Although it was held in its usual venue at the company’s busy headquarters near Paddington in London, there was a new-broom feel at the latest Marks & Spencer (M&S) tasting, with a refreshed tasting layout that put the emphasis on a set of separately themed tables.
The first, and most attractive for novelty-obsessed journalists, featured the 23 new wines that the company has added since it last hosted the wine press in the spring.
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There were quite a few highlights in that selection of new wines – notably a couple of excellent Southern French reds from either end of the Mediterranean coast. On the whole however, this event lacked the daring energy of previous M&S tastings.
Previously the buying team had unveiled a bunch of lesser-spotted wines from its often-excellent and good-value Found range. It includes, among others, the delightful Greek Moschofilero-Roditis blend recommended below.
Christmas choices
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Another focus table at the tasting was wines for Christmas. There were some first-class choices for the season on show both at that table and elsewhere in the M&S range.
They include a very smart Margaux in M&S Collection livery from Fifth Growth Château Dauzac and a pair of excellent upmarket fizz options from rising-star English sparkling wine producer, Roebuck Estates (see tasting notes below). There’s also a great-value Palo Cortado Sherry and a fruit-driven Sauternes.
South African stars
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A great strength of the M&S range in full effect across the room was South Africa. Notable supplier Stellenrust, from Stellenbosch, rules the roost when it comes to sheer value. Seek out its own Barrel-Fermented Chardonnay or the luminous unoaked Chenin Blanc that it makes in collaboration with the Meadowlands Fairtrade project.
There were also well-priced bottlings from big name producers such as Ken Forrester and Boekenhoutskloof.
Finding value
Indeed the Cape Quarter Bordeaux blend from Boekenhoutskloof is one of a handful of wines with what M&S calls a ‘dropped and locked’ price . This makes it even more of a bargain at its new, lower price of £10.
That’s a welcome development in a range that for the most part (like everywhere else on the high street) has inevitably succumbed to the inflationary pressures of the cost of living crisis.
M&S wine picks for autumn and winter
Tasting notes come from the M&S Autumn Tasting 2025. All M&S wines are now sold online via Ocado. Wine is only sold as part of the retailer’s range of gift packs on the M&S website.
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