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10 award-winning supermarket wines you must try this summer — including a £7 bottle of red
10 award-winning supermarket wines you must try this summer — including a £7 bottle of red
It turns out some of the world's best wines could be hiding in your local supermarket, according to the results of the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition
Your favourite supermarkets sweeped at the International Wine & Spirit Competition
(Image: Getty Images )
Summer is just around the corner, and with the warm weather and chock-a-block calendar often comes the need for a good glass (or bottle) of fine wine. Whether it's a cheap bottle of red or a snazzy bottle of champagne, UK supermarkets have got your back, as they swept up a load of medals with their own-brand drinks at the latest International Wine Awards.
From Aldi and Tesco to Sainsbury's and M&S, all of your trusty supermarkets went head to head with wine producers from around the world and proved themselves to be some of the best. In one of the most competitive judging seasons yet, wines from your favourite household brands earned Gold, Silver and Bronze medals for their everyday-priced products.
David Kermode, IWSC judge and broadcaster, shared: "These results are a wake-up call for anyone who still associates great wine with high prices." The best supermarket own-label ranges are now being made by some of the most respected producers in the world, and the blind tasting at IWSC proves just how well they perform."
A £12 Tesco wine made the top 10 list
(Image: Getty Images )
The top 10 supermarket wine winners
In no particular order, here are 10 of the best supermarket wines that came out on top at the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition.
1. Aldi Animus Douro Reserva 2022 – £6.99
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This full-bodied Portuguese red received high praise for its richness and structure, coming out on top as one of the best-value medallists of this year's competition, with a silver win.
2. Co-op Les Pionniers Vintage Champagne 2013 - £22
This was the one and only supermarket Champagne to take the Gold, with its complex brioche and citrus notes, as a standout vintage in the category.
3. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2022 - £16
One judge described this drink as "impressively elegant", which helped to rank it as gold, thanks to its bold southern Rhône red made in partnership with top estates.
4. Tesco Finest Sauternes - £12
This drink is a classic French dessert wine that offers a luscious, honeyed fruit, sitting at half the price of its château equivalents.
5. M&S Collection Saint Gall Premier Cru Champagne NV - £28
Made in partnership with a historic grower in Épernay, this champagne offers an elegant, chalky feel that is finely textured.
Two selections from M&S made the top 10 list
(Image: Mirrorpix )
6. Asda Extra Special Rioja Reserva 2019 - £8
The Asda fruit-filled wine was praised for its structure and ageing potential, alongside its classic vanilla, spice and red fruit Rioja profile.
7. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference English Bacchus 2023 - £9.50
This is a fresh and zesty white made right here in England and earned itself a silver ranking in a competitive aromatic white category.
8. M&S Collection Picpoul de Pinet 2023 - £9
When it comes to an ideal summer drink, this is your best friend as a crisp, coastal white from the Languedoc.
9. Waitrose No.1 English Sparkling Brut NV - £22.99
The unsurprising entry from Waitrose is one of the UK's most awarded sparkling wines, holding its own against Champagne.
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10. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Barolo 2019 - £14
This Barolo is an accessible expression of Italy's king of wines and gained a silver award for its delicious dark cherry and rose petal notes.
The CEO of the International Wine & Spirit Competition, Christelle Guibert, explained the significance of the supermarket wins. They shared: "At the IWSC, every wine is judged blind by a panel of experts from across the globe. What makes this year especially exciting is the number of affordable supermarket wines standing out alongside premium bottles. It's proof that great winemaking doesn't have to come with a luxury price tag."
