Which Wines are the Most Popular in the UK?
If you’re wondering what the top wines are in the UK then look no further!
Back in 2021, some research was carried out to determine what the most popular wines in the UK are. The results? The researchers found that these were the TOP TEN types of wine amongst the survey respondents:
- Pinot Grigio
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Merlot
- Rosé
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Pinot Noir
- Zinfandel
- Malbec
- Rioja
If you’re familiar with any restaurant wine list here in the UK or pay attention to the wine drinking habits of those around you, none of the wines on this list of favourites should come as a surprise.
We’ve also looked at some of our own website data over the past five years (all UK based). Whilst our list contains many of the same wines, our ordering for the TOP TEN came out differently than the above study.
For our customers over the past five years, Merlot was the top choice, followed by Sauvignon Blanc and then Tempranillo (the primary red grape in Spain and the Rioja region).
Here’s the FULL LIST of our most popular wine choices by grape varietal:
- Merlot
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Tempranillo
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Shiraz/ Syrah
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Noir
- Malbec
- Pinot Grigio
- Viognier
The study from above also included rosé on their list, and if we were to do that as well, it would be the fourth most popular wine type, coming after Tempranillo and before Cabernet Sauvignon. However rosés are often made from blends, so we’ve left it out of the above list. Similarly, Grenache came up as a popular grape, but as it is mostly used in blends we’ve left it out as well.
“Personal choice, what’s in fashion and popular and what offers good value are all drivers for what we choose. Interesting to see that our customers enjoy a very similar list of top choices of wine styles and varieties as those in the national survey,” says Neil Palmer of Vintage Roots. “Reds come through stronger, but that could also be because we currently list more red wines.”
“We are all creatures of habit to some extent, and the same goes for wine choices,” adds Neil. “Find something you like at the right price, and we often stick to it. A nice crisp Sauvignon Blanc style ticks all the boxes for many wine drinkers, whilst Chardonnay is a bit more divisive, although it comes in a range of styles to suit different tastes.”
Over the last five years, we have noticed an increase in white wine consumption, a trend that our co-founder Neil expects to continue. “Many of the stronger reds are also now taxed more heavily and have become more expensive. It will be very interesting to see how a similar survey will perform in ten years’ time.”
If you’d like to experience these grapes in their greatest form, here are suggestions for each of these most popular single varietal wines/ grapes in the UK. Crafted with care by organic winemakers, these exude true regional character and expression and are wines our customers come back to again and again 🍷
A Top Merlot
French but with a splash of New World opulence, we recommend Chateau Couronneau’s Bordeaux Supérieur, a 100% Merlot-based Bordeaux wine.
£15.50
A Top Sauvignon Blanc
Go for the Wild Thing Sauvignon Blanc, a fresh and lively savvy that also supports the international wildlife charity Born Free Foundation.
£10.75
A Top Tempranillo
Made with no added sulphur, the fabulously pure Bohem Tempranillo from Bodegas Latue is always a popular choice for a Tempranillo.
£10.99
A Top Cabernet Sauvignon
Another no sulphur added wine, Stellar’s Cabernet Sauvignon is an easy-drinking Cabernet with soft blackberry fruits and gentle tannins.
£11.25
A Top Shiraz/ Syrah
Full-bodied, rich and aromatic, Emiliana’s Salvaje No Sulphites Added Syrah is a gorgeous Syrah/Shiraz wine made with just a dollop of Roussanne as well.
Original price was: £14.99.£13.95Current price is: £13.95.
A Top Chardonnay
For an opulent Chardonnay, try the Cuvée Secrète Chardonnay. Crafted by renowned Languedoc winemaker Paul Mas, it has tropical fruit and subtle oak notes.
£14.50
A Top Pinot Noir
With its clean and defined morello cherry fruit, soft tannins and balancing acidity, we recommend the Les Fossiles Pinot Noir from the Loire Valley.
£21.50
A Top Malbec
Gloriously ripe with a lively freshness and vigour, Domaine Bousquet’s entry-level Argentinian Malbec made from high altitude plots of grapes.
£13.50
A Top Pinot Grigio
Soft, generously flavoured and simply loveable, Giol’s Pinot Grigio is always a top choice for an organic Pinot Grigio.
£11.99
A Top Viognier
For a great value Viognier with plenty of character, Emiliana’s Adobe Viognier Reserva always hits the spot.
£10.99
A Top Rosé
Look no further than Meinklang’s biodynamic Prosa Frizzante for a top pink. This lightly sparkling Austrian rosé has been a big hit with our customers for years.
£14.75
A Top Grenache
Grenache (also known as Garnacha in Spain) is also a popular grape. If you’d like to try a 100% Grenache wine then we’d definitely recommend Bodegas Tempore Generacion 73 Garnacha.
£15.50
