The Easter Waitrose Sale – Buy 6, Save 25%
The sale you know and love is back with 25% off across their wine range. Waitrose is widely said to have the best wine selection around and a recent article from Harpers might just confirm this further (for those with a subscription). So yes, other supermarkets can and do run this sort of wine offer as well, but if you are looking for a selection of really genuinely good wine at a bargain as opposed to the usual Villa Maria’s and Oyster Bay’s, then Waitrose is the place to shop.
I’ve selected a few favourites below that I think are both genuinely good value for money (especially on this deal) and, of course, delicious.
Ridgeview is one of those names you’ll likely have been seeing more and more. They are swiftly becoming a leader in great English fizz and this is their most popular wine. It has a lovely brioche, biscuity flavour on the front which is kept fresh through lime, lemon and apple notes. It is a great alternative to Champagne.
This is probably the best Prosecco on offer at Waitrose and certainly gives other brands like Gioiosa and Freixenet a run for their money too. It has great depth and intensity which many Proseccos struggle with. It is filled with ripe apple, lemon and pear, has a lovely floral delicacy and a honeyed note. It will begin to turn heads!
Another great Champagne alternative these days is Cremant for those seeking Champagne quality and flavour without the price tag. This one from Limoux is a great example of how close you can get to proper Champagne without being there. It has the biscuity and brioche richness you expect from a good length of lees ageing whilst maintaining bright citrus flavours to liven the palate.
I feel Cava is often overlooked these days as Prosecco stole the fizz mantle after a spate of cheap and underwhelming Cava hit the market. This one ought to change your opinion. It has great depth afforded by a lovely nutty undertone. Dried apple and lemon shore the rest of it up and give a nice zip of freshness. Again, this is on par with quality Champagne.
On the reds, Barossa Shiraz is always a firm favourite for something with bite. This has the black pepper note that all good Shiraz should have along with chocolate and coffee which bring a darker undertone to the wine. Red fruit lifts this a little whilst a spiced note from oak usage adds some delicious complexity.
Old vine Zinfandel is the only sort of Zinfandel you should buy. It is just better, more intense and generally made with more love and care resulting in a better wine. As you can expect from a Californian Zin, it is hefty. Mocha, blueberry, chocolate and juicy plums are at the forefront. Generous oak has added a good bit of vanilla and the tannins are high, yet very fine, making it an elegant, bold wine.
Onto the whites now with a wonderfully refresing style. Vinho Verde is a Portuguese specialty, suited to their hot weather to cool the locals down a bit. It is a gentle style of wine purely aimed at refreshment. Think citrus and some tropical fruits tempered by minerality with a saline finish.
I am generally not that interested in Pinot Grigio as it is often boring and lacks intensity, but this Secret Cellar version is one of the few that can change my mind. Rather than just muted citrus flavours, it has stone fruits and acacia added into the mix which really transform the grape into a much more exciting style of wine.
As I write this the weather seems rather warmer so Rose was a little on my mind. And Provence is the place to go for Summery Rose these days. This is a fairly typical blend but made so well. Strawberry, raspberry and cherry hold the fruits together and a lovely gentle spiced note comes out on the end giving a lingering finish.
So, if you are looking for great wine this Easter then you need look no further than Waitrose’s excellent offer. Try something new, something bold and find yourself enjoying their great range as much as I do.
Shop Waitrose Now! >
Updated 21st March 2024