How to shop for good supermarket wines: Insider tips to choose the right one for you
How are wines arranged? Which one offers the best bang for buck? What should you be looking for? We asked experts in the supermarket wine trade.
Looking for the right wine at the supermarket? (Photo: iStock/ViDi Studio)
If you’re looking for wine at the supermarket – whether you are grocery shopping or planning to bring one to a cosy party – chances are you spend under five minutes to hastily grab a bottle. And more likely than not, you pick one you have tried before.
When the shelves are lined high with reds, whites, and roses, all vying for your attention, picking a “good wine” is a daunting pursuit. It calls for some know-how and a little inside knowledge.
If you’re lucky, you might find a friendly staff who can assist you with your purchases, but what if you’re facing the wine tower on your own? So where do you start?
THE BASICS: HOW THEY’RE ARRANGED
First things first: It’s no secret that supermarket wines are not ageable. They are made to be consumed early, and here in Singapore, shoppers are consuming them in the first week of purchase, noted Fiona Stephens, who was previously the lead wine buyer for DFI Retail Group and responsible for all wine purchased across Cold Storage outlets, Jason’s by Market Place and Giant supermarkets.
As for how the wines are arranged on the shelves, these go by type. “That’s why you’ll see all the white wines together, and the red wines together, and then it will go by country,” she explained.
For a country like France, where shoppers know the regions such as Bordeaux and Burgundy, the shelves will be stacked according to the region. For a New World wine-producing nation like Australia, it will be by the grape variety, said Stephens.
CHOOSING THE TYPES OF WINE
If you’ve some experience with wines, go with the varietals you’ve liked before, she suggested. When looking for something new, stick to the wine styles that appeal to your palate.
For instance, if you’re a Sauvignon Blanc drinker, try the same grape from another country (Sancerre wines from France are also made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes), or if you’re a Chardonnay fan, try a similar grape like Chenin Blanc.
Champagnes are a fail-safe, and despite the shortage, supermarkets ensure that the bubbles are available and also priced competitively. Stephens’ insider tip? Look out for Champagne discounts on festivals and occasions.
Among reds, the classic varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, and Pinot Noir are widely available, and Australia claims a wider berth for their offerings at all price points.
FOLLOW THE BRANDS
Sommelier Vinodhan Veloo suggested following your favourite brands at supermarkets.
“I shop at supermarkets out of convenience,” said Cloudstreet’s group beverage manager and wine portfolio manager for Unlisted Collection.
He named a few of his favourite wine labels he picks from the aisles, including Cape Mentelle, Chapoutier brand from Southern France, Nederburg from South Africa especially their Pinotage and some Late Bottling Vintage Port from Grahams.
He found that FairPrice has a good classic selection, especially in the cool rooms. “You can find classic Bordeaux or central Italian white wines.”
“If you’re looking to try new style styles, regions, and varieties, I would go to Cold Storage. You can pick up a Greek red like Xinomavro. I’ve seen Etna Rosso (Italian red wine) and English sparkling wines there, but I don’t see these in FairPrice.”
Also, he added: “I like buying wines from Chile and Argentina because they have the perfect climate for viticulture. The red wines are generally ripe, juicy, fruit-forward, and consistent despite vintage variation.” His top pick – Trivento Malbec.
However, he reserved his judgement on how well the wines are stored. “Sometimes you find wines that are four or five years of age. I’ve tried those wines, and they taste way too advanced than they should be.”
IF YOU WANT TO LEVEL UP WITH A BORDEAUX
It is entirely possible to find a special occasion wine at the supermarket aisles, albeit at a slightly higher cost. For instance, if looking for a French Bordeaux, Stephens’ advice was to look for wines priced above S$60 for higher quality brands (sorry, there are no bargains to be had at the S$20 to S$30 mark).
“If you know nothing about Bordeaux and don’t know how to read the labels, the price point is your best indicator.”
While most supermarket wines are from recent years, at FairPrice NTUC, we found Bordeaux wines as old as the 2015 vintage.
Wine consultant Ch’ng Poh Tiong has worked with the NTUC wine-buying team for over 22 years and brings in his years of expertise on Bordeaux, having written the first Bordeaux wine guide in Chinese.
His insider tip is to look out for much older Bordeaux wines in the coming months. The buying team and Ch’ng are working on importing older vintages direct from the Chateaux or negotiants (who handle the sales for some brands).
“I think the oldest (wine) is 15 to 20 years old. Some of these older vintages could only have just four or six cases,” he said.
In addition to the flood of Cabernets and Merlot from the old world and new, he recognised a gap in the market for good quality Syrah and Grenache. “(The wines of) Cote de Rhone, both red and white, are probably the best value French wine in the whole of France,” he said. He discovered some Rhone gems and selected wines after personally visiting the vineyards. The wines were then blind tasted by the FairPrice NTUC wine team before they made it to the shelves.
His philosophy: “You have to give the consumers what they want. But at the same time, the consumers are also waiting for you to show what you can offer.”
7 WINE-BUYING TIPS
If the experts haven’t assuaged your nerves, here are a few tips to help you on your next grocery run.
1. Choose wines that display a vintage year – the year the grapes were picked. A wine without a vintage date is likely to be a cheaper quality product.
2. Don’t be swayed by a well-designed label. A high-end label might come from an astute marketer sitting in a bulk wine region wanting you to believe otherwise.
3. Turn the bottle around and read the back label for information on the alcohol percentage, grapes, region, and details of the producer.
4. The shiny foil medallions on the bottle are awards the wine picked up at various award shows. Yes, they signal quality, but they can also be deliberately ambiguous. We spotted stickers claiming the wine is the number one wine in a list of none, and another, simply repeated the vineyard’s name. Take a moment to read what the sticker says. Is it making a valid claim of greatness or a vacuous one?
5. Shop online for more information on the wines or use apps like Vivino for consumer-friendly ratings that show how popular the wine is.
6. When unsure, supermarket home brands like M Cellars for Dairy Farms’ Cold Storage and Just Wine for FairPrice are a great starting point. Stephens explained how the wine quality is frequently pivoted to the industry leader in the category and priced 20 to 30 per cent lower than the branded products.
7. To enjoy your purchases, chill the sparkling wines and whites. Sparkling wines are best served at 6 to 9 degrees Celscius, which translates to approximately three to four hours in the fridge. White wines need at least two hours in the chiller to achieve their serving temperature.
Want some suggestions? Here are 7 wines to consider:
1. Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut Champagne (non-vintage)
This classic champagne delivers lemon curd, apples, and delicate pastry aromas. The bubbles are fine and elegant and poised to impress your guests.
S$79.80 from Fairprice Finest.
2. Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2021, New Zealand
This crowd-pleasing sauvignon blanc is all about zingy acidity coupled with lime and passionfruit notes.
S$52 from Cold Storage.
3. M3 Chardonnay, Shaw and Smith, Adelaide Hills
This superb wine from Shaw and Smith delivers a beautiful complex palate with nectarines, apricots, and citrus notes.
S$58.15 from Cold Storage.
4. Minuty M Cotes De Provence Rose 2020
This light, refreshing rose has pomelo and white peach notes and a supple finish.
S$48 from Redmart.
5. Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2020, Australia
Coonawarra’s red soils deliver power-packed reds. Expect blackberry and blueberry, spices, and soft plush tannins.
S$36 from FairPrice Finest and Cold Storage.
6. Herederos del Marques de Riscal Rioja Riserva 2018, Spain
A classic Rioja with a good balance of juicy cherry and plum fruit, vanilla notes and cinnamon and pepper spice.
S$57 from Fairprice and S$50 from Redmart.
7. Clos de los Siete 2018, Argentina
A medium body, Malbec blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Perfumed with dark blackberries and blueberry, and herbal flavours.
S$52 from FairPrice Finest.
