Asda Pick List

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4 June 2026

Welcome to the Asda pick list. I have tasted over 150 wines from the two tastings recently hosted by Asda, their Autumn/Winter showcase and the Exceptional range tasting.

Asda has recently recorded its strongest ever performance in international wine competitions, winning 460 awards across the IWC, IWSC and Decanter World Wine Awards in 2026, more than any other UK supermarket. The retailer secured 13 Gold, 118 Silver, 286 Bronze and 43 Commended awards, representing 16% year-on-year growth and reinforcing its position as the UK’s most awarded supermarket for wine.

To help you navigate the aisles and find the absolute best bottles for your money, I have compiled my top picks by country. This is a bi-annual summary updated every June and December to ensure you always have the most current recommendations.

Availability will vary by store and prices are subject to change, especially during mix 6 25% off periods.

Argentina

Uco Valley Malbec 2023 (£9.77) – This bold, rich, and powerful Malbec offers beautiful blackberry and violet aromas with an extended barrel-aged character.

Australia

Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 (£6.98) – Matured in French oak, this blend reveals outstanding value with deep leather and dark fruit aromas.
Great Western Shiraz 2023 (£8.77) – This exceptionally fresh and incredibly valued Shiraz bursts with red fruit, herbal aromas, and a soft blueberry richness.
d’Arenberg The Hermit Crab Marsanne Viognier 2024 (£13.47) – A luscious and layered McLaren Vale blend full of ripe peach, apricot, and rich oak generosity.

Austria

Austrian Riesling 2024 (£8.14) – Beautifully balanced with ripe apricot, honey, and almond notes, this Riesling finishes elegantly long and smooth.
Grüner Veltliner 2024 (£8.12) – This full-textured white offers surprising depth with peach, tropical flavours, and a gentle peppery lift.

Chile

Lleyda Pinot Noir 2024 (£7.48) – An excellent, affordable Pinot Noir blend bringing raspberry, cherry, spice, and earthiness to the glass.
Carménère 2024 (£7.50) – A deeply coloured red balancing ripe dark fruit with savoury green peppercorn and a superb, rounded mouthfeel.

England

Asquith Gardens English Sparkling Wine NV (£17.97) – Opening with delicious brioche and apple aromas, this lively sparkling wine provides exceptional home-grown quality for the price.

France

Côte de Beaune-Villages 2022 (£14.48) – A vibrant Burgundy Pinot Noir revealing bright red cherry, floral notes, and gentle tannins wrapped in a soft texture.
Louvel Fontaine Champagne 2016 (£28.98) – This elegantly structured Champagne delivers classic pastry and fresh apple flavours after extended bottle maturation.
Le Manoir du Baron Viognier 2024 (£5.14) – Dry yet bursting with fruit, this remarkable value Viognier features intense citrus alongside rounded peach and melon.
Louis Bernard Champagne Brut 2018 (£28.00) – A precise and toasty brut Champagne showcasing citrus and orchard fruit framed by deep autolytic complexity.
Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (£8.00) – Fresh, zesty, and lively, this Central Loire Valley white perfectly balances crisp citrus and soft apricot notes.

Italy

Exceptional Barolo 2020 (£16.46) – This refined Nebbiolo represents outstanding value with beautiful blackcurrant and violet aromas paired with elegantly rounded tannins.
Via Vincini Gran Rosso 2024 (£8.47) – Ideal for those who enjoy a slightly sweeter red, this rich Veneto blend bursts with generous dark and dried fruits.
Wine Atlas Garda NV (£6.97) – A refreshing alternative to Prosecco, this lively Garganega presents wonderful lemony aromas and crisp, fresh apple flavours.

New Zealand

Otago Pinot Noir 2023 (£10.47) – Partially matured in oak, this savoury Pinot Noir provides lovely plum, cherry, and earthy characteristics.
Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (£10.00) – This highly aromatic Marlborough white bursts with classic gooseberry, passion fruit, and an explosively crisp, zesty finish.

Romania

Wine Atlas Fetească Regală NV (£6.08) – A light, fruity, and fantastic-value white with delightful tropical hints that feel reminiscent of a softer Sauvignon Blanc.

South Africa

Pinotage Rosé 2025 (£6.50) – A crisp, dry, and wonderfully valued Western Cape rosé offering bright lemon, green apple, and clean red fruit.

Spain

Exceptional Old Vine Garnacha 2024 (£6.75) – Soft and remarkably well-priced, this Spanish red showcases an intense cherry aroma and plenty of vibrant fruit character.
Marques de El Norte Rioja Reserva 2020 (£8.07) – Offering excellent balance, this Tempranillo blends soft cherry and plum flavours with perfectly complementary oak.
Marques de El Norte Rioja Gran Reserva 2020 (£12.19) – Fuller and smoother than the Reserva, this Rioja delivers a brilliant combination of plum, balsamic, and fresh tannins.
Cuatro Rayas Four Lines Verdejo 2025 (£9.00) – Dry and flavourful, this zesty white features intense lemon, fennel, and cut grass with a light almond twist.

USA

1000 Stories Bourbon Barrel-Aged Zinfandel 2023 (£14.97) – A lively, smoky, and richly balanced Zinfandel blend filled with dark fruit and bourbon-spiced oak.

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