The latest Sainsbury’s tasting showcased bottles from its spring/summer 2025 range – a mix of 14 new listings plus returning favourites – that are ideal for seasonal drinking. They run from crisp summer whites such as Albariño to pretty pink rosés and fizzes that are perfect for alfresco celebrations. You’ll also find food-friendly bottles that are ideal for your barbecue or picnic.
As usual, the supermarket’s own-label Taste the Difference range does a great job of covering many classic regions and styles at affordable prices. Top picks include a Taste the Difference Ellercombe English Sparkling made by the team behind Nyetimber (£22) and an elegant Muscadet from France’s Loire Valley (£10.50). Taste the Difference Chablis Vielles Vignes 2022 is a great value, food-friendly Chardonnay from Burgundy for just £17.50 (see below for tasting notes).
‘Many people are rediscovering a love for Chardonnay, which is evident on social media and has been spurred on by the new Bridget Jones film earlier this year,’ says Sophie Hogg, category director for grocery drinks at Sainsbury’s.
Discover something different
Meanwhile the latest Discovery Collection offers more hidden gems and interesting bottles for wine lovers to explore. This more adventurous, limited-edition range is always worth buying – even if you haven’t tried the wine style before. Among my highlights this year was the new Discovery Collection Souvignier Gris (£9.50) made by Languedoc winemaker Jean-Claude Mas (see below for tasting note). Souvignier Gris is a fungus-resistant white German variety that’s a cross between Seyval Blanc and Zähringer.
Mas also makes the new Discovery Collection Marselan (£9.50), a Pays d’Oc wine (see below for tasting note). Marselan is a red French variety that’s a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache. Medium-bodied, with spicy baked plums, a touch of earthiness and tannic grip, it’s a good choice for your summer barbecues.
Stars buys
The Sainsbury’s Italian range continues to impress for its value and quality. My picks to drink now include the Taste the Difference Sicilian Nero d’Avola 2022 (£9) and Terre di Faiano Organic Nero di Troia 2022 (£10), both introduced to the Sainsbury’s range last year (see below for tasting notes).
But South Africa also put in a star turn with a raft of well priced, well-made wines. They include Bellingham’s characterful The Bernard Series Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2023 (£13) and a Discovery Collection Elim Sauvignon Blanc (£12.50) from cool-climate Elim, a small region at the tip of the Western Cape (see below for tasting notes).
Value picks and lower alcohol
Meanwhile Sainsbury’s is competing comfortably with budget supermarkets Aldi and Lidl thanks to its value range of ‘by Sainsbury’s’ bottles. For summer sipping, the by Sainsbury’s House Soave 2023 is a steal at £4.85 (see below for tasting note). At 11% abv, it’s also an example of the continuing trend for low alcohol wines.
Anyone watching their alcohol intake should look out for the ‘Mid-Strength’ labels that Sainsbury’s introduced two years ago. ‘We’ve led the market since the launch of our Mid-Strength range in September 2023 and we’re continuing to see an increased growth within the lower-abv category,’ says Hogg. Try the new Bread & Butter Sliced Chardonnay 2023 (£16, 9% abv) or Tread Softly Rosé 2024 (£10, 9.9% abv).
In the pink
Speaking of rosé, the excellent Bandol Rosé from Provence (£16), which was previously in the Discovery range has now become a permanent part of the Taste the Difference collection (see below for tasting note).
‘At Sainsbury’s we’ve seen remarkable growth in rosé – sales are up almost 50% in the last five years,’ reports Hogg. ‘Looking ahead to this summer, we anticipate that pale French rosés will continue to be popular,’ she adds.
My value French rosé picks include Atlantique Bordeaux Rosé 2024 (£8) and Ile-de-Beauté Rosé from Corsica (£10). If you’re after a pricier bottle choose Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé 2024 (£16), from the estate that was famously purchased by Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie (see below for tasting notes).
Summer sparkle
Finally, Sainsbury’s has plenty of fizz for alfresco celebrations at prices to suit all pockets. Bored of Prosecco? Then try its Italian cousin Pignoletto from Emilia-Romagna. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Pignoletto NV is a great buy at just £8 (see below for tasting note). But if only Champagne will do, then take a punt on Sainsbury’s reliable own-label Taste the Difference Champagne Brut NV (£22).
Sainsbury’s also has continues to have a strong selection of wallet-friendly regional French crémants. They include examples from Limoux, the Loire and Alsace, which are really enjoyable value options (all tasting notes below).
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Best Sainsbury’s wines
Tasting notes come from the Sainsbury’s spring/summer 2025 tasting. Recommendations from older tastings have also been included if the wine is still available in store or online. All bottle prices are correct at time of publication.
