Waitrose

  • Barón De Ley Gran Reserva Rioja

    Barón De Ley Gran Reserva Rioja

    This wine, 2017 vintage, 14% ABV, is produced exclusively in years deemed exceptional. It is aged for 24 months in a mix of American and French oak, followed by an additional 36 months in the bottle. Its aroma is classically Rioja, evoking the hallmark ripe cherries, vanilla and slight smokey notes you’d expect. On the…

  • Waitrose Food & Drink Report 2024

    Waitrose Food & Drink Report 2024

    Waitrose have a new Food and Drink Report based on a survey of over 3,200 people who have shopped at Waitrose in the preceding three months to October 2024. The findings highlight a noticeable shift in customer drinking habits. Sales of no- and low-alcohol wines have risen significantly, up by 17% compared to previous periods….

  • 25% Off Wine at Waitrose

    25% Off Wine at Waitrose

    Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced between £6 and £100 from 27 November to 3 December 2024 inclusive. See the recent press tasting for tips on what to buy.

  • White Wines to Enjoy in Autumn

    White Wines to Enjoy in Autumn

    David Williams of The Guardian has some recommendations for richer, fuller white wines as an alternative to the usual reds. Wildstone Reserva Roussanne 2024, Colchagua Valley, Chile – £8 at WaitroseAlso previously also tipped by me from the Waitrose tasting, this wine from Chile’s reliable Luis Felipe Edwards has a full-bodied, autumnal appeal, featuring mouth-filling…

  • 25% Off Wine at Waitrose

    25% Off Wine at Waitrose

    Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced between £6 and £100 from 23 October to 29 October 2024 inclusive. See the recent press tasting for tips on what to buy.

  • Waitrose Autumn Tasting

    Waitrose Autumn Tasting

    In October 2024, I had the pleasure of attending the Waitrose Autumn Wines, Beers and Spirits Press Tasting. The showcase featured over 125 wines, mostly available in Waitrose stores with a select few only available online at Waitrose Cellar. Waitrose have launched five new offerings in the Loved & Found wine range, including Aranel, Piedirosso,…

  • Waitrose Launches UK’s First Major Supermarket Cork Recycling Trial

    Waitrose Launches UK’s First Major Supermarket Cork Recycling Trial

    Waitrose has announced it will be the first major UK supermarket to trial cork recycling, beginning on 7th October in seven stores, including Salisbury, Saltash, Lymington, Bath, Godalming, Truro, and Maidenhead (when it reopens in November). Customers will be encouraged to recycle natural corks at collection points, with the material being processed by Amorim, the…

  • 25% Off at Waitrose

    25% Off at Waitrose

    A less frequent 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced £6 or over from 20 August to 27 August 2024 inclusive. See the Waitrose press tasting for tips on what to buy.

  • Los Tontos Sabios

    Los Tontos Sabios

    Los Tontos Sabios is a quirky and intriguing red ‘field blend’ crafted from organic grapes. This wine, from the La Mancha region of Spain, is a harmonious mix of native Spanish grape varieties, all grown in the same field and fermented together. The specific grapes are not disclosed, which adds an element of mystery to…

  • Cheapest UK Supermarket for Branded Wine

    Cheapest UK Supermarket for Branded Wine

    A Which? investigation has found that Tesco is the cheapest supermarket for branded wines if you have a Clubcard. An analysis of prices for 15 branded wines at major UK supermarkets (Asda, Morrisons, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose) from 1 February to 30 April 2024 revealed Tesco’s Clubcard discounts made it the most affordable, with…

  • Celebrate English Wine Week with The Uncommon at Waitrose King’s Cross

    Celebrate English Wine Week with The Uncommon at Waitrose King’s Cross

    The Uncommon, a pioneering English winemaker, is set to take over the Waitrose Bar at its King’s Cross store during English Wine Week from 15th to 23rd June. Their canned English bubbly wines will be featured alongside a series of vibrant activities, including tastings and an English Wine Masterclass led by Phil Norman on June…

  • 25% off Wine at Waitrose

    25% off Wine at Waitrose

    Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced £6 or over from 22 May to 4 June 2024 inclusive.

  • Waitrose Spring Tasting

    Waitrose Spring Tasting

    In April 2024, I had the opportunity to attend a press tasting hosted by Waitrose in London, featuring new lines and vintages. The event presented just under 100 wines, of which I sampled the majority. Among the highlights were the new additions to the own brand ‘Loved & Found’ range, which originally launched in 2019….

  • 25% off Wine at Waitrose

    25% off Wine at Waitrose

    Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced £6 or over from 20 March to 2 April 2024 inclusive.

  • Wines for Comfort Food

    Wines for Comfort Food

    In her article in Delicious Magazine on the best wines for comfort food, Susy Atkins recommends a selection of wines to complement hearty dishes. Suzy highlights wines that pair well with classics such as chilli, fish pie and roast chicken, offering a variety of options from different regions and at different price points. The Baron…

  • Saperavi Grape

    Saperavi Grape

    The Metro newspaper recently shed light on the ‘Saperavi’, a grape that originates from Georgia, between Eastern Europe and West Asia. Saperavi bears a striking resemblance in taste and character to Cabernet Sauvignon but with a twist. It also has the warming spice and rich texture reminiscent of a hearty Argentinian Malbec. What sets Saperavi…

  • Finding Good Value

    Finding Good Value

    Victoria Moore, a wine correspondent from the Telegraph Newspaper, discusses the impact of inflation on wine prices in her recent article (article might be behind paywall by the time you read this). She notes that British shoppers are typically thrifty when buying wine, often seeking the best deals, particularly in supermarkets. Moore acknowledges the challenge…

  • La Vieille Ferme Rosé

    La Vieille Ferme Rosé

    La Vieille Ferme Rosé is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache and Shiraz/Syrah. Despite its modest 3.6 rating on Vivino, it comes recommended by the Telegraph newspaper and proved to be a pleasant discovery. The wine has a floral aroma and the taste distinguishes itself with its dryness, a quality that isn’t always associated with rosé…

  • Produttori Primitivo di Manduria Riserva

    Produttori Primitivo di Manduria Riserva

    The 2019 vintage from Manduria’s Consorzio Produttori Vini showcases the deep-rooted history of the winery, founded in 1932. This year is proudly indicated on the label. This full-bodied wine, with its robust 14.5% alcohol content, is also suitable for vegans. The wine has been carefully aged in oak barrels for at least nine months, a…

  • 25% off Wine at Waitrose

    25% off Wine at Waitrose

    Waitrose has 25% off 6 bottles or more of wine and Champagne priced £6 or over from 1 November to 7 November inclusive.

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Did You Know?

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