Editor’s note: We’ve changed how we cover supermarket wines to make things easier for you. We’ve brought together the best bottles from every major UK supermarket into one easy-to-use seasonal guide, so you no longer have to search through hundreds of individual recommendation lists. Every major wine category is covered, ie white, rose, white, sparkling etc – with recommendations chosen for what you’ll actually want to drink at those times of year.
- Best UK Supermarket Wines for Spring
- Best UK Supermarket Wines for Summer
- Best UK Supermarket Wines for Autumn
- Best UK Supermarket Wines for Christmas
Odds are, if you shop for wine at Waitrose, you’re not just hunting for bargains — you’re hunting for reasons. Why this grape, from this place, made this way. You like flavour, but you also like a bit of story. And if a wine happens to be organic, sustainably farmed, or from an obscure old vine in the Languedoc? Then you have found yourself among friends, because that’s everything slake stands for too – home drinking, upgraded.
How we tasted
All wines were tasted by the slake editorial team during a dedicated session in October 2025, focused on showcasing bottles for autumn and winter drinking. We judged each one on balance, texture, flavour, and drink-again appeal – not medals or marketing spin. Just honest, interesting wines worth opening now.
Best Red Wines at Waitrose (jump links)
- Morellino di Scansano Riserva Roggiano
- Château des Jacques Moulin-à-Vent
- Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2020
- Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons Classique
- d’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
- Waitrose Blueprint Old Vine Garnacha 2023
- Loved & Found Braucol
- Meerlust Rubicon 2021
- Château Musar Aana
- Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port 2019
The Best Italian Red at Waitrose
Cantina Vignaioli Roggiano Morellino di Scansano Riserva Roggiano 2022
Italy -13% – Vegan – £14
There’s something beautifully unforced about this Tuscan red. Grown just inland from the wild Maremma coast, it shows off the darker, moodier side of Sangiovese; think blackberries, black cherry, and a little whiff of roasted Mediterranean herb. The co-operative behind it, Vignaioli del Morellino di Scansano, has embraced precision agriculture with an eye on sustainability deploying IoT sensors and drones across their vineyards to measure water stress, leaf temperature, and canopy health. In plain terms? Less guesswork, less waste, and less reliance on chemical treatments. It’s a quiet revolution in one of Italy’s more underrated DOCGs.
The Best French Red at Waitrose
Château des Jacques Moulin-à-Vent Roches Rouges 2022
France -13% Vegan & Organic – £20
This is Beaujolais, but not the easygoing kind. Moulin-à-Vent is often dubbed the “King of Beaujolais” for good reason, its wines age like Burgundy and carry serious structure. Here, you get violet, plum, dark berry and just enough grip to keep things grounded. There’s even a flicker of bitter chocolate and orange peel in the mix, like the final notes of a well-made negroni. The vines sit on manganese-rich granite soils that lend both power and perfume. And yes, it’s organically farmed, which suits the fine-grained intensity of the wine perfectly.
The Best Spanish Red at Waitrose
Montecillo Rioja Reserva 2020
Spain – 13.5% – Vegan – £16
A classic Rioja that doesn’t feel like it’s trying to prove anything. Mostly Tempranillo, with a splash of Mazuelo (aka Carignan) which brings a bit of tangy acidity and a savoury edge, keeping all that ripe cherry and strawberry fruit from tipping into jammy. The winemakers practice sangrado, or “bleeding off” a portion of the must early in fermentation, concentrating the remaining juice for more colour and depth.
The Best South African Red at Waitrose
Rupert & Rothschild Vignerons Classique
South Africa – 13.5% – Vegetarian – £19
The Rothschilds don’t lend their name lightly, and here it’s matched by the pedigree of Rupert Wines. This is Bordeaux via Franschhoek with a full blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec – that delivers cassis, graphite, and earthy warmth with an unmistakable South African accent. There’s structure, but also generosity.
The Best Organic Red at Waitrose
d’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Australia – 14.5% – Vegan, Organic, Biodynamic – £15
From one of the stalwarts of McLaren Vale in South Africa, this Cabernet takes a hands-off approach – such as no fining or filtering before bottling and no racking until the final blend. Some of the vines date back to 1912, and you can feel that old-vine depth in the wine’s muscular core. It’s juicy and wild in the best way; plum and blackcurrant with a leafy twist.
The Best Red Under £10 at Waitrose
Waitrose Blueprint Old Vine Garnacha 2023
Spain – 13.5% – Vegan – £7.25
If you think you don’t like Garnacha, try this. The vines here are 25–50 years old, and while Garnacha (Grenache) is often a party grape; light, juicy, easy – this one brings a little swagger. Sweet red fruits, sure, but with depth and plushness. Think raspberry coulis and cinnamon dust. It’s a great entry point if you usually love a lighter wine like a Pinot Noir, but want more generosity for winter.
Best Waitrose Own-Label Red
Loved & Found Braucol 2024
France – 12.5% – Vegan – £9.25
Slake’s editor actually sipped this on Alan Carr’s Bottoms Up podcast, where it wasn’t universally adored. – but we’re here to stick up for personality. If you like Languedoc reds or old-world Italian wines, this is your jam. Braucol (aka Fer Servadou) is one of those rustic French grapes that’s been quietly living its best life in South West France while no one was watching. Earthy, ripe black fruits, with fine tannins and a twist of herbs – the kind of gentle rusticity that food just loves.
Best Fine Wine from Waitrose Cellar
Meerlust Rubicon 2021
South Africa – 14.2% – Vegan – £34
A grand name from Stellenbosch, and one of the first South African estates to make serious Bordeaux-style blends post-apartheid. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates, with Merlot and Cab Franc playing textured, subtle roles. Expect blackcurrant, liquorice, dark chocolate, and that pencil-shaving graphite note that feels instantly sophisticated.
Hidden Gem Worth Seeking Out at Waitrose
Best Sweet/Fortified Red at Waitrose
Niepoort LBV Port 2019
Portugal – 19.5% – Vegan – £20
For when dessert isn’t happening, but you still want something indulgent – or when you do have dessert and want to pair it properly. This Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) Port is made from a single harvest, aged longer than Vintage Port but designed to be drunk sooner, and no decanting required. From 80–100-year-old vines, it’s rich and juicy, full of dark chocolate, cherries, and a flicker of violet.
What exactly is LBV Port?
LBV stands for Late Bottled Vintage – a style of Port that comes from a single vintage, like Vintage Port, but is aged in oak barrels for around 4 to 6 years before bottling. This extra time softens the wine, so it’s ready to drink upon release (unlike traditional Vintage Port, which can need decades). Think of it as a weekday-friendly version of a Vintage Port.
What does “old vines” mean on a wine label?
When a wine says it’s made from old vines, it usually means the grapevines are at least 25 years old, and sometimes over 50. Older vines produce less fruit, but the grapes they do yield tend to be more concentrated and flavour-packed. That often means more texture, depth, and complexity in the glass.
Why are some red wines made with rare or unusual grapes?
Wines made with grapes like Braucol, Mazuelo, or Cinsault offer something different; often brighter acidity, savoury flavours, or more rustic charm. These varieties are usually native to specific regions and can thrive with less intervention, making them a more sustainable choice too. They’re ideal if you want to try something new without spending a lot.
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