I am lucky to taste a lot of great wines every year. As 2025 comes to a close, I have chosen some of my favourites. Some will have been wines of the week, others not. All cost less than €50 and some less than €10.
The big multiples constantly run promotions, offering discounts on wines at different times. Obviously, the best time to buy a wine is when it’s on promotion. Aldi and Lidl both have seasonal selections that only appear for a few months or a few weeks, but all of these wines should be readily available.
WHITE WINES
Deluxe Chenin Blanc 2024 South Africa, Fairtrade
13.5%, €8.79
Refreshing with plump peach fruits and a touch of honey. Well-made wine at a great price.
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From Lidl
Laurent Miquel Côte 238 Pech Gentille Albariño 2024
13.5%, €12
One of my go-tos, this offers fantastic value for money. Lemon zest aromas, racy green fruits and a crisp bone dry finish.
From Dunnes
Percheron Chenin Blanc-Viognier 2023 Coastal Region
13%, €14-15
Tasty, textured plump peaches and nectarines with a tangy finish. Try this with richer seafood dishes, creamy chicken or vegetable gratins.
Widely available from independents including Fresh; La Touche, Greystones; Coach House Dublin 14; Cass & Co Waterford; MacGuinness, Wines Dundalk, Co Louth; Drinks Store, Dublin 7; Number 21 Off Licences; Shiel’s, Malahide, Co Dublin; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock, Co Dublin; The Vintry, Dublin 6; Gibney’s Malahide; The Hole in the Wall Blackhorse Avenue, Dublin 8
MAN Family Wines Padstal Chardonnay 2024, Cape Coast, South Africa
13.5%, €14.95
Rich, textured chardonnay with luscious peach fruits and a nice backbone of acidity and good length. Try this with creamy chicken dishes.
From O’Briens
Valdeorras 2024, A Coroa, Spain
13.5%, €18.47
A beautiful wine at an exceptional price. Concentrated pristine stone fruits and pears with a subtle mineral edge and a long dry finish. With seared scallops or prawns.
From winespark.com
Lagar de Costa Albariño 2024, Rías Baixas
13%, €18.99
Floral with broad textured mouthwatering green fruits and a distinctive saline finish. A superior Albariño.
From O’Briens
Bordeaux Blanc Classic Cuvée Château Thieuley 2023, Bordeaux
12.5%, €19.50
Rich textured fruit, a touch of toasted hazelnuts and a lively refreshing acidity. This would be good with shellfish or roast root vegetables.
From winesdirect.ie
Ladybird Sur Lie Chenin Blanc 2022, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
13%, €23.95
Broad ripe spicy baked apples and pears; lightly honeyed with lovely depth of fruit. Try it with scallops or lighter chicken dishes.
From Baggot Street Wines, Dublin 4; Bradley’s, Cork; Clontarf Wines, Dublin 3; Wineonline.ie; Blackrock Cellar, Co Dublin
Spice Route Tarragon Chenin Blanc 2023, Swartland
13%, €27
This has real intensity of fruit; succulent, mouth-watering peaches and nectarines with a spicy note, balanced by plenty of refreshing acidity.
From WineOnline.ie; Martins, Dublin 3; Redmond’s, Dublin 6; RainbowNationWines.ie; Matson’s, Cork; Red Island, Skerries, Co Dublin; Mitchell & Son, Glasthule, Co Dublin & Dublin 2
Tiritiri Chardonnay 2019 Neudorf, Nelson, New Zealand
13.5%, €29.00
A delightful, refreshing chardonnay with smooth peach fruits with subtle toasted nuts and a crisp dry finish. Try it with baked salmon or creamy chicken dishes.
From JNwine.com; The Wicklow Wine Co, Wicklow
Leirana 2023, Rias Baíxas, Forjas
12.5%, €28-29
An elegant, refined albariño with layers of greengage and peach backed up by a strong saline note.
From BaRossa, Dublin4; Green Man Wines, Dublin 6; Barnhill Stores, Glenageary, Co Dublin; Morton’s, Dublin 6; 64 Wine, Glasthule, Co Dublin; Avoca; 1601, Kinsale, Co Cork
Clos Venturi ’1769′ Blanc, 2023, Corsica
13%, €30
This is a very fine, light, dry white with white flower aromas, refined fruits and a lovely, persistent, dry finish. Vermentino at its best.
From Redmond’s, Dublin 6; Martins, Dublin 3; WineOnline.ie
Bodegas Cota 45 Ube Miraflores 2023
10.5%, €32.50
Fresh and forward with citrus, piercing apple fruits, a light flor character and a delicious dry, saline, mineral finish. A remarkable wine.
From Pinto, Dublin 9; 64wine, Glasthule, Co Dublin; L’Atitude 51, Cork; Lilith, Dublin 7
Mullineux Old Vines White 2023, Swartland
14%, €38-40
Crystalline, pure nose; rich broad but elegant yellow fruits, with lovely weight and style finishing on a saline note. Wonderful wine.
From RainbowNationWines.ie; 64 Wine, Glasthule Co Dublin; Mitchell & Son, Glasthule & Dublin 2
Verdicchio Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Passolento 2022 La Marca di San Michele
14%, €36-38
Floral and rich with textured pine nuts, toasted almonds and luscious ripe stone fruits. This has great length and real style.
From SIYPS.com; Lilith, Dublin 7; Blackrock Cellar, Co Dublin
RED WINES
Vin Rouge du Liban 2022, Bekaa Valley
13.5%, €9.99
Medium- to full-bodied with ripe blackcurrant fruits, an earthy spicy edge and some good dry tannins on the finish. This would go nicely with roast lamb, firm cheeses, or roast aubergines. It will be on promotion at €7.99 until December 21st.
From Aldi
Château Lacombe Cadiot 2020 Bordeaux Supérieur
14%, €12
Very seductive rich, ripe blackcurrant and elderberry fruits, a touch of spice and a lightly tannic finish. This would go nicely with roast red meats. When on promotion at €12, this is great value for money.
From SuperValu
Clos Lojen 2023, Manchuela, Bodegas Ponce
12.5%, €17
An instantly drinkable wine with very supple, savoury, ripe plums and light tannins. All of the Ponce wines offer great value for money.
From Lilith, Dublin 7; Pinto, Dublin 9; Green Man Wines, Dublin 6; Lennox Street Grocer, Dublin 8; Grapevine, Dalkey, Co Dublin; 64 Wine, Glasthule, Co Dublin; MacCurtain Wine, Cork; Baggot Street Wines, Dublin 4; BaRossa, Dublin 4
Oscar Domaine de la Dourbie 2022, Pays d’Herault
13%, €17.95
A lively, smooth, easy-drinking wine with plenty of red summer fruits, light tannins and a lingering finish. Great value for money.
From Mitchell & son, Glasthule, Co Dublin and Dublin 2; Avoca, Kilmacanogue & Dunboyne
Château les Grands Vallons 2020, Blaye, Côtes de Bordeaux, Biodynamic
12%, €18.99
Smooth, ripe blackcurrant fruits, a slight earthiness and perfectly balanced light tannins. Great value for money and perfect with roast lamb, beef, firm cheeses or mushroom dishes.
From Baggot Street Wines, Dublin 4; The Vintry, Dublin 6; The Wine Pair, Dublin 8; Grapevine, Dalkey, Co Dublin; 64 Wine, Mount Merrion & Glasthule; D-Six, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6; Morton’s Galway
Vermell 2023, Celler del Roure, Valencia
13.5%, €18.95
A perennial favourite of mine. Fresh, lively dark cherry fruits and an earthy touch with subtle tannins. A medium-bodied wine that goes nicely with a wide range of foods.
From Green Man Wines, Dublin 6; Blackrock Cellar, Co Dublin; Fallon & Byrne, Dublin 2; D-Six, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6; Baggot Street Wines, Dublin 4; 64 Wine, Glasthule, Co Dublin; Morton’s, Dublin 6; Brindle, Dublin 8
Pinot Noir Le Cerisier Begude 2024, IGP Haute Vallée de l’Aude
13%, €18.99
This wine is good value at €18.99 but, on promotion at €15.99, it is an outstanding bargain. Light, delicious, flowing, fresh raspberry and redcurrant fruits. Drink lightly chilled solo or with tuna, pork and chicken dishes.
From O’Briens
Artuke Pies Negro 2022, Rioja Alavesa
14%, €24-25
I featured this a few weeks ago but it is worth repeating. Vibrant and fragrant with delicious dark cherry fruits, a refreshing mineral core and some firm tannins on the finish. Enjoy it with lamb cutlets or herby pork chops.
From Baggot Street Wines, Dublin 4; 64 Wine, Glasthule, Co Dublin; Pinto Wines, Dublin 9; Brindle, Dublin 8, Sweeney’s, Dublin 3
Two Paddocks Picnic Pinot Noir 2023, Central Otago
12.5%, €30
A delicious, light, fresh and juicy pinot with ripe red cherry fruits. Ideal for picnics or any casual dining. Try it with mixed mezze.
From The Vintry, Dublin 6; The Malt House, Trim, Co Meath; JJ O’Driscoll, Cork; Deveney’s, Dublin 14; McHugh’s, Dublin 5; The Wine Centre, Kilkenny
Samt & Seide 2022, Dorli Muhr, Carnuntum, Austria
13%, €35
Samt and Seide translates as velvet and silk, which accurately describes the wine. Seductive, smooth and refined with just ripe concentrated dark cherry fruits. Try it with pork, veal and chicken dishes.
From Green Man Wines, Dublin 6; Fíon Eile, Dublin 7; Sweeneys, D3; Lilith, Dublin 7; Pinto Wines, Dublin 9; Blackrock Cellar, Co Dublin; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock, Co Dublin; Brindle, Dublin 8; 64 Wine, Glasthule, Co Dublin; Deveney’s, Dublin 14
Saumur 2023, Domaine Guiberteau Organic
13%, €39.50
Classic cabernet franc with elegant red summer fruits, red cherries, peppery, light tannins and a lovely freshness throughout. Concentrated yet refined, this will keep but is delicious now.
From Terroirs, Dublin 4, Terroirs.ie
Montesecondo Chianti Classico 2022
13%, €35-37
A beautiful, elegant, structured Chianti Classico with concentrated, slightly austere dark cherry and raspberry fruits and firm tannins on the long finish. Save it or drink alongside grilled red meats.
From Sheridan’s Cheesemongers, Dublin 2; MacCurtain Wine Cellar, Cork
José Gil Rioja 2023, Viñedos en San Vicente de la Sonsierra
13.5%, €43.50
Smooth, fresh and intense with silky dark cherry fruits, a touch of spice and a long, elegant finish. A refined wine with lovely purity of fruit.
From Terroirs, Dublin 4, Terroirs.ie
Château Paveil de Luze 2019, Margaux
13.5%, €45
One of a number of excellent Bordeaux I tasted from Whelehan’s. This is a very classic Margaux, fragrant and elegant with very stylish ripe blackcurrants and cassis, with light tannins on the finish. You could decant it just before serving. Perfect with any red meats or firm cheeses.
From Whelehan’s, Loughlinstown, Co Dublin, Whelehanswines.ie
Saint-Joseph, La Dardouille, Emmanuel Darnaud 2023
13%, €50-56
Beautiful perfumes of violets, medium-bodied with dark cherries, savoury black olives, black pepper and a lingering finish. Lovely wine.
From Pinto, Dublin 9; Deveney’s, Dublin 14; Martins, Dublin 3; McHugh’s, Dublin 5; Redmond’s, Dublin 6
