A combination of unusual finds and good value are Aldi’s driving forces. Discover the broad range of medal-winners available from this innovative supermarket at this year's Decanter World Wine Awards.
Aldi received its first Gold medal after several years at Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2023 for its lively and herbaceous Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2022 from South Australia – and a Value Gold at that. With an additional five Bronze medal winners from Australia, Aldi is a good source if looking for value wines from Down Under.
Sparkling wines are also worth note, with a classy Silver-medal winning Crémant du Jura topping the bill with an impressive 93 points, followed by 92-point Bowler & Brolly Winemaster’s Lot Classic Cuvée Brut from England, noted for its bready, cashew-infused flavours.
For Champagne, Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Blanc de Blancs 2015 has a beautiful lemony backbone and its Veuve Monsigny No III Brut NV a generous mousse, both worthy of Bronze medals at the 2023 competition.
Scroll down to see our Aldi shopper’s guide for DWWA award-winning wines
Aldi’s breadth of range is part of its appeal and at this year’s DWWA the supermarket’s medals came from no fewer than eight countries representing a wide spectrum of varieties and styles.
Novelty seekers should make note of the 91-point scoring Wrong Turn Fernão Pires from South Africa’s Western Cape for floral aromatics and a refreshing saline finish, or the beautifully pure and linear Bronze medal-winning Athlon Assyrtiko from Macedonia, Greece.
For fortified fans, two Silver medal winners are worth seeking out. From Spain, Aldi’s own Specially Selected Pedro Ximénez deserves special mention for its sweet chocolate-coated plum flavours, while Fletcher’s 40 Year Old Tawny Port oozes walnut cake, toffee and caramel.
There’s always something unexpected turning up on this value-focused retailer’s shelves. Keep an eye on the Aldi website for online exclusives that are not available to in-store shoppers, and see below for the award-winning wines to seek out.
Shopper’s guide: award-winning wines from Aldi
Gold
Aldi, Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc, South Australia 2022
Value Gold, 95 points
£8.99
Lots of grassy herbal notes on the nose with lovely citrusy aromas and touches of ripe stone fruit. Very lively with a harmonious acidity. Alcohol 13%
Silver
Aldi, Specially Selected Crémant du Jura Brut, France, 2019
Silver, 93 points
£8.99
Nice appley nose, beautiful. Very fresh and vibrant on the palate, classy and complex, very fruity and long. Alc 12%
Aldi, Specially Selected Bowler & Brolly Winemaster’s Lot Classic Cuvée Brut, England NV
Silver, 92 points
£19.99
Green apple skins and a touch of hedgerow aromas. Bread and cashew nuts on the palate and a nice mouthfeel. Alc 12%
Aldi, Wrong Turn Fernão Pires, Western Cape, South Africa 2022
Silver, 91 points
£8.99
Very aromatic nose with scents of apple blossom, honeydew melon, elderflower musk and citrus. Vibrant on the palate, saline finish. Alc 12%
Aldi, Specially Selected PX, Sherry, Spain NV
Silver, 90 points
£5.49 | 37.5cl
Treacle and sweet chocolate coated plums with a lovely aromatic sweet clove spice. Very chocolatey on the palate. Luscious and intense. Alc 17%
Aldi, Fletcher’s 40 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal NV
Silver, 90 points
£39.99
Deep tawny, walnut cake, toffee, caramel, and coffee on the nose. Hugely complex with lovely richness; an impressive wine. Alc 20%
Bronze
Veuve Monsigny, Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne France 2015
Bronze, 88 points
£21.99
Buttery nose with aromas of apple, pear and toasted almonds. Nice lemony backbone on the palate. Alc 12.5%
Veuve Monsigny, No III Brut, Champagne, France NV
Bronze, 86 points
£14.99
Lively aromas of apple juicy with some berries. Very frothy on the palate, easy to drink. Alc 12.5%
Aldi, Filos Estate Chardonnay, Florina, Macedonia, Greece 2022
Bronze, 88 points
£8.99
Peach, celery, Meyer lemon and cucumber aromatics. Crisp palate with luscious fruits and a persistent finish. Great value. Alc 13%
Aldi, Specially Selected Chardonnay, Barossa Valley, South Australia 2022
Bronze, 87 points
£7.79
Fresh nose of melon, young pineapple and touches of herbal scents. Well made and pleasant. Alc 13%
Aldi, Athlon Assyrtiko, Macedonia, Greece 2022
Bronze, 86 points
£6.99
Simple, neutral, saline, appley wine with citrusy acidity and a pure, linear palate. Alc 12%
Aldi, Baron Amarillo Verdejo, Rueda, Spain 2022
Bronze, 86 points
£5.29
This has a citrusy and herbal nose and palate, then a lemon peel suffused finish. Alc 13.5%
Aldi, Specially Selected Organic Costa Toscana Rosato, Tuscany, Italy 2022
Bronze, 88 points
£7.49
Nose of wild strawberries and soft red fruits. A fresh palate with some candied red berry. Alc 13%
Aldi, Specially Selected Pinot Noir Rosé, Spain 2022
Bronze, 86 points
£9.99
Restrained red fruit aromas and flavours with medium acidity and medium length. Alc 12.5%
Aldi, Specially Selected Clare Valley Shiraz, South Australia 2021
Bronze, 89 points
£8.99
Spicy oak on the nose, with notes of baked black fruit and dark chocolate. Chewy tannins. Alc 14%
Aldi, Specially Selected Kooliburra Pinot Noir, South Australia 2022
Bronze, 89 points
£7.49
Candied fruit aromas with notes of spicy nettles and savoury hints. Dry, with grainy tannins. Alc 14%
Aldi, Specially Selected Australian Malbec, South Australia 2021
Bronze, 88 points
£9.99
Youthful, showing aromas of blackberries with notes of eucalyptus. Plummy palate, with a lively acidity. Alc 14.5%
Aldi, Animus Gran Reserva, Douro, Portugal 2020
Bronze, 87 points
£9.99
Very attractive nose of ripe blackberries, cherry, vanilla bean and black tea. Light and spicy. Alc 14%
Aldi, Specially Selected Kooliburra Cabernet Sauvignon, Australia 2020
Bronze, 86 points
£6.79
Peppery briary nose with notes of seaweed and candied fruits. Serious on the palate, long finish. Alc 14%
Château Suduiraut, Aldi Specially Selected Sauternes, Bordeaux, France 2018
Bronze, 88 points
£10.99 | 37.5cl
Dark yellow. Attractive peach and mango notes with beeswax and honey. Good concentration and easy drinking. Excellent value. Alc 14%
