Past Tastings
Uncovering great wines from consumer, trade and press tastings
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Co-op Autumn Winter Press Tasting
In mid-October 2025, I went to the Co-op Press Wine Tasting in London. This year’s event was held at a new, upmarket venue for the Co-op tastings. A total of 71 wines were on show, with over 50 new additions having made their debut this year. The Co-op has placed a strong focus on refreshing its red wine offering, responding to increasing demand for unoaked, less tannic and fresher styles. Alongside these lighter options, there were also some new, more robust reds on display, including a selection of Malbec and Rioja that cater to those seeking bolder flavours. One of…
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Asda Autumn Winter Press Tasting
Asda’s Autumn Winter Press Tasting took place in mid-October in London. As ever, the supermarket’s core focus remains firmly on delivering great value across its range. This commitment was clearly underlined in the tasting booklet, which acknowledged how increasingly difficult that goal has become in light of ongoing market challenges and record levels of taxation affecting the drinks industry. Despite these hurdles, Asda has continued to impress on the awards front, winning more Great Value awards at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) than any other UK retailer. Among the accolades was the coveted Great Value Red Wine Trophy, awarded to…
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Tesco Autumn Winter Press Tasting
The Tesco press tasting took place in the middle of an exceptionally busy three-week tasting period in October 2025. A total of 152 wines were available to taste, including 58 new additions. Over the course of the year, Tesco has launched 108 new wines, highlighting its commitment to continual development rather than standing still. Some of these wines have already featured in an earlier tasting. Tesco is particularly proud of its recent accolades. The retailer secured an impressive 190 medals across the International Wine Challenge (IWC) and the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), including six Gold medals. The Tesco…
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Waitrose Autumn Press Tasting
I was invited to the Waitrose press tasting held in London in October 2025. While the overall wine market has been in decline, Waitrose has managed to outperform it in both value and volume, resulting in an increase in its market share. A notable highlight was the strong performance of New Zealand fine white wine, which has seen a 19% rise in sales compared to the previous year. There has also been a significant rise in interest for the ‘Loved and Found’ wine range, with searches on waitrose.com increasing by 84% year on year. Waitrose continues to see growing popularity…
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Majestic Autumn Press Tasting
In October 2025, I attended the Majestic tasting held at the iconic Lord’s cricket ground. It’s a lovely venue, full of space and natural light, which really added a sense of occasion to the event. Since the last tasting only five months ago, Majestic has expanded with the opening of three new stores in Thame, Christchurch and Wimborne Minster, with another due to open soon in Truro. In addition, Vagabond has now become part of Majestic and the expansion continues with the opening of two new Vagabond bars at St Paul’s and Liverpool Street. A different kind of diversification is…
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The Wine Society Autumn Press Tasting
I was pleased to attend The Wine Society Press tasting this time, having missed the previous one due to bereavement. Prior to this, the tastings were held at the private wine members’ club, 67 Pall Mall, which was proving too small. This time, however, the tasting was held at a new venue with expansive views across London, offering a much more accommodating space. The Wine Society made use of it, increasing the number of wines to 120 from their usual 80 to 100. More than half the wines on offer were new additions to The Wine Society’s portfolio. Despite challenging…
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Sainsbury’s Autumn Winter Press Tasting 2025
In early October, I was invited to Sainsbury’s Autumn Winter press tasting in London. This time, the venue was different, previously held in their head office food labs, which had quite a sterile feel. Wine always benefits from being served in surroundings that allow for a bit more atmosphere. This time, it was a warehouse-style space with lots of room, background music, and somewhere to sit, which made it a much nicer place to linger and take time over the 78 wines being shown. Sainsbury’s is picking up on some new trends, including what they refer to as ‘Textured Whites’,…
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Domaine Bousquet Single Block ‘Wild Roots’
In late September 2025, I attended a dinner event marking the UK launch of Domaine Bousquet’s new single block ‘Wild Roots’ wines, part of the winery’s Ameri range, its flagship tier. While the focus was on these new releases, the evening offered some fascinating insight into how the soil, and only the soil, within the concept of terroir can influence a wine’s character. I’ve previously written about how Domaine Bousquet, a French-rooted producer, found its home in Argentina and became the country’s largest organic wine producer. More recently, I also had the chance to explore their range further at Davy’s…
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Lidl Autumn Press Tasting
At the start of October 2025 I attended the Lidl Autumn Press tasting in London, where 65 wines were shown that will form part of the October, November and December Wine Tours, along with a handful of new and existing wines from the core range. Lidl’s Wine Tours typically run for around two months, giving customers only a limited window to purchase these bottles while stocks last. Many of the most popular selections sell out quickly, which is part of the strategy to keep the offer lively and ever-changing. The rotation encourages shoppers to return regularly in search of new…
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Fairtrade Talk and Tasting
I was recently invited to a roundtable and tasting event hosted by the Fairtrade Foundation to mark Fairtrade Fortnight. The event took place at the Argentinian Ambassador’s Residence in London and offered a fascinating opportunity to explore the real-world impact of Fairtrade wine on communities in Argentina, Chile and South Africa. Following the discussion, we were treated to a walk-around tasting of Fairtrade wines from producers across these three countries. The panel featured several key figures in the Fairtrade and wine sectors: Ed Robinson, Wine Buyer for The Co-op; Andrés Valero, Sustainability and CSR Leader at Bodega Argento; Aleesha Hansel,…
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Hatch Mansfield Autumn Portfolio Tasting
Hatch Mansfield is a leading UK wine agency, founded in 1994 by Patrick McGrath MW alongside partners from renowned producers including Louis Jadot, Errazuriz and Villa Maria. The company specialises in representing and distributing wines from independent, family-owned estates across the globe. While many of the wines it brings to market are found in independent wine shops, some of the more accessibly priced options also appear in supermarkets. At the recent ’25 Autumn Portfolio Tasting held in London, Hatch Mansfield showcased over 300 wines, spanning 25 brands from diverse regions. Principals and winemakers were present throughout the day, offering insight…
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WineGB Trade and Press Tasting
At a time when France, Spain and Italy are reducing their vineyard areas, Britain, though far smaller, is expanding. Over the past year registered vineyards have risen by 74 to reach 1,104, while 25 new wineries have been added, bringing the total to 238. The planted area has grown from 4,209 hectares to 4,841 hectares, an increase of around 15 per cent, and there are now 99 different grape varieties recorded across the country. WineGB, the national trade association representing Britain’s vineyards and wineries, has had to adapt to this growth too. Their annual London tasting had outgrown its previous…
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Aldi Autumn Winter Tasting
Aldi’s wine press tasting was at Tate Modern in London, my first press tasting of the Autumn–Winter ’25 season. The tasting was smaller than usual at around sixty-five wines plus a handful of fortifieds. The wines shown were mainly seasonal and what’s arriving soon, rather than in the core range. We were told Rosé has been a big success for Aldi over the past year. Also, Veuve Monsigny’s recent win at the World’s Best Champagne awards has driven an 80% uplift in sales. With the cost of living still biting, Aldi expects the night-in to keep outpacing the night-out, so…
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Old Vine Conference
In mid-June 2025, I attended the Old Vine Conference trade and media wine tasting in London. The Old Vine Conference works to raise awareness, deepen understanding and build support for the global old vine movement. It champions the development of a recognised global category for wines made from old vines, lending structure and momentum to what is sometimes an underappreciated sector. This year’s event was billed as one of the most extensive tastings of old vine wines worldwide, with representation from a remarkable array of countries including France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Lebanon, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile,…
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London Wine Fair 2025
I visited the London Wine Fair 2025 in May 2025. The event featured 433 exhibitors showcasing an impressive 3,213 products. There were prominent, dedicated pavilions representing France, Italy, Romania, Japan, Greece, Macedonia and Georgia. Each of these had clearly made a strong effort to stand out, with Romania, Japan, Greece, Macedonia and Georgia in particular aiming to establish and expand their footprint in the UK market. In contrast, New Zealand, Australia, Portugal and Spain were notably absent as national pavilions, though this was unsurprising. These countries already enjoy a firm footing in the UK and host their own large-scale trade…
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The Best of South Africa
In mid-May 2025, I attended the Tim Atkin MW The Best of South Africa Tasting, an event Tim described as likely the finest presentation of South African wines in the UK this year. That claim stood up, the range and calibre of wines on show were outstanding. Tim Atkin MW is known for producing an annual South Africa Special Report, where he highlights standout producers and wines from the country. This tasting was based on his 2024 report and brought together a carefully curated selection of producers chosen by invitation only. Alongside these were producers identified as ‘Rising Stars’, a…
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Asda Spring Summer Wine Showcase
Early May marked the final supermarket tasting of the spring/summer tasting season, with Asda’s showcase in London closing things out. With 128 wines available to try, this event offered a few new additions and some much-loved favourites presented as newer vintages. As expected for the Spring/Summer, there was a strong emphasis on refreshing whites, rosés and lighter reds, along with a handful of more robust reds ideal for barbecue weather. Asda’s Wine Atlas range, relaunched last year, continues to evolve and impress. It now has a dedicated hotspot in stores (see photo, left, I previously took in-store) and is seeing…
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Majestic Spring Press Tasting
At the start of May, I attended the Majestic Spring Press Tasting 2025, which this time took place at a different venue, the iconic Lord’s cricket ground in London. Spacious and distinct, the surroundings gave a certain charm to the event, helping the wines feel a little more special. The layout benefited from the space too, with all the wines arranged in a very long, uninterrupted line, it felt like a grander offering than the 97 wines available to taste. As always, Majestic’s tasting booklet was the most comprehensive and detailed, complete with colour coding that made navigating the range…
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Sainsbury’s Spring Summer Press Tasting
At the very end of a busy month of supermarket tastings, I went to Sainsbury’s Spring Summer Drinks Press Tasting in April 2025, held in London. Sainsbury’s has seen an 8% rise in ready-to-drink sales year on year. This includes cocktails, spritzes and wine in cans such as Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc and La Vielle Ferme Rosé. Online searches for canned wine have jumped by 51% and sales of rosé have risen nearly 50% over the past five years. Another rising category is chilled reds, with a 125% increase in year-on-year online searches. Altogether, 79 wines were available to try,…
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Co-op Spring & Summer Tasting
In late April 2025, I went to the Co-op press tasting in London. Co-op remains the most shopped-at retailer in the UK, with an average of 2.2 million shoppers visiting every day, resulting in around 800 million shopping visits per year. In 2024, they grew their market share in the convenience sector to 13.7%, supported by a network of around 2400 stores. Their own-brand wine continues to be particularly strong, accounting for 43% of their wine sales. This year’s tasting introduced Co-op’s first ever Orange wine, an interesting new step for the retailer. A total of 71 wines were shown…
Pick Lists
Majestic | The Wine Society | Tesco | Waitrose | Sainsbury’s | Morrisons | Co-op | Asda | Lidl | £7 and Under | Over £20
Did You Know?
Australian wine exports to China have collapsed from around $1.2 billion to less than $10 million. More
Wine’s aroma is not determined solely by which flavour compounds it contains. More
Low-to-moderate wine consumption is associated with lower mortality. More
Moderate water stress can be part of what creates flavour and terroir expression. More
Wine appears less frequently online than other alcoholic drinks. More
Independent retailers had 9% fewer customers in March 2026 than two years earlier. More
Average spend per bottle in independents has risen by 23% since 2019, compared with 21% in supermarkets. More.
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
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