best Sainsbury's wines Discover Sainsbury's best new wines of autumn 2025: Highlights from Australia, France and Spain

Sainsbury's Discovery Range — (Image credit: Credit Unknown)

Sainsbury’s was one of the pioneers of UK supermarket wine, but its vinous range has become a little pedestrian in recent years. Press tastings featured the same reliable fixtures, and plenty of rather ho-hum selections, enlivened by only very occasional flashes of the sort of inspiration and adventure that were once such a key part of the retailer’s way of doing business.

This latest tasting may have been relatively small, with 63 wines compared to the 100 or more on show at Tesco, M&S, Asda, Waitrose and Morrisons. But the wines suggested things are moving in a markedly more interesting direction in the wine aisle of what remains the UK’s second-largest supermarket.

Highlights and new wines

Between them, Australia, France and Spain provided the lion’s share of the highlights. The Australian range, both red and white, was led by some of the country’s most respected names in the shape of fine new additions from Penfolds, Petaluma, Vasse Felix and Wakefield.

French favourites

There was a particularly strong showing from southern France, too. The spicy robust red blends of the Rhône and the Languedoc-Roussillon accounted for seven of the 24 red wines on show. They included high-scoring bottlings from the Côtes du Ventoux, Gigondas, St-Chinian and Terrasses du Larzac (see tasting notes below). An old favourite from Château les Bouysses in Cahors was also showing well.

France also accounted for two very sound Christmas fizz options, one apiece from the Loire and Limoux.

Spanish style

Meanwhile in Spain, Sainsbury’s is well served by some reliable big-name suppliers working in classic regions. CVNE’s typically polished Gran Reserva Rioja is exceptional value for a mature red wine in the very centre of its drinking window. It’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for offers that will make it even more of a bargain, too.

Value is also the operative word for the Taste the Difference Cava from Castillo Perelada. While the two Taste the Difference Sherries from Bodegas Lustau, which I’ve recommended below, are still among the most competitively priced wines anywhere on the high street.