forward blend boasting ripe raspberry aromas and impressive depth for the price.

Chile

Irresistible Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir, 2024 (£8.95) – A ripe, cherry-scented Pinot Noir beautifully balanced by an earthy, savoury streak.

Australia

Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz, 2022 (£12.00) – A concentrated, dry Shiraz aged in French oak that showcases deep blackberry, plum, and peppery graphite notes.
The Interlude Pinot Noir, 2025 (£8.50) – An elegant, unoaked, light-to-medium-bodied Pinot Noir displaying delicate red fruit and a satisfying savoury complexity.

New Zealand

Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc, 2025 (£12.00) – A highly aromatic, crisp white combining pungent gooseberry, passionfruit, and zesty citrus.
Te Pā Signature Series Rosé, 2025 (£10.25) – A bright, slightly sweet rosé bursting with strong strawberry, raspberry, and tropical fruit flavours.

England

Irresistible Bacchus, 2024 (£13.50) – A pale, crisp white loaded with English freshness, offering zesty elderflower, gooseberry, and hedgerow herb flavours.

Pick Lists

Did You Know?

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