Our quest to find the best wines selling for sub £10 drew attention to the top spots for inexpensive drops, above all Cava for sparkling, Chile and South Africa for whites as well as Spain and Italy for reds.
If there's a question I'm asked more regularly than any other, it's not to to suggest fine wines at high prices, but something palatable that retails for less than £10. While I can think of several reliably-good labels from producers who specialise in making inexpensive wines, a blind tasting to compare nothing but samples at entry-point prices is something I've never done.
So, with that in mind, this year, we held db's first Under £10 Masters, which saw us take the same approach employed in our Global Wine Masters to wines within this price bracket. By that, I mean a sampling of wines grouped according to style, but nothing else – meaning that our expert judges knew only if the wines were white, red, rosé or sparkling, as well as oak-influenced or not.
The aim? Simply to find the best examples of their type, wherever they came from.
And the results in full can be seen in Patricia Stefanowicz's excellent report on the tasting here, but below I've picked out just the very best bottles from the competition, complete with Patricia's tasting notes too.
What impressed me following the competition was the high standard of wines at such low prices, with very few wines failing to pick up a medal. And what surprised me was the range of source areas when it came to sub £10 wine in the UK, from Washington State to Slovenia. The areas producing some of the top performers weren't always a revelation, however, with the likes of Lisboa and Rioja, along with Sicily, South Africa, Southern France and Central Chile all doing well, as expected, as well as Cava when it came to sparkling, closely followed by the Loire with its Cremants.
Having said that, our best wine of the day, and therefore crowned as the 'Grand Master', was not from a grape one might expect, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, but Viognier. And it wasn't from the Mediterranean regions that one might association with this variety either, but Chile. In fact, it is the UK's best-selling Viognier, employing fruit from Colchagua, and made by Cono Sur.
As for the reds, the highest-scoring sample was from Italy, and notable not just because it is a multi-regional blend, with a little bit of bottle age, but also due to the fact it unites a leading wine consultant with a famous chef: this brilliant-value red is made by Alberto Antonini for Gordon Ramsay (pictured above).
If you scroll down you can find out more about these wines, as well as all the Gold medallists from the competition, which was held in mid-April this year in London.
CAVA JAUME SERRA BOUQUET BRUT NV
- Producer: Jaume Serra
- Region: Cataluña
- Country: Spain
- Grape varieties: Macabeo, Xarel.lo, Parellada
- ABV: 11.5%
- Approx. retail price: £7
- Medal: Gold
Since 1647, when a fortified house was built in the hills above Barcelona, the property of Jaume Serra has been growing grapes and making wine. These Cavas continue those old traditions with modern style. This wine is a sparkling gemstone and the appealing bottle is decorated with a dozen red roses. Pale yellow-gold in hue with small bubbles and a very narrow cordon, the wine shows peach, green apple and grape, with a fresh white bread overlay. Brut-style, the palate is light-bodied, with brisk acidity, brittle mousse texture and good freshness. Lovely as an aperitif, but would also work with toasted courgette flowers stuffed with ricotta, chives and basil. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
CAVA JAUME SERRA BOUQUET SEMI SECO NV
- Producer: Jaume Serra
- Region: Cataluña
- Country: Spain
- Grape varieties: Macabeo, Xarel.lo, Parellada
- ABV: 11.5%
- Approx. retail price: £6.50
- Medal: Gold
From the ‘classic’ Cava grapes grown on calcareous sand-andclay soils comes this delightful, semi-dry Cava. Pale yellowcoloured with tiny bubbles, this wine shows golden apple and apricot fruit with buttered toast and honey accents. Medium in style (37g/l residual sugar), the light-bodied palate is juicy and fruity, with velvet mousse texture and lifted finish. A crowd-pleaser that would suit apple fritters, or beignets from New Orleans at brunch. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
CONO SUR BICICLETA VIOGNIER 2024
- Producer: Viña Cono Sur
- Region: Central Valley
- Country: Chile
- Grape variety: 100% Viogner
- ABV: 11%
- Approx. retail price: £5
- Medal: Grand Master
The strapline for Viña Cono Sur’s Bicicleta Range is ‘Follow Your Road’. Viognier certainly follows a different path from other international grape varieties, only thriving in some terroirs. Chile is one of the more successful for this temperamental variety. This example took our top award in this Global Masters... and rightly so. Pale lemon-yellow in colour, the wine shows expressive yellow peach and apricot fruit with a tangerine zest accent. Just dry, the palate is medium-bodied and fresh, with moderate acidity supporting the appealing fruit. A hint of astringency adds extra grip to the finish. A delicious wine to match Chinese dim sum or Thai curry. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
CONO SUR BICICLETA CHARDONNAY 2024
- Producer: Viña Cono Sur
- Region: Central Valley
- Country: Chile
- Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay
- ABV: 12.5%
- Approx. retail price: £5
- Medal: Gold
The new-look packaging for Viña Cono Sur’s Bicicleta Range features a dirt bike, and one can just imagine packing this bottle into a rucksack before striking out up a Chilean (or Alpine) mountain on a summer trek. Pale yellow-hued, the wine is packed with pineapple and mango fruit, with honey and white flower nuances. Almost dry, the mid-weight palate is framed by crisp acidity with a hint of spritz adding extra freshness. Notes of white pepper and stone give interest. A very good crowd-pleaser that is perfect for an al fresco lunch of cold poached salmon accompanied by cucumber salad. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
SQUEALING PIG SAUVIGNON BLANC NV
- Producer: Squealing Pig
- Region: Marlborough
- Country: New Zealand
- Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- ABV: 12.5%
- Approx. retail price: £9
- Medal: Gold
Squealing Pig started in Marlborough in 2010 with a goal to escape the pig-pen and just have fun, globe-trotting to find fresh, flavour-packed wines without hype (or muck). This wine, from its original region in New Zealand, is an excellent sample. The wine reeks of its origin, displaying a pale lemon-green colour and greengage, nettle, elderflower and grass, with hints of capsicum and pink grapefruit. Almost dry, the palate has juicy, pungent fruit supported with firm acidity and a lime-citrus finish. Incredibly varietal and with good concentration, the wine is a good choice for the (almost) ubiquitous crispy squid with spicy red pepper sauce and a squeeze of lime. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
STELLENBOSCH MANOR CHENIN BLANC
- Producer: Stellenrust
- Region: Stellenbosch
- Country: South Africa
- Vintage: 2024
- Grape varieties: 100% Chenin Blanc
- ABV: 13%
- Approx. retail price: £9.50
- Medal: Gold
Stellenrust was started in 1692 by master stone mason Douwe Gerbrand Steyn, who planted some of the earliest grapes in the Cape. The ancestor of these fabulous wine producers would be thrilled to see the impeccable masonry of the tasting room, a Post-Modern building blending Palladian concepts with traditional and modern materials and building techniques. Crafted with the same attention to detail is this lovely wine. Pale lemongreen in colour, the wine shows green apple, lime cordial and lemon custard flavours with a chalky accent. Dry and light-bodied, the palate shows racy citrus acidity and a hint of astringency giving added grip. A really delicious wine suited to soft-shell crabs in a lime sauce. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
SPIER SIGNATURE SAUVIGNON BLANC 2024
- Producer: Spier Wine Farm
- Region: Western Cape
- Country: South Africa
- Grape variety: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- ABV: 13%
- Approx. retail price: £10
- Medal: Gold
Spier Wine Farm occupies a piece of land with a history spanning 7,000 years. Recognising its ancestors, Spier has taken sustainability to a whole new level. This delightful, affordable Sauvignon Blanc is just one result. Pale lemoncoloured, the wine shows greengage, passionfruit and white peach, with accents of lemon blossom, orange zest and subtle smoke. Very nearly dry, the palate is juicy and fresh, light-bodied with hints of white pepper and raw Jalapeño chilies. A surprisingly good pairing would be steamed globe artichokes with a dill-Dijon mustard mayonnaise. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
SPIER SIGNATURE ALBARIÑO 2024
- Producer: Spier Wine Farm
- Region: Western Cape
- Country: South Africa
- Grape variety: 100% Albariño
- ABV: 13%
- Approx. retail price: £10
- Medal: Gold
Established by Arnoud Jansz in 1692, Spier Wine Farm has been owned by the Enthoven family since 1993, with goals to become more sustainable and inclusive. It can hardly be more inclusive than to include Albariño, the Spanish Galician grape variety. Produced from grapes grown on the southern slopes of the Bottelary Hills in Stellenbosch, the wine has a very pale lemon hue, with melon, grapefruit, pineapple and a kiss of honey. Just dry, the mid-weight palate flavours are framed by brisk acidity and accented by lemon zest and tangerine. A good partner is fresh scallops with garlic, baked in just wilted radicchio leaves. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
SANTA RITA 120 RESERVA ESPECIAL ROSÉ 2024
- Producer: Santa Rita Estates
- Region: Central Valley
- Country: Chile
- Grape varieties: 30% Syrah, 22% Grenache, 14% Pais, 12% Sangiovese, 22% Mourvèdre
- ABV: 12.5%
- Approx. retail price: £9
- Medal: Gold
The Viña Santa Rita Range pays homage to the 120 hectares established in the Central Valley of Chile by the winery founders. Affordable and delicious, this rosé has a pale salmon-pink hue, looking like spun sugar, with delightful watermelon, strawberry and white cherry fruits. Nearly dry, the light-bodied palate shows good definition of flavour, balanced by crisp acidity and hints of tangerine and white pepper spice. With enticing texture, the wine is a good pairing for plum blossom chicken (braised chicken with a sauce of plum jam, lemons, white wine and a pinch of garam masala). (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
GORDON RAMSAY INTENSO ROSSO 2021
- Producer: Buontalenti
- Region: Tuscany/Abruzzo/Sicily
- Country: Italy
- Grape varieties: 50% Sangiovese, 30% Montepulciano, 20% Alicante
- ABV: 14%
- Approx. retail price: £9.50
- Medal: Gold
A cross-regional blend of Italian varieties from 20-year-old vines, the ripeness of Alicante and the plushness of Montepulciano are framed by the freshness of Tuscan Sangiovese. The wine, produced by Buontalenti in Tuscany, has a deep ruby colour and summer pudding fruits overlaid with creamy oak, tobacco and coffee notes. Sweet-fruited and full-bodied, the palate flavours are supported by racy acidity and dense, silky-textured tannins. A seriously attractive wine that will suit a classic saltimbocca alla Romana. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
SANTA CAROLINA RESERVA CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2023
- Producer: Viña Santa Carolina
- Region: Valle del Maule
- Country: Chile
- Grape variety: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- ABV: 13.5%
- Approx. retail price: £9.99
- Medal: Gold
Viña Santa Carolina is celebrating its 150th birthday this year and was the first Chilean winery to win an international award, when its Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva de la Familia was recognised at the 1889 Exposition Universelle in Paris. This Gold medal follows the long tradition of wellrecognised excellence. Quite deep garnet in colour, the aromas show attractive red berry and cherry, then cassis with chocolate and tobacco notes. The sweetfruited palate displays brisk acidity and dense, satin-textured tannins and an earthy nuance showing development. This delicious drink is a good foil for baked chicken with porcini and capers. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
DOGAJOLO ROSSO 2022
- Producer: Carpineto
- Region: Tuscany
- Country: Italy
- Grape varieties: 70% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon
- ABV: 13.5%
- Approx. retail price: £9.99
- Medal: Gold
Carpineto was founded in 1967 in the village of Dudda in the municipality of Greve-in-Chianti by the Sacchet and Zaccheo families, who still manage the company today. This wine is exceptionally good value. Medium-deep cherrycoloured, the wine exhibits red cherry and wild strawberry with crushed roses, chocolate and herbal accents. The mid-weight palate has good definition of flavour, balanced by fresh acidity and linen-textured tannins. A slightly leather/tobacco finish suggests that the wine will match a rich osso buco with tomato, white wine and balsamic vinegar. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
PATA NEGRA TORO ROBLE SPECIAL EDITION 2023
- Producer: Sietecerros
- Region: Castilla y León
- Country: Spain
- Grape variety: 100% Tempranillo
- ABV: 14%
- Approx. retail price: £8
- Medal: Gold
The phrase ‘Pata Negra’, derived from the name of the finest quality Ibérico ham, has evolved to describe anything that sets an unrivalled standard of excellence. So it is appropriate that it is a name for the collection of Pata Negra wines, sourced from the finest vineyards of Spain and crafted by some of the most skilled winemakers. This wine, from Castilla y León in northwest Spain, is superb. Deep ruby-hued with a hint of garnet on the rim, the wine shows appealing red berry, pomegranate and dried cranberry fruit with tobacco and chocolate. Full-bodied, the palate has crisp, almost citrus acidity and firm, linen-textured tannins. With plenty of allspice and nutmeg from ageing in French oak, the wine is a fine partner for roast pork loin with onion and mushroom stuffing. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
Read more
All the medallists from The Global Under £10 Wine Masters 2025
