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Waitrose

  • 25% Off Wine at Waitrose

    25% Off Wine at Waitrose

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    Simon Judge

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    Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced between £6 and £100 from 20 May 2026 to 26 May 2026 inclusive. See the recent press tasting for tips on what to buy. This offer isn’t available in branches in Scotland, Wales or Jersey, motorway service stations, Welcome Break or petrol stations.

  • Waitrose Spring Tasting

    Waitrose Spring Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Montgras De Vine Reserva Carménère

    Montgras De Vine Reserva Carménère

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    Simon Judge

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    Montgras De Vine Reserva Carménère comes from Chile’s Colchagua Valley and is made with 100% Carménère grapes, sitting at 13% abv. This 2023 vintage opens with smoky and cherry aromas, then moves into black fruit flavours with a medium to full-bodied feel. It is smooth yet light, very easy drinking, with low tannins and a dry to off-dry character. The finish brings a subtle coffee edge, which adds a nice little twist. It seemed even more smoky the day after opening. Great quality for the price, usually £9.75 from Waitrose, but on offer for £7.75 as I wrote this.

  • Montecastro Reserva Ribera del Duero

    Montecastro Reserva Ribera del Duero

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    Simon Judge

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    Montecastro Reserva Ribera del Duero 2020 is made from 95% Tempranillo and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, with oak ageing in the mix. It has a high Vivino score of 4.1, Parker gives it 93 points, and Tim Atkin also scores it 93. I had the decanter ready, fully expecting this to be tannic and heavily oaked, as so many Ribera del Duero wines can be, but this one took me by surprise. It wasn’t like that at all. There’s oak there, certainly, along with a strawberry aroma. On tasting, it comes across as robust, dry, mouth-coating and very fruity. It feels…

  • 25% Off Wine at Waitrose

    25% Off Wine at Waitrose

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    By

    Simon Judge

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    Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced between £6 and £100 from 25 March 2026 to 7 April 2026 inclusive. See the recent press tasting for tips on what to buy.This offer isn’t available in branches in Scotland, Wales or Jersey, motorway service stations, Welcome Break or petrol stations.

  • Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico

    Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico

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    Simon Judge

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    Villa Cafaggio Chianti Classico comes from an estate in Panzano in Chianti, with a documented history reaching all the way back to 1408. “Classico” matters here because it means the wine is from the original, historic Chianti zone, before the area was expanded much more widely. This is 100% Sangiovese, given 12 months of maturation in large Slavonian oak barrels, the 2023 vintage and it sits at 13.5% ABV. In the glass it’s slightly browning. The aroma is led by sour cherry and cloves, with a light touch of oak in the background. On tasting it feels very typical of…

  • Montidori Sangiovese

    Montidori Sangiovese

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    Simon Judge

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    This one comes from Emilia-Romagna in Italy. It’s made from Sangiovese, the grape behind Chianti, with a touch of appassimento, that dried-grape technique that brings extra mid-taste richness. It has a high 4.1 scrore on Vivino and this is the 2024 vintage. You get red fruit and caramel on the aroma straight away. Full bodied, with ripe fruit, then that caramel-tinged, gently spicy, long finish that hangs around in a very satisfying way. I happened to taste it alongside a Chianti Classico and it felt much rounder, but also less oaky than the Chianti, which made it really easy to…

  • Escarpment Martinborough Noir

    Escarpment Martinborough Noir

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    Simon Judge

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    This wine stood out at the Waitrose Spring Press Tasting, so it deserved a closer look. From New Zealand’s North Island, this wine comes from Escarpment Winery, located in Martinborough. The name itself, Escarpment, refers to a long, steep slope that borders a plateau, reflecting the distinctive landscape that shapes this corner of the region. A quick glance at customer reviews on Waitrose’s website reveals mixed reactions, though much of the criticism stems from the 2022 vintage, which reportedly turned out cloudy. What matters here, however, is the 2023 release, and that’s the one really worth seeking out. It sits…

  • No.1 Grüner Veltliner

    No.1 Grüner Veltliner

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    Simon Judge

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    I first discovered and took a liking to this wine during a Waitrose press tasting. Produced by Markus Huber at his family-run winery in the Traisental Valley, it is made entirely from Grüner Veltliner grapes grown on a single estate. The vines are planted on slopes that run beside a river and the wine spends four months maturing on its lees, adding depth and character. It’s suitable for both vegetarians and vegans. This is the 2024 vintage, with an alcohol content of 12%. In appearance, it has a pale lemon hue. Aromatically, there’s a fresh burst of citrus alongside ripe…

  • Georges Duboeuf Fleurie

    Georges Duboeuf Fleurie

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    Simon Judge

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    Georges Duboeuf Fleurie comes from one of France’s most well-known wine merchants. Founded by Georges Duboeuf (1933–2020), often dubbed the “King” or “Pope of Beaujolais” for his global promotion of Beaujolais wines, particularly the Beaujolais Nouveau, the business remains in the family, now under the direction of his son Franck. This Fleurie is made entirely from Gamay and sits at 13.5% ABV. Sometimes promoted as the Georges Duboeuf ‘Flower Label’ Fleurie, this 2023 vintage brings a fresh design shift, now featuring an abundance of flowers on the label instead of a single flower. It previously received a strong 91-point score…

  • Journey’s End Sir Lowry Cabernet Sauvignon

    Journey’s End Sir Lowry Cabernet Sauvignon

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    Simon Judge

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    This wine is a thoughtful gift that arrived courtesy of a generous house guest, so thank you Hugh! It comes from South Africa, more precisely from the foothills of the Hottentot Mountains. Its name pays tribute to Sir Lowry’s Pass, a well-known landmark close to the winery in the Western Cape, itself named after Sir Galbraith Lowry Cole, a British colonial figure who served as Governor of the Cape from 1828. Made entirely from Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2023 vintage has spent 18 months in French oak. At 13.5% ABV, it pours with a slightly browning colour. The aromas is of…

  • Waitrose Insights into How Wine is Evolving

    Waitrose Insights into How Wine is Evolving

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    Simon Judge

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    The latest Waitrose Food & Drink Report paints a vivid picture of how wine drinking in the UK is evolving, revealing a shift in taste, attitude and even climate that is reshaping the nation’s habits. Waitrose surveyed a panel of 4,393 customers, in September 2025, for the insights in this year’s report. It is a story of lighter styles triumphing over heavier bottles. We’re seeing a clear move toward longer, lighter serves that offer the feel of a proper drink without the higher alcohol levels, a shift driven by what many are calling the summer of the spritz, with the…

  • 25% Off Wine at Waitrose

    25% Off Wine at Waitrose

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    By

    Simon Judge

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    Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced between £6 and £100 from 26 November 2025 to 2 December 2025 inclusive. See the recent press tasting for tips on what to buy.Update: This has been extended until 21 December.

  • Waitrose Autumn Press Tasting

    Waitrose Autumn Press Tasting

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    Simon Judge

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    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…

  • Portuguese Red Blends

    Portuguese Red Blends

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    Simon Judge

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    Hannah Crosbie’s Guardian piece explores why Portuguese red blends are thriving in the UK while single varietal wines struggle. Portugal has more than 250 native grapes, but field blends dominate because old vines are planted together, making blending the natural choice. Consumers are unfamiliar with grape names such as Baga, Castelão or Touriga Nacional, which makes single varietals a harder sell. By contrast, blends feel approachable, are often labelled simply as “field blend” and offer excellent value. Sommelier Sinéad Murdoch explains that blends “fly off the shelves” because people know and trust them, whereas single grape wines tend to intimidate…

  • Barossa Blood Ink Shiraz

    Barossa Blood Ink Shiraz

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    Simon Judge

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    Barossa Blood Ink Shiraz is making a bold show this Halloween with a limited-edition makeover, featuring striking new front and back labels designed to catch the eye and chill the spine. While the look is for Halloween, what’s inside the bottle remains the same as the usual Barossa Ink Shiraz, the UK’s top-selling premium Shiraz. This 2024 vintage comes in at 14% ABV and continues to ride a wave of popularity, with Barossa Ink Shiraz growing at an impressive 9.8%, outpacing the wider wine category. It’s part of the broader Grant Burge label, which now stands as the second fastest-growing…

  • 25% Off Wine at Waitrose

    25% Off Wine at Waitrose

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    ·

    By

    Simon Judge

    –

    Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced between £5 and £100 from 20 August 2025 to 26 August 2025 inclusive. See the recent press tasting for tips on what to buy.

  • No.1 Cederberg Syrah

    No.1 Cederberg Syrah

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    Simon Judge

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    I had to include this one in my awards25 series because the 2022 vintage earned both an IWC Silver and an IWSC Silver. From the West Coast of South Africa, this Syrah comes from Cederberg, where the fifth generation of the Nieuwoudt family now oversees the estate. They are widely regarded as one of the top high-altitude producers from South Africa. At 14% ABV, this is a medium to full bodied red, made from 100% Syrah and aged in oak. There is a generous ripe cherry aroma with a touch of oak even when just opened. After half an hour,…

  • Heaphy Hill Riesling

    Heaphy Hill Riesling

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    Simon Judge

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    This is a distinctive white from Nelson, in the north-west of New Zealand’s South Island, a region known as Nelson Tasman. Made from 100% Riesling, this wine comes from one of New Zealand’s oldest vineyards, which is unirrigated and small in scale. The wine spent eight months resting on fine lees before bottling, adding depth and character. The 2023 vintage sits at 12.5% ABV. It has already drawn significant attention, earning a Gold Medal and 95 points at the 2024 International Wine Challenge. It was also a finalist in the People’s Choice 2025 Climate Friendly White category and scooped three…

  • Waitrose No.1 Barossa Shiraz

    Waitrose No.1 Barossa Shiraz

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    Simon Judge

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    This wine is part of Waitrose’s premium No.1 range, aimed at those seeking standout quality. Having been impressed by the No.1 La Val Albariño and Margaux, I had high hopes for this Shiraz, which boasts a 2025 IWC Silver medal and a 93-point rating. It’s produced by the seventh-generation Lindner family and aged in a mix of French and American oak. The 2021 vintage comes in at 15% ABV. As soon as the cap is opened, the aroma escapes from the neck of the bottle, full of ripe red fruit. In the glass, there’s a slightly browning edge to the…

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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

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