I’m a drinks writer and didn’t rate Lidl wine — until I tried this £4.85 gem

I’m about to say something controversial… I’ve never rated Lidl’s wine range as highly as Aldi’s. Until recently.

Why? Firstly, because Lidl don’t really promote their wines, so you rarely hear about them. And until now, they haven’t been as innovative or exciting. Sorry, not sorry.

Meanwhile, Aldi’s wines push the boundaries, providing us writers with content by releasing controversial wines and budget versions of famous drinks which tend to go viral on social media (ahem, Toscana Rosso as the spitting image of the great SuperTuscan, Tignanello).

In a plot twist, my mind was changed with a jolt the other day when I tasted nearly 60 of Lidl’s core and seasonal wines which genuinely excited and impressed me. So much so, that I’ll be lifting up the rock they’re hiding under to alert you, in a second.

Lidl do things a little differently than other supermarkets, you see. They have regular ‘wine tours’ that unlock a small number of seasonally appropriate wines each month. Those wines then sell out to make way for the next month’s entrants.

Lidl UK work with an MW (Master of wine) called Richard Bampfield, a lovely man who is super candid about the wines he works with. For example, one year, he told me to avoid a particular red at the tasting as he thought it was sub-par in quality. I dodged a bullet that day, though it might just have been a faulty bottle, to be fair.

Anyway, flash forward to now, and Lidl’s is one of my new favourite supermarket ranges. Here are ten of the top drops from their latest range…

White Wine

Chevalier de Fauvert Chardonnay Pays d’Oc IGP, £4.85, Available now

Chardonnay naysayers, it’s time to get over this nonsense. Saying you’re not a fan of Chardonnay is like stating that you don’t like chicken, which is basically impossible. This is a gem of a wine that tastes like a golden delicious apple pie, with dry lemon notes and minimal oak. Addressing the elephant in the room, namely the ludicrously low price, I would ring this through the till even at £7, it’s that good. 

Ventoux Blanc, £6.99, Available Now

New wine discovery, unlocked. Ventoux is a subregion of the southern Rhône Valley that has yet to be discovered by the mainstream. If anything, this area is known more for its reds. Scorching days and cool nights have fashioned a white that’s buzzing with lemon sherbet and green apple energy. In fact, it’s so refreshing, I detected a spritzy quince note on the finish.

Greco di Tufo DOCG, £8.99, Available 29/05

A fancy grape growing area south of Rome, Greco di Tufo in Campania is just inland from the Amalfi Coast. It’s all hilly vineyards and volcanic soils, hence the term ‘tufo’ which means ‘tuff’ (soft, volcanic soil). The white wines are some of the most premium in Italy, and this lovely, lively white has a lightly smokey aroma, green apple and Mediterranean herbal flavours with a preserved lemon finish.

Rosé

Navarra DP Mezquiriz Rosado, £6.99 (TBC), Available 26/06

I get it, July is a months away, but it’s nice to have something to look forward to. This rosé is absolutely worth the wait, with its berry-led nose leading to blueberry and redcurrant flavours. You’ll notice it’s darker in colour than the usual ballet-slipper pink plonk, but that just means it’s more food friendly. Whack this alongside a king prawn bhuna and feel the fireworks, in a good way.  

Exquise OC Grenache Rosé, £7.49, Available now

This is a great example of top notch, quenchsome pale rosés coming from the Languedoc in southwest France. It’s the world’s biggest winemaking region, stretching from Carcassonne to Beziers on the Mediterranean side, that can grow just about any grape and make every style of wine imaginable. Not everything pink has to come from Provence, just saying.

CaDel Lago Rosato Trevenezie, £6.99, Available now

I wrote an entire column about this wine last year, and my feelings haven’t changed. Unlike Aldi, Lidl don’t really put their own spin on famous wines, unless you count this one. It bears an uncanny resemblance to Cà dei Frati Rosa dei Frati, which retails for £25 a bottle. I’m not mad at it though, as Lidl’s has oodles of sunny apricot and blood orange notes, with a dry and delicious finish.

Red

IGP Cote de Thau Domaine de la Pommière, £6.99, Available 29/05

A fresh, summery red made in a historic wine producing area on the Mediterranean side of France’s Languedoc region. Here, we find flavours of pomegranate and Mediterranean herbs, with soft and pillowy texture from the Grenache and Syrah blend. Chill this one down and you can thank me for it later.

Corbières, £6.29, Available now

I love the rusticity of Corbières, a region in the Languedoc region of France. There’s no airs and graces about it, just lashings of hedgerow fruit, liquorice and plummy fruit leather flavours. What you taste is what you get, zero oak and lots of ripe fruit flavours. I gave this three stars in my tasting notes, so you should give it a whirl.

Schieber Trilogia Kadarka, £7.49, Available 24/04

Ever heard of Bull’s Blood, as in, the Hungarian wine? It’s full bodied and legendary, also know as Bikavér. The grape, Kadarka, is a key component. On its own, it produces lightweight, fruity, crisp and chillable reds for summer, for anyone who’s a fan of Beaujolais. Think cherries with a kick of spice and you’re in the right ballpark.  

Primitivo di Manduria DOC, £7.49, Available now

I love a no nonsense big swinger of a red and Primitivo is brawny, bold and unapologetic. Basically, Logan Roy from Succession in liquid form. It comes from Puglia on the heel of Italy, the most prestigious area in Italy for this particular grape. Right out of the gate, this intense wine delivers rich flavours of dried blueberries, cured meat, sweet tobacco and baking spices like it’s Amazon Prime.

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