Waitrose wine guide
Welcome! I’ve now updated this guide for March, which is full of some delicious bottles that straddle the end of winter and the beginning of spring. If this is your first time on my Waitrose wine buying guide, you’re dropping in at a good time! Every month, I update this article to share my top picks for what you should be drinking if you shop at Waitrose. Explore sparkling, white wine and red wine recommendations from some of Waitrose’s top wine producers, all in one place.
A bit of house keeping and then we’ll get into it:
Top tip: Bookmark the web page to see the latest Waitrose wine recommendations from Ben each month.
How do I select the wines?
Every bottle recommended in this guide I have tasted. I’ve paid retail price for the wines, unless otherwise stated; for example, from time to time I am lucky enough to taste these wines at trade or press tastings. All the wines are graded on the Ben Franks Wine Rating system (BFWR) and must have at least ★ 1 star to make the guide. The star ratings work much like the Michelin system. No stars, no mention, but if a wine gets a star it means I recommend it as a ‘Good wine’ you should pick up. A ★★ 2 star ‘Great wine’ is a wine you should really seek out, and a rare ★★★ 3 star ‘Outstanding wine’ is one that you won’t forget.
Last updated: 8 March 2026
Prices from WaitroseCellar.com, correct at time of writing.
This month’s Waitrose wine picks: March 2026
Best White
2024 La Monetta Gavi del Comune di Gavi
★★ Great Wine
On offer until 24th March, this is one of the best supermarket Gavi wines out there. Gavi di Gavi combines floral aromas with crisp orchard fruit for a dry and refreshing white wine. Ten times more interesting than your classic Sauvignon Blanc!
Enjoy with spaghetti aglio e olio (pasta with chilli, garlic and olive oil).
Normally £15.00, currently on offer for £10.00
Best Red
★★ Great Wine
Quite simply, this wine is always a winner. Smooth, silky and plush as anything, it is consistently delicious. Cherries, plums and a touch of vanilla make for moreish drinking, while a bite of acidity makes it versatile when paired with food.
Enjoy with a sirloin steak and chips, or favourites like sausages and mash.
Normally £20.00, currently on offer for £13.00
Under £10.00
2024 Cinsault Rosé, Montgravet
★ Good Wine
If you’re looking for a bargain, this rosé is it. Made from the cranberry-fresh Cinsault grape variety, it’s crisp and fruity with a note of pepper to finish. Serve it well chilled and it’ll serve you well in return. With this you’ll see how much more you get for your money when you venture away from the marketing…
Pair with salted crisps or smoked salmon.
£6.80
Sparkling wine for Spring
NV Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs, Cave de Lugny
★ Good Wine
Toasty, honeyed sparkling wine made the same way as Champagne and entirely from Chardonnay grapes. It’s dry but with a rounded, fresh flavour.
On offer: £12.75
Proper good Malbec
2022 Alta Malbec, Catena
★★ Great Wine
Catena labels are usually a reliable bet for quality Malbec; the Argentine producer is one of the reasons we have the Malbec craze at all. Upgrade your usual Malbec choice to this fabulous parcel selection and you won’t regret it.
On offer: £28.50
Your next Sauvignon...
2024 Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc, Saint Clair
★★ Great Wine
Just a fabulous example of Sauvignon Blanc, up there with my favourite Jackson Estate. This one is brimming with mouth-watering passionfruit over creamy oak notes for a full-flavoured, zesty style you’ll love.
£16.25
Brandy, anyone?
★★ Great
Sometimes own label supermarket spirits leave a lot to be desired, even the ‘Finest’ and what not. However, Waitrose’s No. 1 Armagnac is different. This is a bold brandy with packs of character and a buttery, warm wood finish.
£29.50
January & February 2026: New Year, New Wines
Only one guide for the first couple of months of the year as we all wind down post-Christmas. Although, if you’re going to treat yourself to something special, why not do so when it’s wet and grey outside rather than wait for summer? Here’s my picks of the best wines from Waitrose as we head into 2026. I hope you all have a wonderful start to the year. All prices correct on Waitrose Cellar at the time of writing. Visit WaitroseCellar.com to order as this has the most complete range of wines you can buy at Waitrose. Not all these bottles are necessarily available in store!
2026 New Year’s best white wine:
2023 Baroness Nadine Chardonnay, Rupert & Rothschild (£29.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Brimming with exotic fruit and toasty but never cloying, this will set all the ABC (anything but Chardonnay) crowd straight. This has to be the year we all drink more Chardonnay. It is versatile, exciting and, in the right hands, packed with character. This bottle from Rupert & Rothschild is further proof that South Africa offers incredible value for money if you’re willing to spend a little more.
2026 New Year’s best red wine:
2021 Prunotto Barolo (£50.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
A Barolo in the safe hands of the Antinori family, the Prunotto is that rare beast of a supermarket-sold Barolo that actually lives up to the complexity and depth Barolo fans look for in their famous red wine. Aromatic and alluring on the nose with a great balance of red cherries and spice on the palate.
2026 Value wine buy from Waitrose:
2024 Réserve des Hospitaliers (£13.50, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
This does everything a Chateauneuf du Pape should do, but at a fraction of the cost. If you want full bodied Grenache-Syrah then put this at the top of your list. The oak ageing is light so it’s all about gluggable, deep fruit with a touch of peppery Syrah.
2026’s Outstanding English fizz:
2022 Pinot Noir Rosé Brut, Camel Valley (£38.00, Waitrose) ★★★ Outstanding Wine
Camel Valley is consistently excellent, but even this well-established Cornish vineyard can drift in a poor vintage. Luckily, 2022 isn’t one of them. Made entirely from beautifully fresh Pinot Noir fruit, the wine’s bone dry and electric on the palate with a long, summery finish. Just the pick me up for this Winter weather.
2026’s Hidden secret is an Austrian Riesling:
2021 Schenkenbichl Riesling Reserve, Weingut Rabl (£23.00, Waitrose) ★★★ Outstanding Wine
The result of a low yielding, highly concentrated 2021 vintage, you’ll get lots of stone fruit and depth of flavour from Rabl’s exceptional Reserve Riesling. I really enjoy these bigger Riesling styles where the acidity nicely complements a vibrant, lightly honeyed and textured pallet. Delicious!
Something lighter to try:
2024 Saumur, Les Nivières (£9.00 on offer, usually £11.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Châteaux de Saumur’s Cabernet France from the Loire Valley is crunchy, berry-full red wine that’s perfect if you’re after something lighter in flavour. I always find the quality of Cab Franc will put a bounce in your step and this hallmark of Waitrose’s selection always delivers. A great red wine if you’re looking for a lighter tasting red wine this year.
Back in time: Here’s my Waitrose wine picks from 2025…
Below has each month’s round-ups from the year I kick-started this guide. The vintages might have changed, but these wines were drinking very well then and might have some hidden gems for those wine adventurers amongst you.
December 2025 and this Christmas’ top wines:
Here’s last month’s round-up of top Waitrose wines, selected for December and perfect for the Christmas season. These bottles are still top buys, but there’s a few extra special treats in our Christmas dozen or so different wines to taste. Waitrose has some seriously good wines for winter!
December’s best white wine:
2021 Chablis, Premier Cru Fourchaume, Albert Bichot(£36.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Albert Bichot’s Burgundies are always a hit and recently I’ve been totally enamoured by the white wines more than the reds. This saline, flinty but succulent and full Chablis is a beautiful picture of Chardonnay, packed to the brim with citrus and apple. Pair with the roast pork or turkey!
My favourite red for Christmas:
2020 Organic Cornerstone, Reyneke (£21.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
South Africa produces some of the finest wines for your money. I’m consistently impressed by Reyneke, an organic producer. This is a bold, winter friendly red balanced by baking spice, cedar and a hint of mint. Ignore the naysayer on Cellar, this is fab. Perfect for roast beef, or a rich mushroom wellington.
Best value winter wine at Waitrose:
2022 Reserve Malbec, Trivento (£9.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Fancy some Christmas cheer to sip while you cook, chat to family, or raid the chocolates? Honestly, Trivento’s Malbec is your new best friend. I love it. Soft, well-made, satisfyingly fruity, with sweet oak-kissed tannins. Trivento is guaranteed to hug you from the inside, out. Pair with whatever’s going!
English fizz pick:
2018 Fitzrovia Rosé, Ridgeview (£39.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Ridgeview’s had a tough year, so let’s raise a glass of their’s. This fine, pink fizz has delicate summer berries over a soft, creamy mousse. Kick off Christmas day breakfast (no OJ), or drink with the cheeseboard!
Drink this Champagne for Christmas:
NV Collection Magnum, Louis Roederer (£120.50, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Louis Roederer is one of my favourite Grand Marque Champagne labels. This magnum is something very special with generous notes of baked apple pie. The magnum makes a statement, but when it’s this delicious you’ll need it!
Wine for lamb or duck:
2019 Te Muna Road Pinot Noir, Craggy Range (£27.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
A Pinot with bright cherry aromas and a palate of strawberries rolled in balsamic vinegar and black pepper. There’s a lot to like here. NZ Pinot Noir has a soft ripeness to it without compromising on its fresh bite, perfect for gamey dishes.
A special treat? Try this sweet wine from Waitrose:
2021 On The QT Bin 33, Feiler-Artinger (£26.50, Waitrose) ★★★ Outstanding Wine
Just take my money, Waitrose! Similar to Szamorodni Tokajis, this is a blend of botrytis and late harvest fruit that add up to utter magic. Lusciously honeyed but bright with lime tang, give me a big block of Stilton blue cheese and leave me to get fat on the sofa.
November 2025’s best picks:
Here’s last month’s round-up of top Waitrose wines, selected for November. These bottles are still top buys, and it isn’t much colder in December, so if you’re looking to up your basket to a dozen or so different things to try, then have a look through this list and October below – there’s some delights.
November’s best Waitrose white wine:
2022 Vérité Viognier, Lauren Miquel (£21.25, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Fabulous Winter white. Full of stone fruits and very satisfying. Laurent Miquel is always a solid choice for great Viognier and this is especially good. If you’ve never tried a Viognier before and wondering what it is, the wine style tends to appeal to Chardonnay or Pinot Gris fans!
November’s pick of the reds:
2021 Toscana Rosso, Villa Antinori (£20.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
An absolute classic I always like to revisit this time of year. Darker and richer than Chianti with a smooth, crowd-pleasingly silky finish. Villa Antinori may be a very large producer but its consistency year on year is unmatched. This wine is always good!
Great value pick from Waitrose:
2024 Blueprint Grüner Veltliner, Waitrose (£9.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Unbelievable value for one of the great winemakers of Austria, Markus Huber. Zesty and peppery, Sauvignon fans should flock to this. Grüner Veltliner has a skin that gives its wines a phenolic, spicy note that give the wine memorable character. Grǔner is easily one of my favourite grape varieties.
Waitrose sparkling wine pick:
2022 Brut, Camel Valley (£34.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Consistently one of England’s all-time best sparkling wines and yet somehow this bottle of Camel Valley remains a steal at this price. Toasty with a fresh citrus tang. Don’t just relegate this to by the glass toasting, serve it with food and it’ll delight.
Special date night bottle choice:
2021 Rully Pinot Noir, Joseph Drouhin (£31.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Rully and steak. Forget the Malbec. Rully has a rich intensity for Pinot Noir but it’s full of finesse; this will impress. The last thing you want is to be full and bloated, a date night demands something with style that’s deep with flavour but poised and elegant like this.
November’s “everyday” Waitrose winner:
2022 Classic Côtes du Rhône, Waitrose (£7.75, Waitrose) ★ Good Wine
Young, vibrant and fruity red with spicy Syrah and red fruited Grenache. A simple, enjoyable Winter warmer. In reds, Côtes du Rhône wines tend to punch above their weight because the climate is more reliable for producing soft, satisfyingly ripe grapes that make for easy drinking wines like this one.
For the wine super fans:
2017 Pinot Noir Reserve, Louis Guntrum (£43.50, Waitrose) ★★★ Outstanding Wine
German Pinot Noir? Never underestimate German winemaking. This is layered and viscous, full of cherry, dried strawberry, licks of soft oak and hints of smoke. A real gem.
October 2025’s best picks:
All the way from October… here’s the round up of Ben’s favourite Waitrose wines from October and links to Waitrose Cellar where you can buy them.
Best Waitrose white wine:
2019 Albariño Gran Añada, La Val (£30.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
I love proper Albariño like this, where the grape’s been allowed to deliver it’s full expression. Multi-layered and ‘succulent’ in the best sense of the word, this is a proper white wine that’s going to get your mouth watering.
Best Waitrose red wine:
2021 Chianti Classico, Villa Cafaggio (£16.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
For years I was bored by Chianti. Not that it’s bad, but it was missing that special something that would make it memorable. I’m so glad I tried this Villa Cafaggio, which seems to have brought even the difficult 2021 vintage into a fully formed, exciting bottle of red. A great Chianti.
Best value Waitrose wine in October:
2022 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, Champteloup (£11.00, Waitrose) ★ Good Wine
A genuinely fresh white wine. Sip along as you cook and enjoy a glass with pasta. This one’s one of wine’s simple joys and it’s great value.
Best fizz at Waitrose:
2016 Brut Vintage, Louis Roederer (£80.50, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Still my favourite Champagne house by a long shot, Roederer’s 2015 vintage was lees aged for 4 years but has come into a new life of its own after even longer in the bottle. This deep, brioche-laden Champers is a treat for October.
Wine for Halloween?
2023 Blueprint Romanian Pinot Noir, Waitrose (£7.25, Waitrose) ★ Good Wine
Why not go for something from Dracula’s homeland? Let’s be honest, while you’re juggling trick or treaters and snuggling inside to the sound of fireworks, a bit of simplicity is a comfort. This Pinot Noir is juicy and delicious, what more could you ask for?
Last of the Summer rosé…
2024 Organic Susumaniello Rosé, Terre di Faiano (£10.00, Waitrose) ★ Good Wine
I’ve really fallen for the Susumaniello grape, especially when it’s pink. This version from Terre di Faiano is a little fuller than examples I’ve tried previously; a perfect rosé wine for the chillier evenings.
Something new:
NV Verdelho 15-Year-Old Madeira, H&H (£22.00, Waitrose) ★★ Great Wine
Madeira remains one of the best value wines you can buy, simply because no-one seems to be drinking it. All the better for those in the know. This Verdelho balances the more complex, nutty flavours of great Madeira with a nice note of sweetness to offset its spicy, alcoholic kick.
Thank you for reading this month’s recommendations! See you next month and don’t forget to bookmark this page so you can find it next time.
Need a reminder about how the BFW rating system works? Read all about it here.
