English Wine Guide

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WAITROSE ENGLISH DRY WHITE WINE REVIEW.

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I’ve found it – no, not the golden ticket – the golden wine. An elegant and classy bottle of English wine, for less than £10. A few years ago, I didn’t think this could actually exist – I especially didn’t think that I’d be picking it up from my local supermarket.

In this blog post, I’ll be reviewing the (spoiler alert) excellent Waitrose English Dry White Wine. What does it taste like? Is it value for money? And, what should you serve it with?

About Waitrose English Dry White Wine

Waitrose are quite serious about stocking English wine. So much so that, in 2023, the supermarket chain dominated with a 50% market share. It is therefore no surprise that Waitrose have created a supermarket label English wine.

The English Dry White Wine (often referred to as Waitrose Blueprint English Wine) has been created in conjunction with Denbies Vineyard in Surrey. As the largest vineyard in England, Denbies is well known in the UK and overseas.

I tried the 2023 vintage, but I understand that Denbies and Waitrose have been working together for a number of years to create an English wine. The price point is £9.99, similar to Denbies own Surrey Gold and Flint Valley (which retail at £9.95.) This makes it less expensive than the more premium English wine, but a little pricier than your average Spanish or Italian bottle.

Waitrose English Dry White Wine: The Low Down

Here’s all the key information you need to know about Waitrose English Dry White Wine.

Tasting notes for Waitrose English Dry White Wine

So to the taste test – here’s my review of Waitrose English Dry White Wine.

Appearance – a pale yellow hue, with a hint of almost delicate peach. A crystal clear wine.

Aroma – delicate flavours, with prevailing citrus and floral notes on the nose.

Taste – crisp but not tart. Complex mingling of fruit (lychee, apple & grapefruit), balanced with floral tones (elderflower dominant).

Mouthfeel – Fresh, light, but a little heady (in a good way).

Pairing suggestions for Waitrose English Dry White Wine

This Waitrose English Dry White Wine is a blend of many grapes grown at Denbies. After tasting the wine, I believe that the Bacchus and Ortega are most dominant. The Bacchus providing the zest and acidity the Ortega balancing out with the floral notes.

In terms of pairing, Ortega and Bacchus match well with similar dishes. Think seafood, mild cheese, greens and maybe a touch of spice from Asian or Mexican food. I could imagine that Thai food, with the heady mix of lemongrass, chilli and coriander, may be the ideal accompaniment to this wine. Try this recipe for Thai style steamed fish.

I opted for a quick prawn & pasta dish. A simple mid-week winner, which paired splendidly with the food.

Don’t be afraid to drink this wine without food. Honestly, the wine does not need food to announce the flavours on it’s behalf. Just like Bridget Jones, it is perfect “just the way it is.”

Occasions and serving tips for Waitrose English Dry White Wine

For serving, keep this wine nicely chilled. I know that adding ice to wine can sometimes make it more drinkable and keep it cool, but I don’t recommend that with this wine – I think it would detract from the taste significantly. Instead, just pour a little in a large white wine glass and keep the bottle refrigerated until you’re ready to top up.

As for occasion, this wine is fresh, light and vibrant. An ideal summer drinking wine. Save it for a sunny Saturday afternoon to accompany an alfresco lunch. Or, share it with a loved on with a simple supper. As it’s not such an expensive bottle of wine, there’s no need to save it for a very special occasion.

My review of Waitrose English Dry White Wine

I like that Waitrose have kept the label simple, the bottle looks clean and classy. There are no gimmicks and no tricks, this is just a good bottle of English dry white wine. Waitrose do know wine and I’d expected it to be decent, but tasting it actually blew my socks of a bit.

The expert blending of citrus zest, with vibrant lychee and soft elderflower has created a wine that evokes memories of summer meadows. Smelling this wine is a bit like being transported into one of those Lenor fabric softener adverts.

The complexity of flavour surprised me, with well balanced fruit and floral notes, and a delicate minierality – it reminds me of Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. I’ll be buying this again and again.

Where to buy Waitrose English Dry White Wine

The Blueprint English Dry White Wine is a Waitrose own brand. Therefore, you can buy it in two ways – from your local Waitrose store, online on the Waitrose Cellar website. I don’t believe that this wine is currently stocked on the Ocado website.

Where to next?

A few of my favourite things

Looking for a gift for yourself or a wine lover in your life? Here are a few of my favourite English Wine things.

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