The best Tesco wines are part of a range that’s diverse and well-judged, balancing the basics with some serious showstoppers for a Saturday-night treat. As usual, Britain’s biggest grocer puts heavy emphasis on its own-label ‘Finest’ series, which generally delivers on quality, often at a compelling price, while keeping a keen eye on the latest trends.
Over the past 18 months, Tesco has undertaken a comprehensive review of its wines, which currently number just over 800, refreshing the own-brand range and introducing a tranche of new cuvées from some of the world’s best-known producers, including an elegant Champagne from Perrier Jouët, a Rosado Rioja from Faustino and an easy-drinking orange wine from French rugby-star-turned-winemaker, Gérard Bertrand. The buying team’s efforts were rewarded earlier this year, when Tesco was named Best Classic Supermarket at the IWSC Supermarket Awards.
Britain’s biggest grocer puts heavy emphasis on its own-label ‘Finest’ series, which generally delivers on quality, often at a compelling price
Sales of rosé have gone through the roof in recent years and, when sparkling wines are included in the tally, Tesco now carries around 100 different cuvées in various shades of pink, with the 2024 vintage starting to hit the shelves. My first impressions of the ’24 still rosés are that cooler conditions in the vineyard have been beneficial in terms of acidity, if not for yields, which were well down.
Another challenge has been the UK Government’s new duty regime, which has pushed up the price of most bottles, while inspiring a new ‘mid-strength’ category with an ABV around 11%. Sadly, these wines are a work in progress and can frequently taste dilute, sometimes insipid, but there are a few good exceptions, with Sauvignon Blanc working well at the lower level.
Tesco deserves credit for its focus on sustainability, with progress on reducing bottle weight evident at the press tasting where many of the wines were in lightweight glass, including the latest 300g bottle being introduced across the retailer’s own-label range. Tesco also premiered two new South African wines, a Pinot Grigio and a Cape red blend, from Visio Vintners, a black-owned company established by the Kleine Zalze Empowerment Trust to support the transfer of skills in farming, management and winemaking. Read on for ten of the best Tesco wines currently available.
What are the IWSC Drinks Supermarket of the Year Awards?
The IWSC Drinks Supermarket of the Year Awards were introduced to provide consumers with an in-depth evaluation of supermarkets’ alcoholic beverage offerings, inclusive of non-alcoholic alternatives. A panel of judges spend months evaluating the biggest UK retailers. Attending supermarket tastings forms part of this process, offering judges the chance to taste many of the wines available in-store and see how buyers are responding to trends and consumer demand.
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10 of the best wines at Tesco in 2025
