Exploring Marks & Spencer’s wine selection: Highlights from its latest tasting

Although it was held in its usual venue at the company’s busy headquarters near Paddington in London, there was a new-broom feel at the latest Marks & Spencer (M&S) tasting, with a refreshed tasting layout that put the emphasis on a set of separately themed tables.

The first, and most attractive for novelty-obsessed journalists, featured the 23 new wines that the company has added since it last hosted the wine press in the spring.

Scroll down for tasting notes and scores of the best M&S wine buys for autumn and winter

There were quite a few highlights in that selection of new wines – notably a couple of excellent Southern French reds from either end of the Mediterranean coast. On the whole however, this event lacked the daring energy of previous M&S tastings.

Previously the buying team had unveiled a bunch of lesser-spotted wines from its often-excellent and good-value Found range. It includes, among others, the delightful Greek Moschofilero-Roditis blend recommended below.

Christmas choices

Another focus table at the tasting was wines for Christmas. There were some first-class choices for the season on show both at that table and elsewhere in the M&S range.

They include a very smart Margaux in M&S Collection livery from Fifth Growth Château Dauzac and a pair of excellent upmarket fizz options from rising-star English sparkling wine producer, Roebuck Estates (see tasting notes below). There’s also a great-value Palo Cortado Sherry and a fruit-driven Sauternes.

South African stars

A great strength of the M&S range in full effect across the room was South Africa. Notable supplier Stellenrust, from Stellenbosch, rules the roost when it comes to sheer value. Seek out its own Barrel-Fermented Chardonnay or the luminous unoaked Chenin Blanc that it makes in collaboration with the Meadowlands Fairtrade project.

There were also well-priced bottlings from big name producers such as Ken Forrester and Boekenhoutskloof.

Finding value

Indeed the Cape Quarter Bordeaux blend from Boekenhoutskloof is one of a handful of wines with what M&S calls a ‘dropped and locked’ price . This makes it even more of a bargain at its new, lower price of £10.

That’s a welcome development in a range that for the most part (like everywhere else on the high street) has inevitably succumbed to the inflationary pressures of the cost of living crisis.

M&S wine picks for autumn and winter

Tasting notes come from the M&S Autumn Tasting 2025. All M&S wines are now sold online via Ocado. Wine is only sold as part of the retailer’s range of gift packs on the M&S website. 

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