Best wine to buy at Sainsbury’s right now, ranked by an expert

As a wine writer who taste-tests dozens of bottles a week, I can attest to some absolute bargains available in supermarkets in London and beyond. Whether you’re after a crisp glass of rosé, dry white or festive champagne, you don’t have to go without.

Sainsbury’s has outdone itself with another seasonal selection of easy-drinking wines suitable for long, lazy weekends, relaxed gatherings and vino-fuelled dinner parties.

If you often find yourself perusing the supermarket wine aisle to finally land on your tried-and-true favorite, read on because I’ve tasted the best wines to drink this fall, so you can too.

Whether you’re having an evening in front of the TV, having friends over, or having a Sunday roast, there’s a supermarket wine here with your name on it.

All wines were chilled before tasting, with only one bottle removed from the fridge at a time to ensure they stayed cool. I nosed and tasted from an elegant white wine glass that is also designed for sparkling wines and chilled reds to maximize the aromas on the nose.

The glass was rinsed between samples with just water to clean my palate as well. After nosing and tasting, all samples were spat out to avoid contamination affecting my judgment – this is the standard for all wine and spirit tasting competitions.

best: Generally Sainsbury’s wine

What we like: Intense aroma of strawberries and raspberries, and a good price.

Attention: Despite the intense fruit, it is still a dry rosé.

If you like your rosés light, dry, but dripping with red fruit, head to Sainsbury’s for this Négrette rosé from its Taste the Difference range. At first sniff, you might think you’ve shoved your face into a bowl of overripe strawberries and raspberries – that’s the secret power of Négrette, a highly aromatic and fruity red grape that’s low in tannin and acid, making it perfect for producing rosés. Those berries, combined with citrus, licorice and a mineral earthiness, make this an impressive rosé. It’s also an absolute bargain.

best: grocery store NZ Sauvignon Blanc

What we like: Full flavored Sauvignon Blanc, and its female winemaker, Natalie Christensen.

Attention: It is produced by the popular Yealand Estate.

There’s nothing more soothing than a crisp glass of Savvy B to beat the heat, and this Taste the Difference Coolwater Bay 2025 Vintage is just the tonic. Vibrant and tropical with notes of fresh pineapple, ripe peaches and limes, with a minerality that reflects its maritime climate, this is a fresh, clean and mouthwatering wine you’ll want to stock up on. Sip it alongside cubes of Manchego and peach slices.

What we like: Excellent value for money and beautiful, balanced flavors.

Attention: There are eight Crémant appellations to choose from.

If you’re after a champagne dupe that offers fantastic value, look for Crémant, which is made using the same “méthode traditionale” but outside of Champagne and with different grape varieties. This stunner in Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference range is from the Loire and produced from a blend of 85 per cent Chenin and 15 per cent Chardonnay, with the wine aged on lees for twice the appellation minimum for added complexity and elegance. Expect to find Crémant de Loire’s signature lemon and quince aromas blending with rounded biscuit notes and a lovely creaminess. It’s worth a bottle for a celebration.

What we like: Delicious range of ripe fruit aromas, and cheerful and bright palate

Attention: Not a cheap sparkling wine

Sainsbury’s Blanc de Noirs uses the two black grapes used to make Champagne – Pinot Noir and Meunier, for its classic non-vintage expression, which is aged in bottle for at least 18 months. This is a lively, fruity number with a delightful nose full of strawberries and cream, and lime zest, giving way to peach melba, stewed apples and a hint of digestive biscuits on the palate. Best suited for those who are not keen on the wider styles of Champagne, and would make an impressive pour at a special party or New Year’s celebration.

best: For sparkling wine or of course wine fans

What we like: Sainsbury’s first Pet Nat is approachable and easy to drink for a natural wine, while great value for a sparkling wine with depth.

Attention: It is on the slightly sweet side.

Sainsbury’s is having a trendy moment with the introduction of its first Pet Nat, a gently sparkling natural wine made from a blend of Chardonnay, Muscat and Ugni Blanc grapes. It sits on the sweet side of dry and lively, with aromatic flowers, peach stone fruit, and citrus giving way to undertones of baked goods. It’s a wonderful introduction to this unique style that has hipsters in a chokehold.

best: For pairings with seafood and pasta

What we like: Fresh, mineral and bright, it is weighty without being overpowering.

Attention: Gavi de Gavi is considered the best Gavi wine.

Italy’s Piedmont region is famous for its Gavi, with Gavi de Gavi being the cream of the crop. This 2024 vintage, a blend of 100 percent Cortese grapes, is produced by Araldica, a cooperative founded in 1954 by the village priest. That’s probably not relevant these days, but if you like Sauvignon Blanc with a little more structure, you’ll love this: it’s fresh, bright and ripe with rounded notes of stone fruit, apricot and grapefruit, with a crisp, lemon and tart green apple.

best: For rock ‘n’ roll fans

What we like: Full aromas of bright wild strawberries, encased in a beautiful bottle with a glass stopper.

Attention: It is on the expensive side.

I’m usually pretty skeptical about celebrity wines, but Queen’s Rose has another Kind of magic. It’s a classic Provence-style rosé, a blend of 70 percent Grenache and 30 percent Cinsault for full, ripe flavors of wild strawberries, blood orange and red currants. It is a delicious, very drinkable wine, with an unforgettable finish and a stunning bottle. The price is a bit of a stretch – I’m afraid you’re paying more for the name than the wine. Will it rock you? One way to find out…

best: To serve with charcuterie or grilled seafood

What we like: Bright and with juicy berry flavors, it offers something a little different from white or rosé

Attention: Not as refreshing as a chilled white, but still delicious

Some lighter styles of red wines are actually meant to be served slightly chilled, so they’re perfect for pairing with charcuterie or grilled seafood at your next dinner party. Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Discovery Frappato Terre Siciliane is a fresh, vibrant, chillable red. Notes of black cherries, blackberries and pepper feature with enough acidity to balance its earthiness. Cooled reds are becoming a trend, so get ahead of the pack and try this one out.

You will probably choose your wine based on the occasion, what you will eat with it and, most importantly, personal preferences. But if you’re going to Sainsbury’s any time soon, may I suggest you pick up a bottle of Taste the Difference Fronton Négrette Rose 2025? It’s an absolute steal at £8.75 and a superbly aromatic strawberry field of a rosé that’s sure to win over the staunchest ‘rosé wine’ critic.

Négrette is also a severely underrated grape variety, so consider this your introduction to something a little different than your usual Provence-style bottle.

Becky Paskin is an award-winning drinks writer and presenter, with 20 years of experience tasting, judging and talking about all things alcohol. You’ll find her writing on all things whisky, cocktails and wine in major publications, and speaking regularly on ITV’s Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh. She also has a weekly newsletter, Drink thisPour drinks, bar and travel recommendations and insight.