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journalism → support → readers
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we → purchase → commission
Gone are the days when supermarket red wine was seriously sub-standard – unless you were happy to pay a fortune for something decent, of course.
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you → go → course
Think vinegary wines that wouldn’t stand up to even a mid-week Bolognese on the sofa, or embarrassing bottles that looked too cheap to take to Friday night dinners with friends.
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that → think → friends
Today, however, the best supermarkets have upped their game with discerning buying teams casting their nets far and wide to showcase quality producers from around the world – many of which needn’t break the bank.
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many → up → bank
Anne Bousquet, co-founder of Domaine Bousquet in Argentina, explains: “Supermarkets are working harder than ever to create ranges offering great value across different price points.
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Supermarkets → explain → points
Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to good supermarket buying teams, too, in addition to a focus on quality and price.
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Sustainability → become → quality
Whether you plan to pair yours with a cheeseboard heaving with hunks of curds, crackers and chutneys, give it the festive treatment by warming it with spices, or want to curl up with something full-bodied and warming this autumn when you're plonked down in front of the telly, my selection of the best bottles promises to cover all bases.
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selection → plan → bases
Perfect for enjoying at home on your own or adding a ribbon bow and taking to parties as a gift – trust me, the hosts will adore it, and you in turn.
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hosts → enjoy → turn
Without further ado, I’ve stripped the shelves to round up the best supermarket red wines for 2026, all tried and tested.
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all → strip → 2026
A bolshy red from Oz that’s seriously big on flavour.
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that → ’ → flavour
Interestingly, the distinctive name is inspired by the fact that winemakers famously hate talking about gargantuan wines as they’re no longer fashionable, even though drinkers love them.
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drinkers → inspire → them
Who needs subtle, anyway?
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Who → need → ?
Rich and opulent, this Aussie number is packed with sweet red berry flavours balanced with subtle hints of vanilla and spice.
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number → pack → vanilla
As the highest calibre of the Rhône Valley – there are no more than three in total, including Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages – the classic Cru des Côtes du Rhône Vinsobres packs a proper punch for Sunday roasts or barbecues.
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Vinsobres → be → roasts
Better still, it’s a food wine of the finest order at this price point, meaning you don’t need to take out a mortgage for a mid-week meal.
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you → ’ → meal
Rich and full, it’s a concentrated explosion of summer fruits with a spicy and herby finish, pairing as wonderfully with the main event as it does with after-dinner cheese.
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it → ’ → cheese
The I Heart brand is brilliant for those who don’t know a lot about wine and don’t want to spend hours browsing.
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who → know → hours
Offering a small but perfectly formed line of red, white, rosé and fizz – all with simple descriptions on the back and budget prices to boot – their bottles are no-brainers for filling the fridge.
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bottles → offer → fridge
Cassis, black cherries, coffee and dark chocolate combine in this smooth, medium-bodied cabernet sauvignon.
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Cassis → combine → sauvignon
A snip of a price, it’s no wonder it’s often held up as a great-value red, with Tesco currently offering the best value.
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Tesco → ’ → value
The Chilean wine, made in Valle Central, typifies its variety and teams best with grilled meat, as you’d expect.
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you → make → meat
A subtle touch of vanilla adds a surprising twist.
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touch → add → twist
This organic Argentinean malbec hails from leading winery Domaine Bousquet, which was founded by its French winemaker after he discovered the region of Gualtallary during a holiday, and is packed with spicy black and red fruits with silky tannins and rich aromas.
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he → hail → tannins
Interestingly, wines from this vineyard are made at a dizzying 5,249 feet – pushing against the limits of viticultural possibility – which the Bousquet family consider to be the perfect terroir for growing organic grapes in this once-virgin territory (it was technically desert).
They weren’t wrong – this, and others from their covetable stable – are absolute belters.
A big wine that packs one hell of a punch, this bold Malbec from Argentina is simply crying out for pink steak, its black and red fruit flavours providing the perfect accompaniment to grilled meats.
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flavours → make → meats
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