This expert advice will make buying wine so much easier for you (Image: Getty)
If you’re anything like me, you enjoy wine but find the choice available in shops and supermarkets overwhelming. How are you supposed to know which is better when there are so many different grape varieties, countries and price points to choose from?
With entire supermarket aisles dedicated to wines, there are literally thousands to choose from in every store. Even shopping by price doesn’t help, because there are expensive wines which do not live up to the price tag while there are also plenty of bargains to be found at the cheaper end of the scale, especially at budget supermarkets like Aldi, which has a good reputation for its wine selection.
With this in mind, I asked wine experts which supermarket had the best wine selection overall, so you can be more confident you’re picking up a good bottle. I also asked them for their pick of the wines available at the supermarket. And one brand was named again and again so it might be time for you to switch up where you buy your wine.
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Deian Benjamin, a TV wine expert for Welsh TV channel S4C’s Prynhawn Da (Good Afternoon) show who also appears on BBC radio to talk about food and drink, said Asda had “cracked the code for wine lovers”.
He said the supermarket was now “blending serious expertise with unbeatable value in a way that has fundamentally transformed wine buying in UK supermarkets”.
He added: “Their dominance is proven beyond doubt by a record-breaking haul of awards in 2025, winning more gold medals at the prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards than any other UK supermarket — a testament to genuine quality, not marketing spin.
“Their celebrated ‘Extra Special’ and ‘Exceptional’ ranges consistently deliver quality that routinely outperforms wines costing significantly more, making truly great wine accessible to everyone rather than the privileged few.
“For an unmatched combination of choice, award-winning quality, and competitive pricing, Asda is the undisputed champion and the smartest destination for wine shoppers today.”
Wine expert Deian Benjamin said Asda had ‘cracked the code for wine lovers’ (Image: Getty)
But Asda was not the supermarket on most experts’ lips. Stefan Weyrauch, a credited oenologist (wine expert) and founder of Renard Creek, a vineyard and online wine shop, said: “If you’re wondering which UK supermarket offers the best options overall, Waitrose continues to set the bar. Its shelves are consistently well curated, meaning you’re less likely to pick up a disappointing bottle. The options are high-quality, and the labelling is clear and informative, making it easier for shoppers to navigate styles and grape varieties.”
Jonathan Kleeman, who is considered one of the UK’s leading sommeliers and has over a decade of experience buying wine at every level from Michelin-starred restaurants to large-scale retail, said: “Picking the best supermarket overall is tough because different ones do different things well. But if I had to choose just one, it would be Waitrose. The consistency is there all year round.
“You can walk in, in person or online, and always find a decent bottle. They do run deals and use the odd loss leader, which helps with value, but more importantly, their range leans toward quality. Yes, they carry the big, mass-market names, but you’ll also find wines from serious producers, and a bit more depth than most.
“A close second, though, is Aldi. They’ve been knocking it out of the park in terms of value. Time and again, they’ve managed to get hold of genuinely good wines at very sharp prices. The catch is consistency, when they land a really great deal, the wine tends to disappear quickly, and you may never see it again. So for Aldi, it’s a case of “grab it while it’s there.
“To sum up: for value, Aldi is hard to beat, but for range and reliable quality, it’s still Waitrose every time.”
Wine expert Stefan Weyrauch (Image: Stefan Weyrauch)
‘For range and reliable quality, it’s still Waitrose every time,’ one wine expert says (Image: Getty)
Madrid-based British certified wine expert Michael Pope, who is frequently quoted as an authority on wine, said: “If forced to choose just one [supermarket], I’d go with Waitrose in the UK. It offers a well-curated range covering everything from affordable everyday bottles to premium and niche labels.
“Reviewers and sommeliers regularly highlight Waitrose selections as winners in blind or expert tastings, and the chain has a strong reputation for fair, long-term relationships with suppliers, which often translates into better quality and consistency.
“If your priority is lowest cost with surprising quality, Lidl or Aldi might beat Waitrose on sheer value, but for a combination of selection, reliability, and trustworthy sourcing, Waitrose hits the sweet spot.”
Wine expert Deian Benjamin said an £8.50 wine at Morrisons was the best you could get (Image: Getty)
Deian, who also runs the Gwin A Mwy (Wine And More) website, flagged the João Portugal Ramos Family Reserve at Morrisons, which costs £8.50 with a More Card, saying it was a “genuine revelation”.
He added: “It stands out amongst the crowded supermarket shelves showing exceptional Portuguese winemaking at a remarkably accessible price. This award-winning wine offers remarkable complexity and sophistication, easily outperforming wines that are double the price.
“The palate delivers juicy dark fruits, subtle spice, and elegant oak that speaks to decades of viticultural expertise. Perfect for autumnal nights in front of the fire, this is an exceptional wine for everyday enjoyment and an absolute must-buy.”
Stefan Weyrauch said: “If you’re shopping for supermarket wine right now, one standout in UK supermarkets is the Torres Sangre de Toro Tempranillo. With juicy red fruit, just the right lift of acidity, and a gentle touch of oak, it works equally well with food or on its own. It’s a reliable everyday choice without stretching the budget.”
English sparkling wine is ‘always a safe bet’ in the supermarket, says one wine expert (Image: Getty)
Jonathan Kleeman said: “For me, if you’re talking about supermarkets and wine, the safest bet is always English sparkling.
“As a category, it’s reached a level now where the quality baseline is already pretty high. So if you’re buying English sparkling in a supermarket, you’re unlikely to walk out with something genuinely bad, which isn’t always the case with other styles of wine on the shelves.”
And Michael Pope, who also founded Vine Travel in 2023, a boutique wine tour agency in Spain, said: “For a red wine, go for a Ribera del Duero. I’ve found the quality to be remarkably consistent, with ripe fruit and subtle oak that punches above its price.
“For a white, a South African Chenin Blanc has been reliably versatile for years. Great on its own or with food, offering freshness and balance without being overly fussy.
“When thinking about cost, I’d go for anything £12 and up. The reason is, a lot of the cost of a supermarket bottle goes on taxes, shipping, packaging and retailer margins, meaning that anything below can leave very little actually paying for the wine itself. With this, you’re more likely to get a bottle where the wine inside delivers on flavour, complexity, and drinking pleasure.”