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Whether you’re after a crisp Chardonnay for dinner parties, a rich merlot to enjoy in front of the TV or a bottle of bubbly for Christmas merriment, the wine selection from supermarkets has never been better. From the viral £10.99 “chicken wine” (La Vieille Ferme rosé) to Aldi’s award-winning sauvignon blanc and Asda’s tongue-in-cheek alternative to Whispering Angel, Screaming Devil, social media has helped democratise the wine world.
TikTok accounts like Lucy Hitchcock’s – aka @Partnerinwineuk – consistently cause bottles from M&S and Waitrose to go viral, while “wine influencers” like Hannah Crosbie and Tom Gilbey are helping demystify the industry.
“Wine is a whole aisle now, as people want more variety as well as value, and supermarkets have wisely chosen to invest in their wine buyers and relationships with producers – because this is how most of us buy our wine,” says Libby Brodie, wine consultant and columnist. It’s the same story with supermarket champagne and whisky – increased demand has not only improved the amount on offer, but the quality too.
Supermarkets are catering to more refined tastes, explains Sinead Murdoch, sommelier and co-founder at Tasca. “Now top wine buyers are working for supermarkets, and the growing competition is raising the standard of what ends up on the shelves.”
But discovering a truly great bottle at a supermarket is still tricky, so I went to the experts. From sommeliers to wine influencers, these are the best vinos from the local shops, as chosen by industry heavyweights.
Meet the experts
I spoke to qualified wine consultants, restaurant sommeliers, TikTok-viral influencers and wine critics to find the best bottles to sip in summer 2025.
These experts chose bottles from Aldi, M&S and more (Katie Brook/Libby Brodie)
Libby Brodie is a qualified wine consultant with years of experience in the industry. She is the founder of Bacchus & Brodie Wine Consultancy, which personally curates wine selections for individuals or events.
Katie Brook is a journalist with a specialism in wine and a decade of experience as a wine reviewer. She is the founder of Run To Wine – a London- and Surrey-based running club that ends its sessions with a wine tasting.
I spoke to influencers, sommeliers and more (Lucy Hitchcock/Photographer: Millie Short)
Sinead Murdoch is a sommelier and co-founder of Tasca, a restaurant in London. Following a formal training, she headed up front of house at Shoreditch restaurant Bistro Freddie. She then spent time in Provence at Gallifet Art Centre, where she curated the wine list.
Lucy Hitchcock is the wine enthusiast behind the @Partnerinwineuk social media account. She has nearly 100k on Instagram and 65k on TikTok, with her reviews of Aldi or M&S bottles regularly going viral.
Dining and Cooking