GRAPE EXPECTATIONS

WINE NOT! Anita and co. in Rioja

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Felix Solis produces some of Lidl’s most highly rated wines, including the 93-point Hachon Ribera del Duero Crianza (€10.99).

That score comes from Richard Bampfield himself - a Master of Wine, one of the wine world’s most prestigious titles - who tastes and grades every Lidl Wine Cellar bottle alongside two fellow Masters. They use the internationally recognised 100-point system. Anything over 90 is considered outstanding for its category, which is how a €10.99 bottle can genuinely hold its own against wines several times the price.

If you imagine Lidl’s wine buying process as a boardroom full of tasting glasses, you wouldn't be wrong - but Richard admits he prefers not to meet suppliers first. ‘I’d rather judge it for myself”, he told me.

For the average Lidl customer, technical talk about tannins or malolactic fermentation isn't the point. These wines are chosen because they're versatile - as happy beside a steak as they are with Friday-night pizza. Fruity styles often win out, and Lidl's competitively priced Reserva offers great quality without the premium price tag, making it an excellent choice for savvy shoppers.

Rioja is famous for its reds, but Lidl also sources great-value Navarra rose. Richard says it’s underrated, and not just for its flavour. “One of the reasons rose is so popular is it looks good in the glass”, he smiled. His summer serving trick? A glass of Quarzose Tempranillo Garnacha (€8.99) or Hacienda Uvanis Garnacha (€8.99) with one ice cube or a few frozen strawberries bobbing about.