Wine Promotions Down Your Way

Here is your weekly update on promotions in force at this moment at the main High Street wine outlets.

I am in the process of putting more structure into the charts to show typical deals at three price points (under £6.50, over £9 and between the two) and this format will be phased in over the next couple of weeks.

With the larger scale promotions the “typical examples” shown will often be refreshed part way through.

The “Sunrise/Sunset” colour shading indicates promotions that are new (yellow) or (in pink) about to expire.

Unless I say so, though, the wines appearing here are featured as information about what is available not as specific recommendations – the normal bread and butter of this site.

As ever, head over to the retailer’s website where possible for fuller details of anything that sparks your interest.

At Tesco

Tesco’s have a new promotion with price cuts that average around 18% on something like a hundred different lines including a 30% reduction on a prosecco that has been earning five stars from Tesco customers in recent months.

Remember though that the discounts are restricted to Clubcard holders and that the retailer’s website sets out details of this promotion and much else.

The new structure for the chart applies to this summary of the promotion

At Sainsbury’s

A promotion is also underway at Sainsbury’s with the usual extensive range of price reductions (including a good selection of Taste the Difference options); it is expected to run through to 15 March.

Among the reds – with useful £1 discounts – are Campo de Borja Garnacha, Elegant Frog Malbec Cabernet and Saint Chinian.

One I enjoyed last summer as was Taste the Difference Austrian Riesling which drops to £8 (from £8.75 – remember Austrian wine is seldom cheap).

It centres on soft peach and apple flavours neatly supplemented by good acidity and a savoury backdrop.

Here, then, is the traditional table giving a snapshot of what is on offer with more details available on this page of Sainsbury’s web site.

At Morrisons

As usual, Morrisons has a substantial range of promotions and tailors them to fit the pricing and other polices in different parts of the UK.

A number of the retailer’s premium own label wines (The Best) form a significant part of this promotion and one inclusion that has impressed me in the past is The Best Chablis.

This drops from £15 to £12 in Scotland while, in England and Wales, it is available as a “25% off when you buy three” deal.

Below is the usual chart that picks out some of the promotion’s features but the retailer’s website has fuller details – pay special attention to any multi-buy options available where you live.

At Waitrose

Waitrose probably has the High Street’s most comprehensive range of promotions (which include the wine in the feature picture above) and which cover a wide spectrum of price points.

Its deals run at least until 15 March and, in some cases, are extended to 22 March.

The chenin blend I praised last week has been sold through, so attention could now switch to La Gioiosa Prosecco Superiore Valdobbiadene which has won many plaudits for its quality – but its £9.49 price ends on 15 March.

Of necessity, this chart can only pick out a small sample of what is available at Waitrose but the rest of their offers are particularly well documented on this page of their website.

At M&S

It’s “all change” at M&S with a new promotion starting earlier this week.

Among its components are two new Chilean wines (a £6 merlot and a £9 Leyda Sauvignon Blanc) and a 20% reduction (to £2) on 11 beers.

Personally, I often find M&S to have some of the best beers (and the widest range) on the High Street and currently discounted lines include Suffolk Jester IPA, London Porter and Belgian Cherry Wheatbeer. 

As I have said before, providing online information about M&S offers is complicated by its relationship with Ocado (who do not always replicate M&S promotions) but the chart shows what deals exist in M&S “bricks and mortar” stores.

At the Co-op

The current Co-op promotion is scheduled to end on March 15 so this may be the last chance to get the Irresistible South African Sauvignon Blanc Reserva at £4.50 (£5.50 for non-members) with its “ripe pear, pink grapefruit and melon flavours supported by muted lime acidity”.

Remember, though, that this retailer’s structure is complicated by its (often autonomous) local groupings which can mean that prices differ from place to place.

It’s especially important, therefore, to check the price on the shelf (the definitive one) in any particular store.

At Asda

Asda’s current promotion continues apace offering up to 25% off on selected wines in its (premium own label) Extra Special range and that arrangement is expected to run until 23 March.

Among the wines affected are its Gavi and Primitivo (both of which drop from £8 to £6) and a Gran Reserva Rioja (down to £8.63 – from £11.50).

Let’s also give another shout to Extra Special Pinot Grigio (£4.88 from £6.50) which combines zesty green apple, pear and peach flavours with (typical Trentino) lively acidity.  

Fans of skilfully balanced pinot grigio, it really is your birthday!

Here, then, is the Asda summary chart with fuller details available via this link to their website.

At Lidl

Lidl’s Wine of the Week this time offers a reduction from £7.99 to £5.49 on its New Zealand Pinot Noir Marlborough.

In Scotland and Wales, that promotion is in force from 10–16 March but, in English stores, it will only be available from 11-13 March.

Call in once more on Monday when I reveal my latest Top Tips and again on Thursday for an update on the promotions in force then.