Best buys from Sainsbury’s: Value picks and seasonal sips to drink now
What wines should be on your shopping list at Sainsbury's? We've tasted the new Autumn/Winter range – and these are the bottles to buy now.
If you shop at Sainsbury's you'll find plenty to love in its latest range of wines for autumn and winter. A shake-up in the buying team at the UK’s second-largest supermarket is really starting to be felt, resulting in a more trends-driven and adventurous selection of bottles hitting the shelves.
Decanter readers will welcome the news that Sainsbury's fine wine collection has grown by 44% this year. New premium wine buyer, Zara Cassidy, has curated a selection of big names and classic styles at £20 and above, including dependable Burgundy producer Louis Jadot and Château Lagrange from the Médoc.
But the huge selection of 87 new bottles features wines to suit every palate and every pocket. From everyday value to dependable favourites and off-the-beaten track discoveries, whatever you're looking for, you're likely to find. Here are my highlights...
Try something new…
For drinkers who aren't afraid to try something new, the Discovery collection continues to be a great source of good value, unusual and lesser-known grape varieties and styles.
Choices include a seldom-seen Beaujolais-Villages Blanc (£14) – 'A hidden gem that proves great Burgundy doesn't need to come with a premium price tag,' notes senior category innovation manager Alexandra Runciman. 'Bright, fresh and full of character.'
Among the many new Discovery reds you'll find a Greek Xinomavro and a Swartland blend. 'A distinctive South African red made from Portuguese great varieties. Bright and smooth with generous stock fruit flavours, it offers a fresh take on one of my favourite wine styles,' says product development manager Lauren Ballantyne.
Buying on a budget
Several of the Discovery wines I've recommended below are on shelf for £10-£12 – or less with a Nectar card. But wine-lovers watching their wallets should seek out the new value ranges introduced this autumn.
The Caminada wines from Chile include a Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (both £4.69), Malbec (£5.39) and – the best of the four – a Sauvignon Blanc (£4.89). A good choice for big Christmas parties.
The new duo of Cape Bandit wines from South Africa's Western Cape – Malbec and Sauvignon Blanc – are £7.50. While the new Italian Mondelli wines – a Soave and convincing Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (see tasting note below) – are just £5.95 a bottle.
Seasonal sipping
Whether it's a bottle of good value fizz to partner party food, a special red to go with Christmas lunch or a decadent bottle of Port for your cheeseboard, Sainsbury's has risen to the occasion this year.
I was particularly impressed with the consistent lineup of new Italian reds – including the Discovery Susumaniello (£12), a Lange Nebbiolo (£12) and Rosso di Montalcino(£14) – that will make perfect dinner companions right through autumn and winter. Read on for my seasonal highlights....
In a hurry? Here's our 'save or splurge' cheatsheet...
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference, Prosecco Conegliano Superiore DOCG, Treviso, Italy 2025
Domaine Evremond, Classic Cuvée Edition II, England, United Kingdom
Leap Point, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2025
Klein Constantia, Sauvignon Blanc, Constantia, South Africa, 2025
Mondelli, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy, 2025
Croix St-Paul, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, 2023
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Best Sainsbury’s wines to drink now
Tasting notes come from the Sainsbury’s Autumn/Winter 2026 tasting. All bottle prices are correct at time of publication.
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Domaine Evremond, Classic Cuvée Edition II, England, United Kingdom
92
Kent's Domaine Evremond is majority-owned by French Champagne house Taittinger and this sparkler is a well-priced alternative to classic French fizz. Based on the 2021 vintage with reserve wines from 2019 and 2020 there's considerbale complexity, with toasty citrus and golden apple aromas leading to bright and zingy palate, with mineral drive and notes of sliced lemon and apple tart. Nectar card holders get 25% off six or more bottles – handy for festive parties.
Domaine Evremond
Balfour Winery, Foxridge Classic Cuvée, England, United Kingdom
90
Made by leading Kent producer Balfour, this newcomer to Sainsbury's is a traditional-method blend of the classic Champagne grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Fresh and crisp with a creamy mousse and lifted palate of tangy green apple and citrus, with hints of brioche. A well-priced homegrown sparkler for festive celebrations.
Balfour Winery
Gratien Meyer, Crémant de Loire, Loire, France
89
A newcomer to Sainsbury's sparkling range, this good value crémant will add a touch of class to your Christmas celebrations. A Chenin-dominant blend with Cab Franc and Chardonnay, it spends 18 months on lees. Toasty and fresh with notes of crisp citrus and brioche.
Gratien MeyerCrémant de Loire
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Crémant de Limoux, Languedoc, France NV
89
Top Languedoc winemaker Jean-Claude Mas makes this excellent-value bottle-fermented fizz for Sainsbury's. A Chardonnay-led blend with Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir and Mauzac from Limoux in the Pyrenean foothills. Ideal for festive celebrations, it's delicate but with real depth of creamy-lemony flavour. Perfect with smoked salmon canapés.
Sainsbury'sCrémant de Limoux
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference, Prosecco Conegliano Superiore DOCG, Treviso, Italy 2025
Pay £1 more and upgrade from the regular Taste the Difference Prosecco to this DOCG – a higher quality tier of Prosecco. Fresh, with crisp...
2025
Sainsbury'sProsecco
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Vieilles Vignes, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2023
92
If you want a bottle of Chablis for your Christmas lunch, this is one of the best supermarket versions going. Old-vine fruit lends concentration and weight to a palate layered with creamy citrus and orchard fruit over a mineral backbone, with racy acidity. Well worth the extra £1.50 to trade up from the standard Taste the Difference Chablis!
2023
Sainsbury'sChablis
Klein Constantia, Sauvignon Blanc, Constantia, South Africa, 2025
91
Historic estate Klein Constantia was founded in 1685 and is best known for its sweet Vin de Constance. But this new arrival in the Sainsbury's premium range is a classy Cape Sauvignon, elegant and packed with notes of lemon-and-lime, green pepper and green fig, all underpinned by racy lime acidity. Available from 1st November.
2025
Klein Constantia
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Discovery No62 Dão Branco, Dão, Portugal, 2025
89
What a cracking wine for £10! New to the Sainsbury's Discovery range, this is a crisp and characterful blend of native Portuguese grapes Malvasia Fina, Bical, Gouveio and Encruzado. Bright citrus and apple fruit with a hint of florality. Subtly textured from partial maturation in French oak, with wonderfully fresh acidity.
2025
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Discovery No63 Blanc, Beaujolais-Villages, Burgundy, France, 2024
89
White wine only accounts for around 4% of the production in Beaujolais, so this new Discovery bottle lives up to its name. Appealing citrus and apple aromas, with hints of brioche and white flowers. Nice weight and texture to the palate, thanks to nine months in oak, but still fresh and crisp, with notes of lemon and orchard fruit.
2024
Sainsbury'sBeaujolais-Villages
La Rocherie, Pouilly-Fumé, Loire, France, 2025
89
New to the Sainsbury's premium range this is a classic Pouilly-Fumé. Fresh, elegant and mineral, with notes of grassy citrus and crisp acidity. Pair it with goats cheese or a seafood platter.
2025
La RocheriePouilly-Fumé
Pala, Vermentino, Sardinia, Italy, 2025
88
From vineyards in southern Sardinia, this is an approachable, juicy unoaked white with notes of fresh citrus, Mediterranean herbs and mineral drive. New to Sainsbury's this October.
2025
Pala
Leap Point, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2025
87
Part of Sainsbury's value range, this Sauvignon delivers plenty of bang for your buck. There's Marlborough character in the juicy gooseberry and leafy lime fruit, with bright acidity.
2025
Leap Point
Newlands Point, Marlborough Rosé, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2026
87
Joining the good-value Newlands Point Sauvignon and Merlot – made for Sainsbury's by Forrest Wines – this new addition to the range is full of fruity Marlborough character. Mainly Pinot Noir (51%) with a mixed bag of other grapes that includes Riesling and Arneis, you'll find notes of lemon, lime, peach, mango and grapefruit pith, with a touch of creaminess to the palate.
2026
Newlands Point
Santa Julia, El Zorrito Naranjo, Maipú, Mendoza, Argentina, 2026
88
Grapes from an organic vineyard are fermented on their skins to create a textured, pale orange wine. A great food wine, this is crisp and grippy with gentle apple notes and a fresh pithy, citrus finish. New to Sainsbury's this autumn.
2026
Santa JuliaMaipú
Croix St-Paul, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, 2023
92
A great new addition to the Sainsbury’s premium wine range, this Pomerol is made by dependable Bordeaux name Antoine Moueix. Aged in a combination of oak and stainless steel, there's a nice core of ripe Merlot fruit – blackberry, plum and black cherry – with cedar spice, all framed by medium tannins. A good candidate for your Christmas table.
2023
Croix St-PaulPomerol
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference, Amarone della Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy, 2021
90
Is there a better winter wine style than Amarone? Made partially with dried grapes to concentrate flavours and aged in oak, then in bottle, this is a rich and comforting red. Plush cherry, black berries and damson fruit, with hints of chocolate and spice, wrapped in rounded approachable tannins. An ideal winter warmer that pairs well with slow-cooked meat or roasted field mushrooms.
2021
Sainsbury'sAmarone della Valpolicella
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2023
90
A Grenache-dominant blend, with plenty of regional character. Smoky aromas of plums and blackberry lead to a rich, brambly palate, with dark berries, warming spice and a characteristic touch of pepper. A savoury note immediately makes you think of food: pair with hearty winter dishes.
2023
Sainsbury'sChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Carpineto, Dogajolo Rosso, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy, 2023
89
This wonderfully seasonal red is new to Sainsbury's from October. Savoury plum and blackberry aromas lead to a rich palate of plums, cherries and leather, with subtle oak spice. Perfect with lasagne – and I love the autumn-leaf label too!
2023
CarpinetoToscana
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Discovery Swartland Red, Swartland, South Africa, 2026
89
Swartland is the most exciting region in South Africa at the moment and this new Discovery wine shows why. A blend of Portuguese grapes Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barocca with a splash of French Durif, it's bold and wild, with a dense core of mulberry, blackberry and damson fruit, with savoury and spicy complexity. Pair with richly spiced dishes.
2026
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Discovery No61 Susumaniello, Brindisi, Puglia, Italy, 2025
89
Another great new addition to the Discovery range: Susumaniello is a rare ancient grape native to Puglia. Alluring rich black fruit aromas pull you in to a smooth palate of velvety black berries, sour cherry and baked plum, peppered with liquorice spice.
2025
Sainsbury'sBrindisi
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Red, Languedoc, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2025
89
A new vintage of this dependable red made for Sainsbury's by Jean-Claude Mas. Equal parts Grenache and Syrah with 10% Carignan, it's juicy and satisfying, with a lush palate of spicy, brambly blackberries and cherries. Perfect for sausage and mash.
2025
Sainsbury'sLanguedoc
Mondelli, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy, 2025
87
For the price, this new addition to the value range at Sainsbury's offers decent primary fruit – dark plum and cherry – and freshness. Hints of spice add interest to the medium palate. Simple but enjoyable. Available from 1st November.
2025
MondelliMontepulciano d’Abruzzo
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2023
89
Made from hand-picked Semillon, this classic Sauternes has luscious notes of orange marmalade and ripe apricots, balanced by racy acidity. Pair it with fruity desserts, festive pâté or strong blue cheese.
2023
Sainsbury'sSauternes
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Douro Valley, Portugal
90
Matured in barrel rather than bottle, tawny Port develops a mellow, warming character that’s perfect for cosy winter evenings. Expect a rich palate layered with sultanas, raisins, ripe plums, figs and nuts. A versatile bottle for your Christmas table; pair it with mince pies, fruit cake, Christmas pudding or your cheese board.
Sainsbury's
Domaine Evremond, Classic Cuvée Edition II, England, United Kingdom
92
Kent's Domaine Evremond is majority-owned by French Champagne house Taittinger and this sparkler is a well-priced alternative to classic French fizz. Based on the 2021 vintage with reserve wines from 2019 and 2020 there's considerbale complexity, with toasty citrus and golden apple aromas leading to bright and zingy palate, with mineral drive and notes of sliced lemon and apple tart. Nectar card holders get 25% off six or more bottles – handy for festive parties.
Domaine Evremond
Balfour Winery, Foxridge Classic Cuvée, England, United Kingdom
90
Made by leading Kent producer Balfour, this newcomer to Sainsbury's is a traditional-method blend of the classic Champagne grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Fresh and crisp with a creamy mousse and lifted palate of tangy green apple and citrus, with hints of brioche. A well-priced homegrown sparkler for festive celebrations.
Balfour Winery
Gratien Meyer, Crémant de Loire, Loire, France
89
A newcomer to Sainsbury's sparkling range, this good value crémant will add a touch of class to your Christmas celebrations. A Chenin-dominant blend with Cab Franc and Chardonnay, it spends 18 months on lees. Toasty and fresh with notes of crisp citrus and brioche.
Gratien MeyerCrémant de Loire
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Crémant de Limoux, Languedoc, France NV
89
Top Languedoc winemaker Jean-Claude Mas makes this excellent-value bottle-fermented fizz for Sainsbury's. A Chardonnay-led blend with Chenin Blanc, Pinot Noir and Mauzac from Limoux in the Pyrenean foothills. Ideal for festive celebrations, it's delicate but with real depth of creamy-lemony flavour. Perfect with smoked salmon canapés.
Sainsbury'sCrémant de Limoux
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference, Prosecco Conegliano Superiore DOCG, Treviso, Italy 2025
Pay £1 more and upgrade from the regular Taste the Difference Prosecco to this DOCG – a higher quality tier of Prosecco. Fresh, with crisp...
2025
Sainsbury'sProsecco
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Vieilles Vignes, Chablis, Burgundy, France, 2023
92
If you want a bottle of Chablis for your Christmas lunch, this is one of the best supermarket versions going. Old-vine fruit lends concentration and weight to a palate layered with creamy citrus and orchard fruit over a mineral backbone, with racy acidity. Well worth the extra £1.50 to trade up from the standard Taste the Difference Chablis!
2023
Sainsbury'sChablis
Klein Constantia, Sauvignon Blanc, Constantia, South Africa, 2025
91
Historic estate Klein Constantia was founded in 1685 and is best known for its sweet Vin de Constance. But this new arrival in the Sainsbury's premium range is a classy Cape Sauvignon, elegant and packed with notes of lemon-and-lime, green pepper and green fig, all underpinned by racy lime acidity. Available from 1st November.
2025
Klein Constantia
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Discovery No62 Dão Branco, Dão, Portugal, 2025
89
What a cracking wine for £10! New to the Sainsbury's Discovery range, this is a crisp and characterful blend of native Portuguese grapes Malvasia Fina, Bical, Gouveio and Encruzado. Bright citrus and apple fruit with a hint of florality. Subtly textured from partial maturation in French oak, with wonderfully fresh acidity.
2025
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Discovery No63 Blanc, Beaujolais-Villages, Burgundy, France, 2024
89
White wine only accounts for around 4% of the production in Beaujolais, so this new Discovery bottle lives up to its name. Appealing citrus and apple aromas, with hints of brioche and white flowers. Nice weight and texture to the palate, thanks to nine months in oak, but still fresh and crisp, with notes of lemon and orchard fruit.
2024
Sainsbury'sBeaujolais-Villages
La Rocherie, Pouilly-Fumé, Loire, France, 2025
89
New to the Sainsbury's premium range this is a classic Pouilly-Fumé. Fresh, elegant and mineral, with notes of grassy citrus and crisp acidity. Pair it with goats cheese or a seafood platter.
2025
La RocheriePouilly-Fumé
Pala, Vermentino, Sardinia, Italy, 2025
88
From vineyards in southern Sardinia, this is an approachable, juicy unoaked white with notes of fresh citrus, Mediterranean herbs and mineral drive. New to Sainsbury's this October.
2025
Pala
Leap Point, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2025
87
Part of Sainsbury's value range, this Sauvignon delivers plenty of bang for your buck. There's Marlborough character in the juicy gooseberry and leafy lime fruit, with bright acidity.
2025
Leap Point
Newlands Point, Marlborough Rosé, Marlborough, New Zealand, 2026
87
Joining the good-value Newlands Point Sauvignon and Merlot – made for Sainsbury's by Forrest Wines – this new addition to the range is full of fruity Marlborough character. Mainly Pinot Noir (51%) with a mixed bag of other grapes that includes Riesling and Arneis, you'll find notes of lemon, lime, peach, mango and grapefruit pith, with a touch of creaminess to the palate.
2026
Newlands Point
Santa Julia, El Zorrito Naranjo, Maipú, Mendoza, Argentina, 2026
88
Grapes from an organic vineyard are fermented on their skins to create a textured, pale orange wine. A great food wine, this is crisp and grippy with gentle apple notes and a fresh pithy, citrus finish. New to Sainsbury's this autumn.
2026
Santa JuliaMaipú
Croix St-Paul, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France, 2023
92
A great new addition to the Sainsbury’s premium wine range, this Pomerol is made by dependable Bordeaux name Antoine Moueix. Aged in a combination of oak and stainless steel, there's a nice core of ripe Merlot fruit – blackberry, plum and black cherry – with cedar spice, all framed by medium tannins. A good candidate for your Christmas table.
2023
Croix St-PaulPomerol
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference, Amarone della Valpolicella, Veneto, Italy, 2021
90
Is there a better winter wine style than Amarone? Made partially with dried grapes to concentrate flavours and aged in oak, then in bottle, this is a rich and comforting red. Plush cherry, black berries and damson fruit, with hints of chocolate and spice, wrapped in rounded approachable tannins. An ideal winter warmer that pairs well with slow-cooked meat or roasted field mushrooms.
2021
Sainsbury'sAmarone della Valpolicella
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2023
90
A Grenache-dominant blend, with plenty of regional character. Smoky aromas of plums and blackberry lead to a rich, brambly palate, with dark berries, warming spice and a characteristic touch of pepper. A savoury note immediately makes you think of food: pair with hearty winter dishes.
2023
Sainsbury'sChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Carpineto, Dogajolo Rosso, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy, 2023
89
This wonderfully seasonal red is new to Sainsbury's from October. Savoury plum and blackberry aromas lead to a rich palate of plums, cherries and leather, with subtle oak spice. Perfect with lasagne – and I love the autumn-leaf label too!
2023
CarpinetoToscana
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Discovery Swartland Red, Swartland, South Africa, 2026
89
Swartland is the most exciting region in South Africa at the moment and this new Discovery wine shows why. A blend of Portuguese grapes Touriga Nacional and Tinta Barocca with a splash of French Durif, it's bold and wild, with a dense core of mulberry, blackberry and damson fruit, with savoury and spicy complexity. Pair with richly spiced dishes.
2026
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Discovery No61 Susumaniello, Brindisi, Puglia, Italy, 2025
89
Another great new addition to the Discovery range: Susumaniello is a rare ancient grape native to Puglia. Alluring rich black fruit aromas pull you in to a smooth palate of velvety black berries, sour cherry and baked plum, peppered with liquorice spice.
2025
Sainsbury'sBrindisi
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference Red, Languedoc, Languedoc-Roussillon, France, 2025
89
A new vintage of this dependable red made for Sainsbury's by Jean-Claude Mas. Equal parts Grenache and Syrah with 10% Carignan, it's juicy and satisfying, with a lush palate of spicy, brambly blackberries and cherries. Perfect for sausage and mash.
2025
Sainsbury'sLanguedoc
Mondelli, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, Abruzzo, Italy, 2025
87
For the price, this new addition to the value range at Sainsbury's offers decent primary fruit – dark plum and cherry – and freshness. Hints of spice add interest to the medium palate. Simple but enjoyable. Available from 1st November.
2025
MondelliMontepulciano d’Abruzzo
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France, 2023
89
Made from hand-picked Semillon, this classic Sauternes has luscious notes of orange marmalade and ripe apricots, balanced by racy acidity. Pair it with fruity desserts, festive pâté or strong blue cheese.
2023
Sainsbury'sSauternes
Sainsbury's, Taste the Difference 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Douro Valley, Portugal
90
Matured in barrel rather than bottle, tawny Port develops a mellow, warming character that’s perfect for cosy winter evenings. Expect a rich palate layered with sultanas, raisins, ripe plums, figs and nuts. A versatile bottle for your Christmas table; pair it with mince pies, fruit cake, Christmas pudding or your cheese board.
Sainsbury's
