I tried Aldi’s top wines for autumn and £8.99 fizz is a total ‘knockout’

Aldi’s got some winners in its wine range (Picture: Getty Images/fStop)

Genuine question, who doesn’t love shopping at Aldi? No one, that’s who.

The German retailer’s stores have become a safe space where social divides aren’t a thing, because at the end of the day, everyone loves a bargain.

And you can definitely snag yourself a great deal when it comes to Aldi’s wine range.

With the exception of their £14.95 Veuve Monisgny Brut (which was recently crowned the world’s best Champagne), it’s the bottles under £10 you should be looking at.

It sounds counterintuitive, but the range comes alive below a tenner – I’d dare to say Aldi has one of the best ranges of any supermarket at that price level.

Aldi has some great wines for under £10 (Picture: Getty Images)

How does Aldi keep its prices so low?

The inside scoop is that Aldi achieves its micro prices through a combination of winning buying strategies.

The first is purchasing in enormous quantities, which brings the price down via economies of scale. They buy upfront, and in advance, which gives them leverage to negotiate better deals.

They’ll also seek out small parcels of stock going spare from respected producers, sometimes in lesser-known areas, flogging it on a seasonal basis.

And Aldi works with cooperatives (large conglomerates of grape growers), who they commission to make their own-label wines. This gives them complete control right the way along the buying chain and it’s clearly working well for them as they won ‘Own Label Range of the Year’ at the prestigious Grocer Gold Awards 2025.

Ever wondered how the retailer can keep its prices so low? (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Speaking of awards, Aldi’s Austrian Zweigelt (£7.99) recently earned a silver accolade at the International Wine and Spirits Challenge (IWSC) 2025.

What does this mean? Well, according to David Kermode, Senior Judge at the IWSC winning a silver medal is ‘incredibly challenging’.

He explained: ‘It has to be a wine that is not only an enjoyable drinking experience, but also represents the quintessential example of a grape variety or style.

‘I would always choose a silver medal-winning wine from the shelves with great confidence.’

With that in mind, here are my picks for the best in show at Aldi right now. Some are award-winners, others just get my vote…

Specially Selected Crémant de Loire, £8.99

This £8.99 fizz is knockout value (Picture: Aldi)

Award: Silver at Decanter Wine Awards 2025

Not to diminish the shine of Aldi’s delicious Veuve Monisgny Champagne being crowned Best Champagne in the World 2025, but I can’t remember the last time I tasted a fizz of such knockout value for money. Especially when you consider it’s made in the same way as Champagne.

Flavour-wise, we’re taking fresh pears, fennel and green apple which, give this dry and crisp fizz a beautiful intensity.

Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut, £14.95

This drink was recently crowned the world’s best Champagne (Picture: Aldi)

Award: Gold at the World Champagne Awards 2025

It’s very rich and opulent on the nose, clean and lean on the palate with lime blossom and greengage flavours and a fresh, herbaceous finish.

Specially Selected Stellenbosch Chardonnay, £6.99

This should definitely cost more (Picture: Aldi)

Award: Three stars from Rob

£6.99 doesn’t do this scrumptious south African wine justice, if you ask me. It’s rich, minerally, voluptuous with a combination of tropical mango and papaya and citrussy lime notes which go on forever. Really rather delicious.

Freeman’s Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, £6.99

A creamy, tropical wine (Picture: Aldi)

Award: Silver (90 Points) at the International Wine and Spirits Competition 2025

The IWSC nailed this one, which I’m sure they’re incredibly relieved about. Here we have 86% Sauvignon Blanc with 14% Chardonnay for a creamy, tropical, nettley, herbaceous Kiwi sauvignon with unripe (in a good way) greengage sherbet on the finish.

Chassaux et Fils Sainte Victoire Côtes de Provence Rosé, £10.99

An absolute steal (Picture: Aldi)

Award: Silver at the International Wine Challenge and Global Rosé Masters 2025

Aren’t we done with rosé now we’re in September? No. Partly because summer doesn’t official end until Monday 22nd September and partly because rosé shouldn’t be seasonal.

Take this pink, with more rich and pillowy wild strawberry character than you can shake a Christmas bauble at. And don’t be put off with the ‘just over £10’ of it all, it’s still an absolute steal for Provence rosé.

Specially Selected Cigales Rosado, £8.99

(Picture: Aldi)

Award: Brand new to the range

If ever there was such a thing as a winter rosé, this is it.

It’s produced just north of Valladolid in Spain, in a lesser-known region called Cigales, synonymous with producing rosé.

Super aromatic, a little bit smoky with a deliciously intense palate of pomegranate, cherry tomato and Mediterranean herbs. An interesting wine that nails a roast lamb pairing.

Specially Selected Australian Merlot, £8.49

Pop this one in the fridge before serving (Picture: Aldi)

Award: Silver at the International Wine Challenge

Merlot is basically built around pillowy plum flavours, and this one nails the brief. It’s juicy, highly gluggable with endless spiced plum and damson flavours and a lovely lighter-weight texture.

Be sure to give it twenty minutes in the fridge before sipping.

Château Les Trois Manoirs Médoc, £8.99

Notes of plums and dark chocolate (Picture: Aldi)

Award: A thumbs up from Rob

I swore off recommending Bordeaux around the £5 mark, remember?

Well, this one is slightly more spendy and definitely Rob Buckhaven-approved.

It’s largely Merlot at 85%, with 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, no wonder it’s so utterly gluggable (my new favourite word), with soft tannins, plus hedgerow fruit, plums and dark chocolate.

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