Supermarket Aldi showcased 98 sparkling and still wines in its 2024 UK autumn/winter collection, 63 of them new.
With prices starting from £4.19 for the non-vintage Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot under the Estevez label from Chile, to £21.99 for the Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne NV, the focus of this German supermarket chain, as always, is on affordable quality.
Scroll down for scores and tasting notes of the best Aldi wines to buy
As with all UK supermarket buyers, Josh Heley (still wines) and Lucy Pemberton (sparkling, fortified and no-/low-alcohol wines), have the difficult task of delivering a versatile offer amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.
New on shelves since spring 2024 is the Unearthed range, following in the footsteps of similar ‘off-the-beaten-track’ lines at other UK supermarkets such as Marks & Spencer’s Found and Expressions ranges, Waitrose’s Loved & Found and Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Discovery Collection. The Beira Interior white and Caladoc Rosé, both from the 2023 vintage, are the picks.
Aldi has pledged to reduce bottle weights, introducing in spring 2024 ‘flat’ recycled PET bottles which are seven times lighter than regular glass ones. At the same time they brought in two South African wines in paper bottles. One is still on shelves: the Cambalala, Sauvignon Blanc 2023 (blended with 15% Colombard), which has a carbon footprint six times lower than a standard bottle and is and made from 94% recycled paper.
In addition to 20 new recommendations from Aldi’s 2024 autumn/winter tasting, six previous Decanter wine picks are still available and remain great buys:
- Costellore, Specially Selected Extra Dry Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore NV
- Contevedo, Cava Brut, Spain NV
- Cambalala, Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa 2023
- Castellore, Specially Selected Toscana Rosso 2021
- Baron Amarillo, Crianza, Rioja, Spain 2018
- Buenas Vides, Specially Selected Organic Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina 2023
In January 2023, Aldi made the controversial decision to stop all of its online operations. This means its current range is only available to purchase at one of its 990 UK stores, 200 of which offer a click-and-collect service.
Aldi wines: Decanter’s pick of the best buys
Of the following 26 wines, 20 are recommendations from the 2024 autumn/winter tasting in September and the others are from older tastings but still available in store.
