Waitrose Pick List

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8 October 2026

Welcome to the latest edition of my Waitrose wine round-up. Over the last year, I have tasted over 250 wines from the Waitrose Autumn and Spring Waitrose tastings to bring you the absolute best bottles worth your attention. This is a bi-annual summary updated every May and October. Waitrose continues to impress with its expanding No.1 tier and the intriguing ‘Loved & Found’ range, showcasing excellent quality across the board.

Below, I have categorised my top wines by country. Please note that prices are subject to change and can even drop during 25% off Mix 6 events. Not all wines are stocked in every branch, but the full range is available to browse and order online at waitrosecellar.com, with next-day click and collect from any Waitrose store (except Jersey and Guernsey).

Important: Check the vintage on the shelf is the same one as I reviewed. Some stores have older stock.

France

Waitrose No.1 Brut Special Reserve Vintage Champagne 2018 (£39.00) – Produced by Champagne Castelnau, this pale lemon Brut Champagne offers inviting aromas of green apple and brioche that develop into a buttery caramel richness.
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV (£40.00) – A classic Champagne combining crisp citrus and orchard fruit alongside bready, biscuity complexity from extended lees ageing.
Ferdinand Bonnet Vintage Brut 2014 (£40.00) – An intensely rich Champagne from the Côte des Bar boasting nutty depth and ripe fruit from eight years on its lees.
Waitrose Loved & Found Vermentinu Rosé Brut NV (£9.50) – A vibrant sparkling Corsican rosé offering fragrant honeysuckle, ripe pineapple, and a refreshing saline finish.
La Crème de la Crème Chardonnay 2025 (£10.75) – Sourced from Pays d’Oc, this dry, full-bodied Chardonnay delivers baked pear and citrus notes complemented by a buttery, pastry-like richness.
Montgravet Cinsault Rosé 2025 (£6.80) – Produced from Cinsault in Pays d’Oc, this crisp rosé offers delicate rose petal aromas alongside lively wild red berry flavours.
La Perrière Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (£10.50) – Coming from the Loire Valley, this vibrant Sauvignon Blanc is filled with crisp green apple, bright citrus, and a clean mineral finish.
Queen Côtes de Provence Rosé 2025 (£18.50) – A dry, highly aromatic Provence rosé delivering classic strawberry, redcurrant, and pink grapefruit flavours with brisk acidity.
Waitrose Loved & Found Grolleau Gris 2025 (£9.50) – A crisp, low-alcohol Loire Valley white filled with white flowers, green apple, and a clean mineral character.
Laurent Miquel Nocturnes Viognier 2025 (£10.50) – A fresh, light Viognier matured on its lees to enhance its ripe apricot, pear, and peach stone fruit flavours.
Joseph Drouhin Côte de Beaune 2019 (£40.50) – A delicate, medium-bodied Burgundy Pinot Noir featuring red berries, floral hints, and soft, juicy tannins.
Château Tour Marcillanet Haut-Médoc 2019 (£12.00) – A classic Haut-Médoc Bordeaux blend showing rich dark fruit, vanilla, coffee, cedar, and savoury spices.
Château La Croix de Marbuzet Saint-Estèphe 2021 (£22.50) – An elegant Bordeaux red showing ripe blackcurrant fruit, subtle spice, and a finely integrated oak influence.

England

Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Cuvée Rosé 2013 (£175.50) – A high-end English sparkling rosé with fresh strawberry and red cherry notes balanced by refreshing acidity and creamy nougat.

Greece

Waitrose Loved & Found Kidonitsa 2025 (£9.50) – Made from a rare grape in Aigialeia, this dry, medium-bodied white delivers appealing quince and stone fruit flavours with crisp acidity.
Thymiopoulos Atma Xinomavro 2023 (£13.25) – A distinctive, savoury Greek red combining dark berry fruit with pronounced notes of coffee, cedarwood, pine, and leather.

Chile

Morandé Terroir Semillón 2025 (£10.75) – Produced sustainably in Pencahue, this rich white combines juicy lemon and lime with crisp green apple and subtle honey hints.

New Zealand

Saint Clair Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (£16.00) – An expressive Marlborough white bursting with crisp citrus, passion fruit, gooseberry, and a clean, precise finish.
Seifried Gewürztraminer 2025 (£14.75) – An aromatic Nelson white combining rose petals, lychee, and ginger in a fresh, off-dry style.
Waitrose No.1 New Zealand Pinot Noir 2025 (£16.00) – A savoury Marlborough Pinot Noir offering juicy blackberry and dark plum flavours supported by silky tannins.
The Doctors’ Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (£10.00) – A vibrant, lower-alcohol Marlborough white packed with passion fruit, gooseberry, and racy acidity.
Rohe Rapaura Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (£19.50) – A crisp, light-bodied Marlborough white bringing direct gooseberry, passion fruit, lime leaf, and green apple flavours.
Nanny Goat Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024 (£20.00) – A complex and fragrant Pinot Noir uniting red cherry and plum with dried herbs and earthy forest floor notes.

Germany

Waitrose No.1 German Pinot Noir 2025 (£15.00) – An approachable Pinot Noir featuring fresh raspberry and cherry fruit with subtle oak and an earthy, savoury character.

Spain

Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2023 (£16.00) – A powerful Rioja delivering generous ripe red fruit flavours alongside aromatic herbs and warming spices.
CVNE Rioja Blanco Reserva 2021 (£15.00) – A complex and creamy white Rioja combining white flowers, pear, and toast with savoury, smoky oak.
Waitrose No.1 Rioja Reserva 2020 (£14.00) – An elegant, savoury Rioja combining mature red fruit with deep aromas of leather, tobacco, and sweet spice.
La Rioja Alta Viña Alberdi Rioja Reserva 2021 (£22.00) – A round, balanced Tempranillo seamlessly integrating ripe red fruits with balsamic notes of vanilla and caramel.

Australia

Waitrose No.1 McLaren Vale Grenache 2025 (£14.00) – A vibrant, light-feeling red with cherry, wild strawberry, and white pepper spice from sustainable vines.
Moss Wood Amy’s Blend 2024 (£18.75) – A Margaret River red blend showing juicy blackberry, dark plum, eucalyptus, and subtle chocolate notes.
Tread Softly Pinot Noir 2025 (£10.00) – A vibrant, lower-alcohol Pinot Noir bringing fresh red cherry, cranberry, and soft, integrated tannins.
Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz 2024 (£13.50) – An opulent, full-bodied Shiraz packed with intense ripe blackberry, eucalyptus, cedar, and dark chocolate.

Italy

Waitrose Loved & Found Nero di Troia Rosé 2025 (£9.50) – An organic Puglian rosé delivering an intense floral character and ripe raspberry flavours.
Waitrose No.1 Inama Soave Classico 2024 (£17.00) – A full and rounded Italian white displaying crisp citrus, stone fruit, and a honeyed touch from lees ageing.
Masi Costasera Amarone Classico 2021 (£39.00) – A powerful, full-bodied Amarone packed with dried cherry, fig, dark chocolate, and roasted coffee.

South Africa

Journey’s End Clovelly Viognier 2026 (£10.50) – A beautifully textured Viognier delivering succulent peach and mandarin stone fruit flavours balanced by bright acidity.

Pick Lists

TipS – Infographics

Did You Know?

Supermarkets remain the dominant purchasing channel, used by 77.8% of respondents. More

Champagne remains the leading celebratory sparkling wine at 33.4%, followed by Prosecco at 27.4% and English Sparkling wine at 20%. More

34% of people identify high wine prices as a leading frustration. More

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