Types of red wine
Confused by where to start when it comes to red wine? In this guide we’ll help you navigate the UK’s top reds and pick out the perfect bottle for you. Read more…
The 20 best wines under £20
Great-tasting wine doesn't have to break the bank.
Who doesn’t love a nice, relaxing glass of wine after a hard day at work? There are stacks of bottles at the supermarket that cost less than £20 – but there’s also a huge variation in quality.
Many of us become overwhelmed with the seemingly endless options and head straight for the most attractively labelled bottle.
There’s no shame in that. But, unfortunately, it’s no guarantee for the contents of the bottle. But we’re here to help! We’ve compiled a list of the top 20 wines available in the UK for under £20. So next time you’re perusing the wine aisle, your pick will be full of taste, an ideal accompaniment to your dinner and the perfect price for your budget.
We’ve also included some handy tips for what you should look for when choosing a wine and how to pair your wine with your food. Check out our tips and top choices below, we are certain you won’t be disappointed.
The best 20 wines under £20
1. Naked Wines
Galodoro Reserva Vinho Regional Lisboa Red 2016
This wine oozes complex aromas of rich red and black fruits fused with vanilla and enticing, exotic spices. It has been created to sip and savour slowly allowing you to enjoy a scrumptious, lingering aftertaste. Pick it up for £11.99.
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2. Laithwaites
The Black Stump Durif Shiraz 2017
This international award winning full-bodied red is rich in both flavour and aroma. Smooth and fruity on the palette, this is a go-to for lovers of Australian wine. And, at just £9.99, this is an extremely affordable tipple.
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3. Naked Wines
Small and Small Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017
This Sauvignon Blanc delivers a delicious, ripe, fruity flavour, and is packed with the right amount of zing tingle your taste buds. It’s the top-rated SB available at Naked Wines and is awesomely affordable at £13.49
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4. Majestic Wine
Graham Beck Brut Rosé NV
The hand-picked grapes from Graham Beck's estate vineyards in South Africa are the staple ingredient in the sparkling rose wine. The aromas of raspberry and cherry will transport you to a beautiful summer’s day. Buy now for £14.99 a bottle.
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5. Laithwaites
Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc 2017
A gold medal award winner that is perfect for those looking for a white, light and refreshing wine. With its fragrant aroma and zingy flavour, this New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc comes from the wine region of Marlborough. Yours for £15.99.
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6. Naked Wines
Sacchetto Pinot Grigio Ramato Veneto Blush 2016
A versatile wine that is wonderfully simple, light and extremely drinkable. Its soft and subtle flavours hint at fresh raspberries, crisp apple with a delicate dash of cream. Whatever you’re dining on, this would pair perfectly, and costs just £10.99.
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7. Majestic Wine
Chateau Tour Bayard Montagne 2014
This smooth and powerful French wine features big flavours of blackcurrant, liquorice and sweet spices. At just £12.99 per bottle, you’ll be guaranteed a warming and flavoursome evening tipple that won’t stretch your budget.
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8. Cellar by Waitrose & Partners
Denbies Whitedowns Sparkling NV
Whilst we’re not famed for wine, us British do know a thing or two about creating fresh flavour. This is an award winning rich, floral and refreshing English fizz that offers a subtle spice finish. Enjoy the crisp citrus tones for £18.99 a bottle.
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9. Naked Wines
Sacchetto Prosecco Superiore Col de L'Utìa 2016
This prosecco is an extremely popular choice with Naked Wines’ customers. Crisp apples, fresh pear and zingy citrus fruits fuse together to become a deliciously tasty treat. It’s an IWC winner and can be cooling in your fridge for £17.49.
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10. Laithwaites
Château Terrebonne 2017
Another award winner from Laithwaite’s. This rosé originated in France in the Côtes de Provence AOP and is a tasty Grenache-based blend that is packed with a fragrant and fruity aroma. This wine boasts an impressive 60 awards and costs £12.99.
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11. Majestic Wine
L'Etoile de Begude Chardonnay 2016 Limoux
This wine originates in Domaine Begude, close to Limoux. The region is well-known for its cool climate, enabling the creation of a crisp and aromatic Chardonnay. This wine achieved a Gold Award from Decanter in 2017, and costs £13.99.
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12. Cellar by Waitrose & Partners
Esprit de Buganay Rosé, Côtes de Provence
This bottle is a well textured, full-flavoured, aromatic refreshment. It’s packed with fruity red berry flavours and is rounded off with light, subtle spices. Another Decanter award winner you can pick it up for £10.99
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13. Laithwaites
Ca' Bolani Frizzante Prosecco NV
Looking to add a little sparkle to your evening? This prosecco has won numerous awards over the past 8 years, and offers a refreshing fragrance and mouth-watering citrusy flavour. Perfect for fans of fizz at only £10.99 a bottle.
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14. Waitrose & Partners UK
Waitrose Chablis
Another Decanter award winner is this stunningly sensuous Chablis. This wine creates a genuine depth of fresh citrus fruit flavours, perfect for pairing with citrus infused meals. If you’re looking for a really refreshing and beautifully balanced glass, c
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15. Naked Wines
Kruger Family Matteo Reserve 2016
This popular red is packed with the aroma and flavour you’d expect from a great red wine. It's a complex concoction of dense flavours including hints of Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon help to create dark, delicious fruity and peppery flavour. £11.99.
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16. Majestic Wine
Prosecco Rivamonte NV DOC
This Italian bottle offers a delicate and fragrant indulgence, with its light body and fine bubbles. It combines subtle flavourings of fresh peach, pear, apricot and apple with a refreshing finish and the price is unbeatable at £7.49.
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17. Laithwaites
El Bombero 2016
This is a tasty treat with an army of followers. This Spanish medium-bodied red offers all the flavour with just the right infusion of spice complexity to tantalise your palate, and pair perfectly with red meat. Enjoy this for £9.99.
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18. Cellar by Waitrose & Partners
Beronia Reserva Rioja
A good Rioja is a perfect pairing for earthy meals. This wine is made by layering juicy black cherries over more earthy tones of leather and coconut. Its smooth and sumptuous texture and flavours has ensured its place as a consumer’s favourite. £14.49.
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19. Majestic Wine
Waimea Estate Pinot Gris 2016 Nelson
A popular choice, this New Zealand wine originates in Nelson, just west of Marlborough where the winemaking fuses Old World techniques with New World pioneering methods. What results is aromas of pear, honey, apple, spice and just a dash of cream. £13.99.
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20. Cellar by Waitrose & Partners
Catena Malbec
Malbec is a favourite for red wine enthusiasts, and this tasty treat is a Decanter award winner. It offers a rich, soft plum and blackcurrant flavour infusions paired with a satisfying finish and smooth tannins. This one comes in under budget at £13.49.
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What to look for in a wine
When shopping for the perfect bottle of wine to pair with your evening meal you’ll need to take the below into consideration first:
- Personal preference. We don’t all love all types of wine. So if you’ve got a go-to between red, white and rosé, stand by it.
- Pairing wine with food. If you’re hosting a dinner party, you won’t want to choose the wrong accompaniment for the course. Below you’ll find a brief outline of how to pair food with the right wine.
- Wine with legs. This is something we often hear wine connoisseurs referencing. This actually refers to the streaks on the side of the glass after its contents have been swirled. Generally, the more streaks the higher the alcohol content.
- Full-bodied wine. A wine is referred to as being “full-bodied” when the alcohol content percentage is higher than the average (11.6%)
- 20-point scoring system. This is a point scoring system used by UK wine experts including Jancis Robinson and Decanter Magazine.
Pairing wine with food
This can be extremely difficult when you’re catering to a group of friends with varying tastes and preferences. If you want to know exactly how to pair the perfect wine with the food you’re serving, then this table should prove handy.
Food Wine Hors d’oeuvres, or appetisers Dry Rose – look for something light in body and fruity in flavour. Citrus infused meals, typically fish Unoaked White – helps to intensify the flavours of the meal. Spicy foods Low-alcohol Wine – the sweetness will reduce the intensity of spice. Rich red meat Tannic Reds like Cabernet Sauvignon – the rich flavouring will compliment the meal. Earthy foods, like mushrooms or game Earthy Reds like Pinot Noir – earthy ingredients in a meal call for an earthy accompaniment Desserts Lighter Wine – desserts are often sweet, so you’ll want to pair this course with a flavour that’s much more subtle, so as to not bombard the taste buds. Wine point-scoring system
This point system scores wine based on expert opinions. In the UK, the 20-point system is widely used to determine the quality of the wine by a panel of professionals.
Rating Quality 19-20 Genuinely outstanding 18 Exceptional 17 Impressive 16 Good 15 Average 14 Dull, unrecommended Popular reads
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