Digital Media Centre

WINE EXPERT REVEALS TOP PICKS FROM ALDI’S NEW WINE RANGE – AND THREE COST LESS THAN £5

• Mistress of Wine, Sam Caporn shares best bargain bottles as well as options for special occasions
• Aldi has introduced over 70 new wines this Autumn, with prices starting from as little as £3.79 

With many wine-enthused shoppers thirsty for recommendations to see them through the cold winter months and into Christmas, wine expert, Sam Caporn, shares her top picks from Aldi’s new Autumn Winter wine range.  And there’s something to suit all budgets.

Sam comments: “Tasting a new range from Aldi is always exciting and as ever, there are lots of great bargain bottles to choose from. Keeping one eye on cost and the other on Christmas, I have selected a handful of my favourites – fantastic on the pocket and the palate, for mid-week sipping, weekend imbibing, or pushing the boat out this festive period.”

BEST BOTTLES UNDER £5

Grapevine Shiraz (£3.79, 75cl)

Sam describes this red as “full of soft bramble fruit, blackberries, and spice. Smooth and easy drinking with no hard edges.” The ultimate mid-week glass of wine to accompany a warming winter meal and at under £4, it’s a top drop that won’t pull on the purse strings.

Pierre Jaurant Bordeaux 2020 (£4.79, 75cl)

As seen on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, this Bordeaux is a real crowd-pleaser. Quoted by wine guru Helen McGinn on the show as “The best value Bordeaux– it is unbelievably good.”  Sam agrees: “Extraordinary value with lots of cinnamon spice on the nose and a palate with plums and morello cherries.”

Cambalala South African Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (£4.95, 75cl)

Looking for a small breath of summer in the depth of winter? Sam comments: “Instantly recognisable zippy exuberant aromas of Sauvignon Blanc remain huge customer favourites and this one I particularly liked. It is very expressive and full of green pepper and tomato leaf aromas.’”

BEST BOTTLES UNDER £10

Specially Selected Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (£8.99, 75cl)

From the premium wine growing region of Margaret River in Australia, Sam describes this wine as “tangy and fresh with aromas of grapefruit, passionfruit and lime.”

Specially Selected Greco di Tufo 2021 (£7.99, 75cl)

A more eclectic and lesser-known Italian white, Sam says “this is bursting with notes of yellow plum, liquorice and tropical fruit with juicy lime acidity and pineapple notes. Delicious and distinctive.”

Estevez Chilean Viognier 2021 (£5.49, 75cl)

Another bargain “full of pretty peachy fruit with apricot and nectarine on the palate. Characterful, textured and soft, a brilliant white for autumn and winter” Sam describes.

BEST VALUE BOTTLES FOR EXTRA-SPECIAL OCCASIONS

Winemaker’s Lot Rioja Gran Reserva 2014 (£10.99, 75cl)

Nothing says winter quite like a bold Spanish red. “A classic Rioja with appealing aromas of vanilla and coconut with kirsch, cherry, and plums on the palate. Mellow, supple yet full of flavour – this is a fantastic Rioja” says Sam.

Winemaster’s Lot English Pinot Noir Rosé 2021 (£14.99, 75cl)

Why is English rosé so good? Partly because the exceptional pinot noir wine being made lends itself to rosé, and this is the perfect example. “A light onion skin colour with yellow plums, honeysuckle, pear and ripe squashed strawberries” says Sam.

Blanc de Blancs Vintage Champagne 2015 (£21.99, 75cl)

“With Christmas winking at us, this is an amazing alternative to more expensive, branded grand marque bottles,” said Sam. “It has all the elegance and gorgeous yeasty notes that one would expect but is half the price of new vintage wines. Made only from the Chardonnay grape (hence the term Blanc de Blancs), this has wonderful lemony acidity and a long bready, buttered croissant finish.”

Aldi’s full Autumn Winter wine range is available in stores now and online via click & collect: www.aldi.co.uk/wine