In a stunning development for wine lovers, discount supermarket Aldi has launched its most ambitious wine collection to date, featuring premium bottles that challenge expensive restaurant offerings at a fraction of the cost.
Aldi's Premium Wine Revolution
The retailer, typically associated with budget-friendly options, has defied expectations with a new 16-bottle range that includes prestigious appellations like Chablis Premier Cru, Sancerre, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Remarkably, prices begin at just £6.29 and peak at £21.99, making fine wine accessible for Christmas celebrations.
Wine expert Rob Buckhaven, who tested the entire collection, admitted initial skepticism about Aldi's foray into premium wines. "I appreciate the words 'Aldi' and 'super premium' don't usually get uttered in the same sentence," he noted, "but after tasting the entire range, I've hand-selected five wines that should be on your shopping list."
Standout Bottles That Defy Expectations
The most remarkable discovery was the Specially Selected Stellenbosch Chardonnay from South Africa, priced at an astonishing £6.29. Hailing from the sun-kissed Stellenbosch region east of Cape Town, this white wine delivered rich, mineral flavours of nectarine, peach and mango with a refreshing lime finish.
"It actually impressed me more than a bottle I recently tried in a fancy restaurant, which cost £125," revealed Buckhaven, highlighting the extraordinary value proposition.
Another standout includes the Specially Selected Chablis Premier Cru from France at £21.99. For context, Claridge's Hotel currently serves a Chablis Premier Cru for £1,175. While acknowledging the extreme comparison, Buckhaven confirmed Aldi's version maintains the elegance, minerality and typical tension expected from Premier Cru status, with flavours of tangerine, yellow plum and apple crumble.
Unexpected Gems and Food Pairings
The range extends beyond traditional wine regions, featuring a Specially Selected Moldovan Rară Neagră at £7.99. Made from a rare Transylvanian grape in Moldova's 3,000-year-old winemaking tradition, this red offers "lashings of crunchy plum and blackberry flavours" with a serious line of cedar-like oak.
For rosé enthusiasts, the Specially Selected Cigales Rosé from Spain (£8.99) provides bright red fruit and precise zing-factor. Buckhaven, dubbing himself "the Graped Crusader," champions this as a "true gastro-rosé" that pairs phenomenally with food, particularly recommending it for Christmas turkey and trimmings.
The complete collection spans red, white and rosé varieties from esteemed wine-producing countries including Italy, Spain, France, United States and South Africa, offering consumers the opportunity to "sip like sommeliers without breaking the bank" this festive season.
