Best Co-op wine buys: Editor's picks from the current range
Raise a glass without breaking the bank – choose from our top seasonal finds, ranging from Champagne to great-value wines from classic regions.
It's always a joy coming back to Co-op's release tasting, going through a carefully curated line-up of around 70 wines, including seasonal highlights and reliable staples from its own 'Irresistible' range. Currently, more than half are priced at £10 or below, with quality wines from classic regions and styles offering fantastic value.
Ahead of the festive season, the 2026 autumn and winter range encompasses a wide selection of sparkling wines. The 'Les Pionniers' Champagnes (both the NV and vintage bottlings) again topped my picks for sparklers. Many good-value choices follow – the Prosecco Extra Dry from Scalini and Co-op's Tililmuqui Sparkling Wine (made using the aromatic Torrontés) are well worth a try as easy party fizzes.
It was the value reds that truly impressed me with their delicious quality and food-pairing potential. From familiar French regions, Les Aoûtiens Merlot 2024 (Pays d'Oc) and Les Grands Consuls 2024 (Côtes du Rhône) are my absolute highlights. Both priced at around £10, they boast generous dark fruit and a ripe but solid structure – immediately making me think of a succulent sirloin steak.
From the Italian classics, my personal favourite was the Villa Annaberta 2024 (Valpolicella Superiore) – juicy and salivating with a backbone of acidity, absolutely delicious. Co-op's Irresistible Chianti, with its unoaked, melt-in-your-mouth style, was equally charming.
But as Decanter's 'discovery' regional editor, my best find from this seasonal release has to be Asconi Winery's Casa Felina Sauvignon Blanc Feteasca Alba 2025 from Moldova – the elderflower-perfumed, fresh bottling works as both an all-round aperitif and an excellent conversation starter.
Finally, Co-op deserves recognition for being the retailer that sells the most Fairtrade wine in the world. My star picks were the Irresistible Casablanca Chardonnay, the Famatina Valley Pinot Grigio and the Western Cape Sauvignon Blanc – all showcasing varietal flair with an approachable price tag.
*Please note the release timings for the following new vintages:
- Co-op Fairtrade Pinot Grigio 2026 – currently the 2025 vintage in stores. New vintage coming end of Dec / early Jan.
- Co-op Fairtrade Irresistible Casablanca Chardonnay 2025 – currently the 2024 vintage in stores. New vintage due Dec / early Jan.
- Co-op Fairtrade Sauvignon Blanc 2026 – currently 2025 in stores. New vintage due to come out
- Co-op Irresistible Mosel Riesling – in stores late Nov / early Dec
In a hurry: here's our 'save or splurge' cheatsheet:
Best Co-op wine buys: top picks on the shelves right now
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Co-op, Les Pionniers Vintage, Champagne, France 2018
Always a solid choice and a Co-op staple – the latest release was crafted by Compagnie Champenoise. Sour citrus, pastry, brioche and cream. Wonderful freshness...
2018
Co-op
Co-op, Les Pionniers, Champagne, France NV
92
The non-vintage edition of the supermarket's own-brand 'Les Pionniers' Champagne range. Savoury and yeasty on the nose with creamy brioche. Leesy white fruits and zesty green lime, backed by buttery depth and touches of nuts, finishing with white fruits.
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Scalini, Prosecco Extra Dry, Prosecco, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy NV
88
<p>White blossom and nashi pears on the nose. Lovely, refreshing palate with honeyed osmanthus blossom and white peach. Easy-drinking with a pretty melony finish. An all-rounder sparkler that can also be a reliable component in cocktails.</p>
Scalini
Co-op, Tililmuqui Sparkling Wine, La Rioja, Argentina NV
88
A fresh, zesty nose of citrus and white blossom. Crunchy with good freshness and juicy orange jelly, with more perfumed lychee notes towards the finish. A gentle touch of sweetness rounds off the edges, making it an easy quaffer for all occasions.
Co-op
Co-op, Cava Brut, Penedès, Spain NV
88
A toasty nose with citrus effervescent tablet and white fruits. More yeasty hints on the palate with citrus, green fruits and apricot purée, leesy with good freshness. A value choice with solid quality. Crafted by Raventós Codorníu for Co-op.
Co-op
Co-op, Fairtrade Irresistible Casablanca Chardonnay, Casablanca Valley, Chile 2025
89
A Casablanca Chardonnay produced by Viña Indomita for Co-op. Quince and osmanthus blossom, with tangerine jelly on the nose. An elegant bouquet of citrus and golden apple on a generous, broad palate with wonderful purity, backed by zesty vibrancy. A value buy with plenty to like!
2025
Co-op
Co-op, Irresistible Chardonnay, Mâconnais, Mâcon-Villages, Burgundy, France 2024
89
An easy-drinking Mâcon white crafted by Cave de Lugny – a Chardonnay-specialist co-operative formed by 240 family-owned farms – for Co-op. Candied tangerine peel and poached peach on the nose, with an oily, rounded palate of sweet white fruits and more canned peach, lifted by good freshness, leading to buttery depth and a honeyed finish.
2024
Co-opMâconnais
Asconi Winery, Casa Felina Sauvignon Blanc Feteasca Alba, Central Region, Moldova 2025
88
You'll love this if you like elderflower! Ample perfume, green zest and golden star fruit. A touch of sweet white fruit balances the lovely grassy freshness. A charming, good-value white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Feteasca Alba from Moldova.
2025
Asconi Winery
Co-op, Irresistible Mosel Riesling, Mosel, Germany 2025
89
Fragrant lemongrass on the nose and palate, with more green herbs and freshly peeled green apple. The bright acidity is rounded off with residual sugar. An easy salad wine with ample freshness and green-fruit delight from the Mosel.
2025
Co-op
Co-op, Fairtrade Sauvignon Blanc, Western Cape, South Africa 2026
88
Plenty of varietal typicity on the nose – elderflower, green peas and lemongrass. More green fruits and grassy freshness on the palate, with herbal character throughout, while the 15% Sémillon in the blend adds citrusy character and roundness. Easy and fresh, perfect for seafood salad.
2026
Co-op
Co-op, Fairtrade Pinot Grigio, Famatina Valley, La Rioja, Argentina 2026
88
White blossom, jasmine and fragrant peach on the nose. Juicy nashi pears on the palate with wonderful green apple freshness, vibrant and zesty, with subtle sweetness for balance and weight. A pretty, easily likeable wine for fish offering fantastic value.
2026
Co-opFamatina Valley
Co-op, Irresistible Marsanne, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2025
88
A rounded, nourishing food wine made using Marsanne. Sweet lemongrass on the nose, textured with melon, candied citrus peel and orange jelly, and just a gentle pinch of spice. Produced by Domaines Paul Mas for Co-op.
2025
Co-op
Angels Vine, Mediterranean Rosé, Vin de France, France, 2025
88
Such a pretty, crowd-pleasing value rosé crafted by Castel Frères – boasting perfumed strawberry and pink blossom. An unoaked blend driven by Carignan (68%), it's fresh on the palate, with fleshy red berries throughout and a saline undertone, finishing clean with pink grapefruit.
2025
Angels VineVin de France
Co-op, Irresistible Rosé, Côtes de Provence, Provence, France, 2025
88
A subtle, poised Provence rosé made using a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah and Rolle (Vermentino). Pink grapefruit and a gentle touch of cream on the nose, backed by sour red cherry. Lovely acidity on a subtle palate of bitter lemon pith, with more red berry notes arriving towards the finish.
2025
Co-opCôtes de Provence
Castello Vicchiomaggio, Villa Boscorotondo, Chianti Classico, Riserva, Tuscany, Italy 2023
92
Majestic and serious, with a powerful nose of black tea, mulberry and sour red cherry. Coconut cream unravelling juicy dark berries, supported by a muscular grip for structure. Fantastic concentration, with hidden layers of fragrant Assam tea. A lingering finish follows with dried blackberries and prune.
2023
Castello VicchiomaggioChianti Classico
Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard, Chorey-Les-Beaune, Burgundy, France 2022
<p>Dark roses and blueberry purée on the nose, with a juicy, elegant palate layered with scented florals and fleshy red and dark berries. Subtle gamey...
2022
Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard
Les Grands Consuls, Côtes du Rhône, Rhône, France, 2024
91
Look no further if you are after a value red for steak tonight. A Rhône blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carignan and Mourvèdre, aged for 6-9 months in old oak barrels, the wine features a perfumed bouquet of dried roses and blueberry fruit. Lovely freshness with more notes of dried herbs on the palate, backed by juicy dark berries and a solid backbone. Savoury with sour mulberry towards the lingering finish.
2024
Les Grands ConsulsCôtes du Rhône
Les Aoûtiens, Merlot, Pays d'Oc, France, 2024
91
Freshly picked wild strawberry and sweet prunes on the nose, juicy on the palate with a solid structure and creamy tannins. More black tea, dark chocolate and dark plum notes to follow. Plush and generous on the palate, leading to a decent finish. Produced by Boutinot Wines.
2024
Les Aoûtiens
Co-op, Irresistible Chianti, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy 2024
90
A plush, melt-in-your-mouth-style unoaked Chianti that has a savoury tone throughout, with juicy dark cherry and olive and a creamy grip, well balanced and hearty. Crafted by Castello Vicchiomaggio for Co-op.
2024
Co-opChianti
Villa Annaberta, Valpolicella Superiore, Veneto, Italy 2024
90
Savoury notes open up to dark cherry and milk chocolate. Juicy on a saline palate, boasting fleshy red cherry and strawberry, backed by creamy tannins and a solid streak of acidity. Generous with brooding layers of fruit, finishing long and salivating. A tasty and serious Valpolicella Superiore offering excellent value.
2024
Villa AnnabertaValpolicella
CVNE, Imperial Rioja Reserva, Rioja, Spain 2020
90
A waft of coconut greets you first – unpacking creamy dark cherry and Mediterranean spices. Aged for 24 months in French and American oak, it boasts bitter coffee beans and pu-erh tea, while a tight grip holds together more juicy dark fruits, with good freshness providing a lift. More Morello cherry to finish.
2020
CVNE
Co-op, Irresistible Languedoc Rouge, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2025
89
A muscular, rustic GSM blend, with 40% aged in French and American oak barrels for four months. Sweet red cherry and potpourri with cedar and dried petals. More woody grip on the palate, wrapped in sweet dark berries and cream. Plenty of fruit to finish – although it definitely needs food to melt the tight core.
2025
Co-opLanguedoc
Co-op, Irresistible Chilean Carménère, Maipo Valley, Chile 2024
89
The green pepper notes instantly hint at the 100% Carménère, underlined by dark berries. Juicy and sweet black cherry fruit is carried by grippy tannins, leading to more herbal essence and black pepper spice. A perfect pairing partner for red meat.
2024
Co-op
Robert Oatley, Semaphore Shiraz, McLaren Vale, South Australia 2024
89
A discreet nose of fresh blueberry and dark cherry. Wonderful purity on the palate – boasting ripe and juicy blue and dark berries, with creamy and mellow notes backed by gentle freshness. Easily quaffable for all, with comforting berry sweetness.
2024
Robert OatleyMcLaren Vale
