Waitrose Pick List

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4 June 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 June and December, ensuring you always have access to the freshest seasonal recommendations. 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).

France

Les Trois Couronnes Vinsobres 2023 (£15.00) – A medium to full-bodied blend of Grenache Noir and Syrah that delivers ripe dark fruit and a spicy touch of black pepper.
Domaine Jean-Charles Rion Chambolle-Musigny ‘Aux Beaux Bruns’ 2022 (£78.00) – An exceptional Burgundy Pinot Noir offering intense aromas of smoky oak, refined black fruit flavours, and fine tannins.
Prince Alexandre Crémant de Loire NV (£15.50) – A traditional method sparkling blend bursting with fresh apple and pear, leaving a long, gently sweet finish.
Ayala Brut Majeur NV (£38.00) – An expressive Champagne combining bright citrus and floral notes with a rich brioche character and a dry, structured finish.
Ultimate Provence Rosé 2024 (£20.60) – A dry, fruity, and deeply textured Provence rosé with a fresh, floral citrus aroma.
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV Champagne (£40.00) – A classic Champagne bringing crisp citrus and orchard fruit alongside bready, biscuity complexity from extended lees ageing.
Ferdinand Bonnet Vintage Brut 2014 Champagne (£40.00) – An intensely rich and nutty Champagne that boasts mature fruit flavours 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.
Queen Côtes de Provence Rosé 2025 (£18.50) – A dry, highly aromatic rosé with classic strawberry and pink grapefruit flavours, co-led by Roger Taylor of Queen.
Waitrose Loved & Found Grolleau Gris 2025 (£9.50) – A crisp, low-alcohol Loire Valley white filled with juicy white peach and a clean mineral finish.
Laurent Miquel Nocturnes Viognier 2025 (£10.50) – A fresh, light Viognier matured on its lees to enhance its ripe apricot, pear, and floral stone fruit flavours.
Château La Croix de Marbuzet Saint-Estèphe 2021 (£22.50) – An elegant Bordeaux blend showing ripe blackcurrant fruit, subtle spice, and a finely integrated oak influence.
Joseph Drouhin Côte de Beaune 2019 (£40.50) – A delicate, medium-bodied Burgundy Pinot Noir featuring red berries, floral hints, and a refined, juicy tannic structure.

Italy

Waitrose No.1 Primitivo di Manduria Riserva 2022 (£15.00) – A richly aromatic red from old bush vines that leads with ripe blackberry, plum, vanilla, and virtually no tannin grip.
Montonale Lugana 2024 (£18.00) – A characterful Turbiana white offering delicate white peach and pear notes lifted by a clean, savoury hint of thyme.
Waitrose Loved & Found Nero di Troia Rosé 2025 (£9.50) – A pale gold Puglian rosé delivering intense floral character and fresh, ripe raspberry flavours.
Waitrose No.1 Inama Soave Classico 2024 (£17.00) – A full and rounded Garganega 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 concentrated dark fruit, chocolate, and roasted coffee.

Spain

Waitrose Blueprint Old Vine Garnacha 2023 (£7.25) – A bright, fruit-driven Garnacha bursting with fresh raspberry and blueberry notes alongside soft tannins.
Palacio de Primavera Tinto 2024 (£9.50) – A distinctive Tempranillo offering classic Rioja-like character with plum, a hint of strawberry, and a nuanced herbal edge.
CVNE Rioja Blanco Reserva 2021 (£15.00) – A complex and creamy Viura with a long, soft finish where white fruit perfectly blends 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.

Portugal

Waitrose Loved & Found Touriga Franca 2024 (£9.25) – A perfumed, medium-bodied red from the Alentejo region bringing red cherry, a touch of spice, and ripe tannins.

United States

DeLoach O.F.S. Pinot Noir 2024 (£15.00) – An elegant Californian Pinot Noir showcasing cherry and cranberry notes with a silky feel and a long fruit and oak finish.

Australia

d’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 (£15.00) – A deeply dark McLaren Vale Cabernet offering rich cassis, earthy tones, and a fine chalky texture.
Waitrose No.1 Langmeil Seven Generations Shiraz 2021 (£14.00) – A rich, balanced Barossa Shiraz full of ripe plum, blackberry, cherry, and smooth tannins.
The Dry Dam Riesling 2024 (£13.00) – A Kabinett-style Riesling delivering crisp green apple and lime flavours with sweetness and a fresh flinty edge.
Jip Jip Rocks Shiraz 2024 (£13.50) – An opulent, full-bodied Shiraz packed with intense ripe blackberry, eucalyptus, cedar, and dark chocolate.
Tread Softly Pinot Noir 2025 (£10.00) – A vibrant, lower-alcohol Pinot Noir bringing fresh red cherry, subtle spice, and soft, integrated tannins.

South Africa

Meerlust Rubicon 2021 (£34.00) – A bold, iconic Bordeaux blend showing intense aromas of violet and plum leading into a deeply layered blackcurrant finish.
Journey’s End Clovelly Viognier 2026 (£10.50) – A medium-bodied, beautifully textured Viognier delivering succulent peach and mandarin flavours balanced by fresh acidity.

New Zealand

TAPI Cuvée Brut NV (£20.00) – A vibrant Marlborough sparkling blend bringing bright lemon zest, nectarine, and a lightly sweet, Champagne-like texture.
The Doctors’ Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (£10.00) – A lower-alcohol, lively Sauvignon Blanc packed with intense passion fruit, gooseberry, and racy acidity.
Rohe Rapaura Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (£19.50) – A crisp, light-bodied white filled with dominant gooseberry, passion fruit, lime leaf, and green apple flavours.
Nanny Goat Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024 (£20.00) – A complex and fragrant Pinot Noir uniting juicy red cherry and plum with dried herbs and earthy forest floor notes.

England

Leckford Estate Brut 2021 (£35.00) – A bold and creamy English sparkling wine from Hampshire that opens with strong brioche and finishes with powerful citrus and peach.

Moldova

Waitrose Loved & Found Viorica 2024 (£9.25) – An incredibly fresh white with a striking floral character layered beautifully with melon, peach, and green apple.

Greece

Thymiopoulos Atma Xinomavro 2023 (£13.25) – A distinctive, savoury red combining blackberry fruit with pronounced notes of coffee, cedarwood, pine, and leather.

Pick Lists

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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