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The Irish Sun

Eight great ‘summer sippers' from Lidl, including 5-star €7.99 bargain wine that's ‘super alternative to Pinot Grigio'

THE arrival of Aldi in 1991, and Lidl the following year, was just the kind of kick up the rear the Irish retail market needed at the time. In the years since - Advertisement 9 Variety of wine for tasting on table in vineyard Credit: Getty Images - Getty That customer stand-offish attitude – one might say childish snobbery – quickly evaporated. My interest in both companies has always been about the wine ranges they offer to Irish wine lovers. How do they service some 350 outlets across the land with affordable wines? Well, I got a chance to answer some of these conundrums on a trip to Advertisement Read more in Wine It included a two-day stay in Rioja, followed by another two in Ribera del Duero, two of Spain's major wine-producing regions. It's a wine producing nation known for innovation and the ability to deliver very quaffable reds, whites and rosés vintage after vintage. But could they consistently deliver the goods to some 12,360 Lidl stores across Europe and beyond, including the 180 Irish outlets? That question was conclusively answered in visits to Marqués de Carrion in Rioja, and Bodega Felix Solis in Valdepeñas. Advertisement Most read in The Irish Sun Exclusive These are state of the art wineries. More than capable of supplying all the Spanish regional wines Lidl requires. At Valdepeñas the winery boasts one of the finest and most modern processing and bottling plants in the world – with a total capacity for 330 million bottles, a bottling capability of 150,000 an hour, and an aging cellar capable of holding 130,000 oak barrels. Wow! Jose Mourinho launches new side hustle alongside Fenerbahce job as John Terry vows to be first customer Back in Rioja, at Marqués de Carrion, the production figures are just as incredible: annual bottling capacity of 50 million, with 20,000 American and French oak barrels where the wines rest before bottling. The cellar has a capacity for one million Rioja Crianzas, Reservas and Gran Reservas. Above all, what impressed me most was the hygiene in place in both of these wineries, two of the biggest in Spain. I can remember two decades ago when visiting Spanish bodegas that hygiene, and health and safety regulations, were mainly non-existent. Spain has come a long, long way. Advertisement What is so important for Lidl is that the logistic departments at both companies are among the best, thus alleviating any worries about deliveries. One final note on this most educational trip… in recent years, particularly the 2022 to 2024 vintages, I have seen a gradual increase in quality of the Lidl wines – more weight on the palate, more rounded and more characterful wines. And a little more adventurous in their choice of wines. Well done, Lidl. Below are eight of my favourite wines tasted on the trip, with two outstanding five-star bottles. Advertisement Cepa Lebrel Rioja Reserva, 2020 (ABV 13.5%) 9 €8.99 everyday price @ Lidl stores Grape: Tempranillo A REAL, long-time favourite with Lidl shoppers. A medium garnet colour when poured, with aromas of blackberries, cherries and just a whiff of vanilla. Advertisement The palate is well integrated, with nice layers of ripe dark fruit and cherries, along with notes of spice, leather, and dark chocolate. The tannins are supple and softening nicely, which helps deliver an exceptionally smooth finish. Enjoy with: Roast leg of spring lamb (when the price drops!) Star rating: **** Gavi 2023 (ABV 12%) 9 Advertisement €9.99 everyday price @ Lidl stores Grape: Cortese GAVI, for many years, has been a wine I found instantly forgettable – but this was a delightful surprise, from Piedmont, Italy, and at a super price. A medium straw colour, it has an enticing floral, citrus and Granny Smith apple bouquet. Advertisement The palate is bone dry and refreshing, with a nice streak of minerality, great acidity and perceptible notes of melon, peach and apple. Punching well above its weight. Enjoy with: Salmon pasta. Star rating: **** Hachon Ribera del Duero DO Reserva, 2020 (ABV 14%) 9 Advertisement €10.99 everyday price @ Lidl stores Grape: Tempranillo THIS generous and very more-ish, ruby red wine is medium bodied and has excellent structure. A brooding, deep ruby colour, it has aromas of soft, squishy black summer fruits, like blackberries and blackcurrants, along with a lick of blueberries. Advertisement The palate is well balanced with concentrated black fruit flavours, with notes of stewed plum and coffee, and nicely drying tannins. Super length. Enjoy with: Beef and mushroom pie. Star rating: **** RSV Picpoul de Pinet AOP, 2024 (ABV 13.5%) 9 Advertisement €7.99 everyday price @ Lidl stores Grape: Picpoul FROM the sun-soaked Mediterranean coast in the south of France, comes this light, aromatic and crisp white wine – a super alternative to Pinot Grigio. A pale gold colour, with light green reflections, the nose is quite intense with a mix of citrus, lemon, pineapple and floral notes, leading into a palate that has great acidity, citrus fruits and a nice streak of salinity. Advertisement Enjoy with: Perfect pairing with oysters or light salads. Star rating: ***** Breath of Paradise Cotes de Provence Rosé, 2024 (ABV 12.5%) 9 €11.99 everyday price @ Lidl stores Advertisement Grape: Grenache WHISPER it softly, this elegant rosé wine, is half the price, and twice as good, as better known Provencal pinks. Nice pale salmon pink in the glass, with strong aromas of strawberries, with delicate herbal and peach notes. The palate is very dry and particularly delicate with good acidity and length. Advertisement Enjoy with: Pan fried Lemon Sole Star rating: **** Chianti Reserva, 2021 (ABV 13%) 9 €10.99 everyday price @ Lidl stores Grape: Sangiovese Advertisement EXTREMELY quaffable and fresh Chianti Riserva, at a rather agreeable price. This medium ruby Tuscan red is a serial vintage pleaser, with dark, soft fruit aromas (think blackberries), with just a little floral and coffee bean note on the nose. The palate is wonderfully polished and refined, with notes of dark cherry, plum, blackberries and spice, with good acidity and a rounded smooth finish. Dangerously seductive sipper. Enjoy with: Midweek pasta dish Advertisement Star rating: **** Castillo de Albai Rioja Blanco, 2023(ABV 12/5%) 9 At Lidl stores from July 10 @ €7.99 Grape: Viura Advertisement THERE has been a welcome resurgence of interest in white Rioja in recent years. Little is produced, but many bodegas are taking these wonderful wines seriously again. White production in Rioja is less than ten per cent, but gradually growing. The best are prohibitively expensive, so it's great to try this bargain basement Blanco. A medium straw yellow colour, as it opens up in the glass it reveals nice tropical fruit and green apple aromas. The palate is fresh, crisp and nicely rounded, with notes of pear, citrus and stone fruit. Good length. Advertisement Enjoy with: Paella Star rating: **** Tulga Joven D.O. Toro, 2023 (ABV 14%) 9 €8.49 everyday price @ Lidl stores Advertisement Grape: Tempranillo FROM the small, demarcated Toro region, situated north west of Madrid, comes this full-bodied red which really impressed me at recent tastings. A deep, seductive ruby colour when poured, it has cherry, raspberry and plum aromas. The palate is dry, with a bowl of red fruit flavours – raspberries, cherries and blackcurrants. It also has a peppery note and a little oak. Medium length on the finish, with silky tannins. Super sipper. Advertisement Enjoy with: Grilled lamb cutlets. Star rating: *****