Best supermarket red wines

Best special occasion red

Next-level red wines for celebrations, birthdays and gifts

WINNER: Waitrose & Partners No 1 Valpolicella Ripasso Classico

Very classy; brambly fruit carried by a savoury pepperiness and a supple, silky texture.

Perfect pairing: Ras el hanout spiced leg of lamb with aubergine pilaf.

Available from:
Waitrose (£15.99)

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Tesco Finest The Trilogy Malbec

Ripe and intense fruit lifted by a charming floral perfume, along with some subtle vanilla and clove spice.

Perfect pairing: Beef bourguignon.

Available from:
Tesco (£13)

Best budget red

Affordable red wines for everyday drinking -- all bottles are £6 or under.

WINNER: Morrisons Chevaliers Saint-Martin Bordeaux

Bargain bordeaux made in the modern style, full of ripe black fruit with a little black pepper and a soft, elegant finish.

Perfect pairing: Steak with peppercorn sauce.

Available from:
Morrisons (£6)

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Asda Extra Special Old Vine Garnacha

Old vines give concentration of the blackcurrant and sour cherry fruit in this smooth and juicy wine
that’s very easy to like.

Perfect pairing: Mushroom shawarma.

Available from:
Asda (£5) currently unavailable

Best red to serve chilled

Light-bodied reds served chilled are a great choice for summer suppers and lighter dishes.

WINNER: M&S Tierra Y Hombre Pinot Noir

With a cherry-filled nose, this is juicy and energetic, with a menthol freshness.

Perfect pairing: Duck, mango and watercress salad.

Available from:
M&S (£9.50)

HIGHLY COMMENDED: Morrisons Pinot Noir

Bright, delicate fruits underpinned with herbaceous notes and an elegant, silky texture.

Perfect pairing: Smoked aubergine and pepper salad with pomegranate molasses.

Available from:
Morrisons (£4.79) currently unavailable

Best unique dinner party red

Impress when you’re entertaining with one of these unusual red wines.

WINNER: Waitrose & Partners Loved & Found Castelão

A great crowd pleaser and fantastic value for money, this is made from the native Portuguese grape castelão; fruity but lifted with layers of orange peel and mountain herbs – and a lovely silky texture.

Perfect pairing: Classic moussaka.

Available from:
Waitrose (£8.99) currently unavailable

JOINT HIGHLY COMMENDED: M&S Found Alicante Bouschet

Another Portuguese grape from the Alentejo region. This was intense and inky, with notes of currants, clove and cardamom spice, and grippy tannins with bright acidity.

Perfect pairing: Aubergine parmigiana.

Available from:
M&S (£8.50)

JOINT HIGHLY COMMENDED: Aldi Athlon Agiorgitiko, £7.

Elegant, plummy fruit with a savoury edge and clean, mineral finish.

Perfect pairing: Grilled marinated octopus.

Available from:
Aldi (£7.29) currently unavailable

Previous 2021 winners

Tesco Finest Central Otago Pinot Noir

Juicy, earthy, savoury and supple – a very attractive, easy-drinking wine.

Perfect pairing: try our turkey sandwich recipe

Available from:
Tesco (£14)

Waitrose Summer Road Old Vine Grenache

Soft and herbaceous, with a silky texture and lush, aromatic red fruit.

Perfect pairing: Try our aubergine parmigiana recipe

Available from:
Waitrose (£9.49)

Best medium-bodied red

Gold: M&S Found Nerello Cappuccio, £7

A great example of this little-known grape from Sicily; soft and aromatic with floral notes and a fresh, mineral finish.

Perfect pairing: Try our goat’s cheese and beetroot citrus salad

Currently unavailable

Silver: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Beaujolais Villages Coteaux Granitiques

Made from the delicate gamay grape, this has vibrant scents of rose petals and blackcurrants, with a little warming spice.

Perfect pairing: Try our warm aubergine, pomegranate and onion salad

Available from:
Sainsbury's (£11)

Bronze: Ocado Terreo Malbec

Plummy fruit, brisk acidity and a touch of clove and vanilla spiciness.

Perfect pairing: Try our roast duck with plums and star anise

Available from:
Ocado (£13)

Best full-bodied red

From mainstream classics such as malbec to lesser-known nebbiolo

Gold: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Côtes Du Ventoux

Ripe with fresh cherry flavours and nutmeggy spice. Rounded, balanced and very, very gluggable.

Perfect pairing: Try our lamb shank tagine

Currently unavailable

Silver: Asda Extra Special Carménère

Terrific value for this classic carménère, full of peppery black fruits lifted by a fresh, herbaceous finish.

Perfect pairing: Try our beef shin rendang curry

Available from:
Asda (£8)

Bronze: Tesco Finest The Trilogy Malbec

Crowd-pleasing malbec – muscular with plummy fruit, spice and a hint of chocolate.

Perfect pairing: Try our perfect steak recipe

Available from:
Tesco (£13)

Best showstopping red wine

A red wine for when you want to blow the budget

Joint gold: Aldi Châteauneuf-du-Pape

An opulent wine – plush, rich and smooth, structured with clove spice and displaying impressive length.

Perfect pairing: Try our venison casserole

Currently unavailable

Joint gold: Ocado Hacienda Zorita Natural Reserve Syrah Arribes del Duero

Concentrated and fruity with fragrant spiced aromas reminiscent of mince pies. Beautiful velvety texture with an elegant, fresh finish.

Perfect pairing: Try our slow-cooked pork, apricot and tamarind stew

Available from:
Ocado (£22)

Silver: M&S Amarone della Valpolicella

Amarone is made by partially drying the grapes before they’re pressed – this gives extra richness and intensity to the lovely baked black cherries and damson fruitiness.

Perfect pairing: try our mushroom shawarma

Available from:
Ocado (£23)

Bronze: Asda Extra Special Amarone Della Valpolicella

Very juicy and ripe, with raisiny notes along with stewed autumn fruits and bracing tannins.

Perfect pairing: try our beef wellington

Currently unavailable

Best new discovery red wine

Joint gold: M&S Found Xinomavro & Mandilaria

These two native Greek grapes are blended into this juicy, quaffable wine with exuberant aromas of cherries and eucalyptus.

Perfect pairing: Try with our Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce

Currently unavailable

Joint gold: Waitrose Terra da Vino Surpass Barbera Passito

Warming, velvety, Christmassy fruits, sweet spices and a rich, ripe blackcurrant nose. A silky wine perfect for winter.

Perfect pairing: Try our braised ox cheeks recipe

Currently unavailable

Silver: Asda Via Vincini Gran Rosso

Plush, ripe and silky, with a touch of dried-fruit sweetness and a gentle lick of vanilla.

Perfect pairing: Try our duck and shallots au vin recipe

Currently unavailable

Bronze: Aldi Greek Agiorgitiko

Smooth and opulent but not too heavy, this is lifted by perfumed scents violets and crunchy cranberry fruit.

Perfect pairing: Try our stuffed butternut squash with feta

Currently unavailable

Best everyday red wine

Affordable yet impressive wines for everyday drinking

Gold: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Languedoc Red

Rippling with ripe black fruits and underpinned with warming spice, this versatile wine is great for winter weekday drinking.

Perfect pairing: Try our Afghani lamb skewers

Available from:
Sainsbury's (£8)

Silver: Lidl Cepa Lebrel Rioja Crianza

Incredible value for this classic rioja, robust with liquorice and black pepper along with elegant dark fruit and supple tannins.

Perfect pairing: Try our salami pizza

Available from:
Lidl (£5.99, in store)

Bronze: Asda Extra Special Old Vine Garnacha

Old vines give intensity to the crunchy red fruits in this really appealing wine that finishes with a herbaceous freshness.

Perfect pairing: Try our veggie meatballs recipe

Available from:
Asda (£6.25)