4 Wine Experts Choose Their Favourite Bottles For Spring
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4 Wine Experts Choose Their Favourite Bottles For Spring

With warmer days and garden gatherings on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to stock up on white wine, rosé and fizz. Here, four experts share their top picks under £20.
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Cara Lee Dely, head of winemaking at Bolney Wine Estate, recommends…

Faustino Rivero Albariño

£16.50

Faustino Rivera Albariño is a Spanish white that captures the essence of Rías Baixas, made from grapes grown in coastal vineyards that benefit from Atlantic breezes and granite-rich soils. It offers a crisp, citrus-forward profile with notes of lime and grapefruit, balanced by juicy stone fruit and delicate floral undertones. Refreshing yet layered, it’s like a sea breeze in a glass – bright, saline and textural. A natural partner for seafood, it goes well with oysters, grilled octopus or zesty ceviche, as well as dishes like lemon-herb risotto, roasted vegetable tarts, mild cheeses or tapas. Versatile and vibrant, it’s a wine that fits any occasion.

Available at SAINSBURYS.CO.UK

Sturmwolken Riesling

£8.25

Sturmwolken Riesling is a lovely German white that captures the purity and charm of classic Riesling, with vibrant acidity and lush notes of green apple, citrus and a touch of honey. Subtle minerality adds depth, giving it a beautifully balanced profile that dances between freshness and complexity. It pairs well with aromatic curries, fragrant Asian dishes and creamy poultry recipes, while also shining alongside lighter fare like smoked salmon, sushi or a citrusy salad.

Available at SAINSBURYS.CO.UK


Bolney Lychgate Bacchus

£12

Our Bolney Bacchus is known for its vibrant, zesty character and aromatic flair. Bursting with fresh notes of elderflower, gooseberry and hedgerow fruits, it offers a light, elegant palate that feels like a sunny stroll through an English garden. We grow this at our estate in Sussex where the cool-climate origins bring out bright acidity and refined freshness. It pairs beautifully with crisp summer salads and lightly seasoned seafood like grilled prawns or scallops. For something a little different, try it with Asian-inspired dishes that carry a citrusy twist. 

Available at TESCO.COM


Winemaker Florence Delabre recommends…

Nectar & Nature IGP Mediterranee Rose

£7.25

Nectar & Nature is a light and fruity IGP Côtes de Gascogne that’s naturally low in alcohol. Its fresh acidity and vibrant fruit notes, such as citrus and exotic fruits, enhance desserts like fruit tarts or pavlova. The wine’s crispness balances the sweetness, creating a refreshing harmony.  

Available at GROCERIES.MORRISONS.COM

La P'tite Pierre

£7.25

​La P'tite Pierre Blanc is a light and refreshing French white wine produced by Les Grands Chais de France. It has a pale hue, and offers a bouquet of citrus and white fruit aromas. Its freshness and citrus notes beautifully enhance seafood dishes like grilled sea bass, sole meunière or ceviche. The balance of brightness and minerality makes it the ideal companion for seafood flavours.

Available at TESCO.COM


Fleurs De Prairie Luberon Rose

£9

This is a delicately balanced wine for those that like crisp, pale rosés. Fleurs de Prairie Luberon goes wonderfully with poultry. Its lively acidity and red berry notes, like strawberry and raspberry, complement the tender, juicy meat. Whether grilled, roasted, or in a Mediterranean dish with herbs, the wine’s freshness enhances the flavours while keeping the pairing light and balanced.

Available at TESCO.COM


Jiachen Lu, head sommelier at restaurant CORD, recommends…

Found Asti Secco

£9

This was another love-at-first-taste moment for me. Juicy, perfumed and refreshing, this sparkling wine shows all the hallmark characteristics of moscato – think grape-y, tropical, floral notes – but without the intense sweetness of the infamous moscato d’asti. Its dry style makes it a perfect match for appetisers so it’s a great alternative to prosecco. I recently served it with fried mozzarella balls and a side of homemade marinara. It also pairs brilliantly with spicy curries or Chinese dishes.

Available at OCADO.COM

Abertura Vinho Verde Rose

£8

Although ‘vinho verde’ literally translates to ‘green wine’, wines from the Vinho Verde DOC in Portugal can be white, rosé or red. This one offers a lovely combination of peach, strawberry, watermelon and sweet citrus on the palate – tangy, refreshing, with a light spritz on the finish, which is a hallmark of the style. With a hint of sweetness and priced at just £8 a bottle, the quality is hard to beat. I like it chilled for a picnic but when I’m staying in, I especially enjoy it with tavuk sote – a Turkish chicken stew in tomato and pepper sauce. The bold flavours complement the wine beautifully.

Available at OCADO.COM


Classics Cremant De Bourgogne Brut

£12

This is the bottle that completely changed my opinion on private-label wine. When I first tasted it in 2022, I was thoroughly impressed – bottle fermentation gives it creamy bubbles and delicate biscuit notes, layered over the vibrant fruitiness of a pinot noir-dominant blend, all leading to a round, refreshing finish. At just £12 a bottle, it’s the perfect champagne alternative to make any moment feel a little more special. I’d have it with Scottish smoked salmon, pea shoots and crème fraîche.

Available at OCADO.COM


Wine consultant & columnist Libby Brodie recommends…

Gerard Bertrand Cote Des Roses

£11.50

What says springtime wine more than a bottle covered in flowers? In fact, turn this one over and you’ll find the base sculpted into the shape of a rose. Created in collaboration with artist Morgan Jamieson to celebrate the Mediterranean ‘Art of Living’, this graceful, fruit-forward, pale rosé is refreshingly vibrant – and so silkily supple it slips down far too easily. This is the perfect bottle to enjoy with friends in the sunshine, paired with goat’s cheese salad or a charcuterie spread.

Available at TESCO.COM

Olifantsberg Grenache Blanc

£16.50

No one works better with the grenache blanc grape than Olifantsberg’s award-winning winemaker, Elizma Visser. South Africa continues to overdeliver on value, producing premium wines and accounting for around 75% of the world’s Fairtrade wine. This aromatic white is gracefully complex, with subtle layers of citrus and stone fruit underpinned by a crisp, mineral backbone. When BBQ weather arrives, this would be fantastic with grilled seafood – think juicy prawns, fresh fish or even push-the-boat-out lobster.

Available at TESCO.COM


Champagne Brut Veuve Mosigny

£14.95

This is one of the best high-street champagnes – elegant to the point that guests often assume it comes from one of the great champagne houses. Bursting with notes of crisp orchard apples, delicate white blossom, zesty ripe lemon and warm, freshly baked brioche, it’s finished with a refined mousse of bubbles. While it goes well with oysters or smoked salmon, I like to serve it alongside a gooey baked camembert. The lively bubbles cut through the rich, sticky cheese, cleansing the palate after each bite.

Available at ALDI.CO.UK

Australian Chardonnay

£6.99

This wine surprised me. A recent winner at the People’s Choice Awards, it’s absolutely delicious and priced at just £6.99. Factor in the convenience of home delivery and it’s a clear winner. Beautifully balanced, it offers sunshine-ripened peachiness layered over zesty freshness. Unoaked, it’s a great pick for chablis fans – I’ll be having it with my roast chicken this weekend. 

Available at AMAZON.CO.UK

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