Since mid-1990s two German supermarket discounters, Lidl and Aldi, have been competing with each other to produce larger wine ranges at knock-down prices.  Both have a similar number of stores in the UK (Aldi just ahead with 990+ stores and Lidl at 950+), but they approach wine buying in slightly different ways.

Lidl’s core range of 140 wines can be mixed in quality, so you need to know where to look for good value.  Every two months they introduce a new ‘wine tour’ with interesting wines at amazing prices.  The Lidl tours are curated by their lead Master of Wine Richard Bampfield, with a helpful scoring mechanism.  The limited release wine tours offer a good way of buying wines offered in smaller parcels – and for Lidl it keeps customers loyal and interested.  Every wine of the tour goes into every store, so they are apparently available to all whilst stocks last.

Aldi have 223 wines in their core range.  In my opinion Aldi are often a cut above Lidl in quality and more adventurous in origin, with recent finds from Greece and Canada.  They also offer adhoc ‘winemaker’s lot’ parcels at higher prices, all masterminded by Josh Heley, who buys still wines, and Andy Maxwell fizz and fortified.  Aldi used to offer online purchasing and home delivery for wines and spirits, but discontinued it earlier this year so there is only a ‘click & collect service’.

Information for each wine provided by Aldi on their website is limited, as it is with Lidl too, so they introduced Aldi’s Wine Club (https://www.aldi.co.uk/aldi-wine-school).  This online educational platform helps customers brush up their wine knowledge, gain an Aldiploma, get wine tips and advice from Sam Caporn MW.  Customers can also apply to join a panel of 30 wine loving ‘superstars’ who taste Aldi’s wines for free and help spread the word.

I tasted six wines from Lidl’s French selection which runs through to the end of August – and this new French tour of 28 wines is particularly good with several gems.  From Aldi my six summer wines have an eye towards the new budget increases and offer some of the best from their core range.

 

Lidl

DRY WHITE

Burgundy: MACON VILLAGES 2022  ***STAR BUY***

£7.99 Lidl

Soft light creamy Chardonnay with baked apple and nutty undertones and medium acidity, from the warmer southern end of Bourgogne region.

 

Loire: MUSCADET DE SEVRE ET MAINE SUR LIE 2021 Domaine des Deux Vallons

£6.99 Lidl

Decent price for a classic example of light fresh Muscadet from the Sevre et Maine heartland.  Like all good Muscadets it is ‘sur lie’ which means extended ageing on lees (dead yeasts) which add creaminess and nuttiness.

 

Alsace: GEWURZTRAMINER VIEILLES VIGNES 2021 Camille Meyer ***STAR BUY***

£7.99 Lidl

My favourite from the new Lidl French tour – astonishing price for this exotic grape from old vines in Alsace.  Rich fleshy mouthfeel with mango and lychees, spice, hints of sweet honey.

 

ROSE

Provence: REVERENCE COTEAUX D’AIX EN PROVENCE ROSE 2021

£7.99 Lidl

Barely pink it is so pale, but clean and refreshingly dry with bright red fruits and medium complexity.  Cracking price for Provencal rose from organic grapes.

 

RED

Bordeaux: CHATEAU GRAND MAZEROLLES 2018

£8.99 Lidl

Looking for good value in Bordeaux, head to little-known Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux.  This example from the warm ripe 2018 vintage from Vignobles Luc Schweitzer has voluptuous black fruits, typically firm tannins and earthy notes.

 

SWEET

Jurancon: JURANCON DOUX 2019  ***STAR BUY***

£7.99 Lidl

Unusually delicate sweetie from Jurancon in south west France.  Expect gentle sweetness, juicy cantaloupe melon fruit and racy acidity from late harvested Gros Manseng and Petit Manseng grown in the Pyrenees.

 

Aldi

SPARKLING

Italy: ORGANIC PROSECCO NV Castellore  ***STAR BUY***

£7.99 on promotion (normally £8.49) Aldi

Aldi are clear winners in sparkling wine compared to rival Lidl.  This creamy appley dry Prosecco with vibrant acidity is a good example of what they offer.

 

Italy:  SPECIALLY SELECTED RIBOLLA GIALLA SPUMANTE BRUT NV Castellore 

£6.49 Aldi

Delighted to see the ancient Ribolla Gialla grape from Friuli Venezia Giulia featuring in my local Aldi store – described as honeysuckle and yellow plums – it makes a change from Prosecco with similar 11.5% alcohol.  Good value.

 

DRY WHITE

Greece: FILOS SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 2022 ***STAR BUY***

£8.99 Aldi

I have been impressed with Aldi’s recent Greek range, particularly their  Assyrtiko which is currently out of stock; instead try this intense creamy lemony spicy young Chardonnay from Florina in Amyndeon, Macedonia.

 

Portugal: ANIMUS VINHO VERDE 2022 Vincente Faria 

£4.99 Aldi

Beat the budget with this floral, light dry white with its slight spritz and hint of honey and melon on the palate – at 11% it will not be affected by recent budget price increases.

 

South Africa: WRONG TURN FERNAO PIRES 2022 ***STAR BUY***

£8.99 Aldi

Portugal’s native grape Fernao Pires is a star turn in the Western Cape – loved its honey notes, lemon and lime flavours, soft creamy finish and moderate 11.5%, making an ideal summer wine.

 

RED

Portugal: MIMO MOUTINHO TOURIGA NACIONAL 2021

£5.99 reduced from £6.79 Aldi

Touriga Nacional grows in both Douro and neighbouring Dao in northeast Portugal.  This Dao example is big bold gutsy with dark plums, herby notes, soft tannins and the region’s characteristic acidity.

 

Join Rose’s Champagne v Sparkling wine + Buffet in Rufflets Country House Hotel, St Andrews on Fri 17 Nov www.rosemurraybrown.com

By Rose Murray Brown MW    Published in The Scotsman 26 August 2023