Spar and Co-op both offer a convenient option

Convenience stores are now vying for our attention when it comes to wine deals, having recently upped their game with new revitalised wine ranges.

The leader when it comes to wine bargains is still Aldi, with Lidl close behind. The Co-op and Spar have kept a low profile up to now, but are working hard to attract new wine customers.

Last year the world’s largest convenience chain, Spar, employed ex-asda wine buyer Philippa Carr MW to revamp their wine range in the UK. She recently unveiled ten new wines, exclusive to Spar, including popular grapes pinot grigio, merlot and sauvignon blanc with stand-out labelling and several interesting European Eastern wines.

The Co-op have a wider range with 320 wines, but their store selections vary considerably. Fairtrade South African and Argentine wine is still championed, but Co-op’s buyer Simon Cairns says smaller bottles and single-serve wine pouches are now becoming a key area of interest, to prevent consumers turning to beer or cider. He has just introduced two new Italian red and white wines in smaller 50cl bottles. With the success of Co-op’s great value Les Pioneers Champagne (£18.99), Cairns is also expanding Co-op’s champagne and prosecco range – which will be available in the 18 new Co-op stores planned to open in Scotland this year.

We compared a random selection of wines from both Spar and Co-op. Variety and quality-wise Co-op took the lead in our tasting, but if you hunt carefully you can find some interesting new Spar bargains.

Spar white Romania: Wildflower Pinot Grigio 2017 (£6.50) Everything you expect from a light, crisp, appley example of pinot grigio – very easy quaffer, but lacks much complexity.

Romania: Brindle Ridge

Chardonnay 2017 (£6.50)

Soft citric notes on the palate with vanilla spice and sweet finish, but the aroma seems a little confected. Languedoc, S France: Tino Pai Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (£7) Our tasters’ favourite – a zippy, clean, refreshing French sauvignon with rounded melony fruits and appealingly moderate alcohol level.

Spar rosé Veneto, Italy: Garganega Pinot Grigio Blush 2017 (£6.50) Lightweight citrusy quaffer made using Soave’s garganega grape with pinot grigio which has been macerated to extract a little pinkness from the skins.

Spar red Romania: Wildflower Pinot Noir 2017 (£6.50) A step up from the usual bargain basement Romanian pinot noir, this strawberry scented fruit bomb is smooth and juicy with a sweet finish. Rhône, France:

STAR Costieres De BUY Nimes 2016 Fontaine du Sud (£8) My favourite from Spar’s new range; a smooth, textured, herby grenache-based southern Rhône, ideal for the barbecue; made in a similar style to Chateauneuf du Pape – but far better value. Romania: Brindle Ridge Merlot 2017 (£6.50) Plummy, soft, sweet notes in this merlot – good price, but it lacks fruit concentration and length.

Co-op white

Luberon, S France: La Vieille Ferme Blanc 2017 (£7.49)

The Perrin family from Beaucastel have been making this Luberon wine for more than 40 years from a mix of unusual local white Rhône grapes. An elegant, floral, white peach and nutty aperitif.

Castilla y Leon, Spain: Organic Verdejo 2017 Bodegas Menade (£7.99)

An organic wine offering greengage aromas, melony fruits with a citrus undernote.

South Australia: The Lodge Hill Riesling 2017 Jim Barry (£9.99)

You usually have to pay more than a tenner for good Clare Valley riesling, so this is a wonderful buy – limey and citric with a hint of spice.

Co-op red Veneto, Italy: Certo Merlot 2017 (£3.99 for 50 cl bt) Note the small bottle format here – very lightweight, soft, juicy merlot from Veneto. Easy drinking with soft tannins, but lacks elegance and depth. Tuscany, Italy: Villa Nardelli Cuvée Carolina 2016 (£8.99) Modern easy-drinking plummy Tuscan red from local sangiovese grape, with ripe cherry aromas, mellow flavours and spicy vanilla undertones. Campo de Borja, Spain: Gran Vista Garnacha 2016 (£4.99) This garnacha, made from 40-year-old vines, is bursting with cherry fruits with a very sweet juicy fruit palate and a touch of pepper. Bordeaux, France: Chateau Lamothe Bergeron 2012 (£13.99) This Haut Medoc from an equal blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot has mellow plummy fruits, silky tannins with classic cedar and spice notes – on offer at a cracking price compared to other retailers. ■

Join Rose’s New Zealand v Burgundy wine tasting in Glasgow on Friday 13 July, £42, www.rosemurraybrown.com