I tried Lidl’s new Italian and Spanish wine tour wines – these three are the best

I’ve become something of a wine connoisseur since the covid lockdowns. One of the things I got into attending right at the start was Wine Event Scotland’s virtual tastings, which still run to this day. Thankfully friends and family now occasionally join me to learn about the chosen wines from Wine Events Scotland owner and host, Diana Thompson.

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One of the most popular tastings is the bi-monthly Lidl wine tour event, which looks at the latest wine tour wines. These are the ones displayed in the wooden boxes in stores, and tend to come from one or two specific regions.

This autumn, in stores now, are the Italian and Spanish wines and include: Macinatico, from Tuscany, £8.99; Hacienda Uvanis, Garnacha Blanca, from Navarra, Spain, £7.99; Traminer Aromatico, Veneto, from Italy £7.99; Calalenta Fantini Merlot, from Italy, £9.99; Medici Riccardi Chianti Classico Riserva, from Tuscany, Italy, £9.99 and 5 Oros Rioja Crianza from Spain, £7.99.

Picture: Wine Events Scotland

These tastings are always fun and informative, and it’s bring your own bottle, so you can taste all six or just one – depending on your preference. Diana talks through each wine region and style, and Lidl’s master of wine, Richard Bampfield, explains his scoring system (each will have a score out of 100) before talking through a tasting. 

The attendees go on to score the wines, out of five, and three from this tour ended up neck in for the top spot. The white wine, Macinatico, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, from Tuscany came third followed by the Calalenta Fantini Merlot Rosé, Abruzzo but it was the 5 Oros Rioja Crianza, Rioja that was awarded the best score (and a 90 from Richard). 

This fruity, spicy and rich wine isn’t too heavy – with notes of plum and cherry – but is ideal for a warming glass this autumn and will stand up well with food – such as tomato-based pasta, meat or a hearty stew.

It’s also very reasonably priced, meaning you can stock up before the shelves change for the next wine tour.