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15 best red wines worth stocking up on for 2025
The Good Housekeeping Institute tried over 70 bottles to bring you the very best
Tested by Callum BlackFood and Drink Testing Manager
If you love a peppery Shiraz or rich merlot, you've come to the right place. The Good Housekeeping Institute wine experts have been busy tasting some of the most delicious grapes from supermarkets and wine retailers to find the best red wines worth stocking up on.
We've put over 70 wines to the test (not all at once though, don't worry!) and collated the top-scoring reds across all our taste tests — with bottles starting from just £8.
Discover more GHI Taste Approved drops: Best white wine | Best English sparkling wine | Best non-alcoholic wines | Best rosé wines
Best red wine to shop in 2025
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How do you pick a good red wine?
From the different grapes and blends to growing regions and winemakers (not to mention the best food pairing options), there’s a lot to consider when selecting your perfect red. Here are a few things to bear in mind when tasting.
Grapes
When it comes to grape varieties, you may already know your favourite. If not, understanding what each varietal offers is key. Pinot noir, for example, prefers to grow in cooler temperatures and creates wines with earthy, herbal notes and notable acidity. Shiraz, on the other hand, is mostly grown in moderate and warmer regions, has higher tannins, a little pepper and spice, and forest fruit flavours.
And grapes such as merlot offer something of a middle ground, with medium tannins, acidity and body. Easy-drinking, with a soft finish, merlots are known for their bold, jammy fruits, from cherry to plum and raspberry.
Aroma
Another factor to consider is aroma. From gentle spice to vibrant fruits, a clear, bright aroma is key to a wine’s appeal, and will be dependent on the grape.
Body
Wines range from light to full-bodied. Cabernet sauvignon tends to be at the upper limit, with a higher ABV. However, if you prefer something a little lighter, opt for the likes of pinot noir, which tends to be lighter-bodied and lower in strength.
How should I serve red wine?
This is a matter of contention. A common misconception is that red wine is best served at room temperature. In fact, a few degrees cooler can be better for some styles. Try serving lighter-bodied wines slightly chilled to around 15°C. For a fuller-bodied red, go a little warmer; around 18°C is ideal.
How we test red wine
Our panel — made up of 10 WSET-accredited experts and consumers — sipped their way through over 70 wines to find the very best. They assessed each wine on its complexity and balance of flavour, as well as its aroma and finish.
So, whether you're stocking up with your favourites, or looking for a new Saturday night go-to, these are the best bottles to buy.
Score: 90/100
Bold and fruity with distinctive notes of black cherry, blackcurrant and plum, testers felt this wine had a lovely depth.
With rich flavours of black olive and tobacco, it would be a great pairing for roast beef.
Key specifications
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Grape | Carignan |
| ABV | 12.5% |
Score: 89/100
Aged for 20 months in American oak, and a further two years in the bottle, this elegant reserva is a beautiful example of a premium rioja.
Brimming with black fruit, a touch of smoke and a hint of liquorice, it was a firm favourite with our testing panel, and a safe choice when stocking up.
Key specifications
| Country | Spain |
|---|---|
| Grape | Tempranillo |
| ABV | 14% |
Score: 89/100
This medium-bodied malbec, which comes from one of Argentina’s oldest family-owned wineries, reflects the vineyard’s desert terroir, with a smooth palate dominated by sweet red fruit, mellow spice and balanced tannins.
Key specifications
| Country | Argentina |
|---|---|
| Grape | Malbec |
| ABV | 14% |
Score: 89/100
Malbec is a certified crowd-pleaser, and this organic, medium-bodied red, it’s excellent with turkey, pork and lamb, as well as mushroom-based sauces and blue cheese. Expect forest fruits, a touch of black pepper and subtle spice.
| Country | Argentina |
|---|---|
| Grape | Malbec |
| ABV | 14% |
Score: 88/100
Not only did this cabernet sauvignon impress with its powerful palate, bold black fruit, and satisfying vanilla oak, but it's a sustainable choice too. The striking bottle is produced with recycled materials, which makes it a great talking point on the dinner table.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Grape | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| ABV | 13.5% |
Score: 87/100
This wine shuns a particular region, instead using grapes from across France to create an easy drinking, well-priced red for everyday. On the nose, there’s a lovely herbaceous element, with tart redcurrant and raspberry coming through on the palate. Try it with stews, the best steak and soft cheese.
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Grape | Grenache |
| ABV | 14% |
Score: 86/100
Rich, velvety and spicy, Cabalie is made with fruit from old vines for a concentrated flavour. Although dominated by spicy grenache, there’s also a little carignan in the blend, which adds intense black fruit to complement the lighter redcurrants. Overall, it’s a great match for herb-crusted roast lamb.
Key specifications
| Country | France |
|---|---|
| Grape | Grenache-blend |
| ABV | 13% |
Score: 86/100
Chianti is a classic Italian wine with a loyal following, and for good reason. This hearty, complex red is bursting with raspberries, cherry and a lick of warming spice. Pair with tomato-based dishes or charcuterie.
Key specifications
| Country | Italy |
|---|---|
| Grape | Sangiovese |
| ABV | 13.5% |
Score: 86/100
With pronounced cherry, hints of blackcurrant, and spicy black pepper, this is a more youthful style rioja. The vibrant acidity keeps each sip fresh, making this a good table wine for midweek meals.
| Country | Spain |
|---|---|
| Grape | Tempranillo |
| ABV | 13.5% |
Score: 85/100
Made from the intensely aromatic graciano grape, testers loved the telltale rich and fruity scent of this reserva. This complexity builds further on the palate, with initial notes of mulberries and leather, supported with the sweet spice and vanilla that comes from oak ageing.
Key specifications
| Country | Spain |
|---|---|
| Grape | Graciano |
| ABV | 14% |
Score: 85/100
The bonarda grape may not be as well-known as Argentinian malbec, but it’s certainly one to have on your radar. You’ll find a similar fruit-forward palate — think, cherry, redcurrants and blackcurrants — but with added spicy complexity.
Key specifications
| Country | Argentina |
|---|---|
| Grape | Bonarda |
| ABV | 14% |
Score: 84/100
Part of the Tesco Finest range, The Trilogy is made by Catena (widely considered one of Argentina’s top producers), so you know you’re in safe hands here. Pleasingly full-bodied, this bold red will see you through the seasons with warm spicing and a touch of sweet maraschino cherry.
Key specifications
| Country | Argentina |
|---|---|
| Grape | Malbec |
| ABV | 13.5% |
Score: 82/100
With black jammy fruit on the nose and notes of spice and forest floor, this Italian merlot-blend is a fantastic example of the 'appassimento’ style of winemaking. Grapes are only picked when they're super ripe, and then left to dry, resulting in a more concentrated flavour.
A real full-bodied beauty with a long silky finish, we'd pair it with roast meat or slow-cooked ragu.
Key specifications
| Country | Italy |
|---|---|
| Grape | Merlot, Croatina, Corvina |
| ABV | 14% |
Score: 81/100
Dominated by damson and dark cherry, if you’re looking for a fruity, dry red, this is it. Black pepper, anise, liquorice and oak keep things moody and interesting. Overall, its well-balanced and full-bodied with a smooth finish.
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Grape | Shiraz |
| ABV | 14.5% |
Score: 81/100
This shiraz takes a little while to open up, but once it does, you’ll be rewarded with a decadent mix of chocolate, ripe dark fruit, oak, leather and plenty of spice. With depth and complexity, this is one for foodies.
| Country | Australia |
|---|---|
| Grape | Shiraz |
| ABV | 14.5% |
These also passed...
- Petaluma Wines White Label Cabernet Sauvignon, £18.50; Score: 78/100 - the grape gives black cherry, blackcurrant, plum, cocoa, menthol and eucalyptus, all of which go handsomely with a good Sunday roast
- M&S Matetic Estela Lunar Pinot Noir, £12; Score: 77/100 - elegant and soft, our panel loved this natural-tasting wine that offers sweet spice, red cherry and a little tobacco.
- Bread & Butter Cabernet Sauvignon, £16; Score: 76/100 - mellow and easy drinking, there’s blackberry, black cherry and plum, and a little menthol, rounded by a full mouthfeel and some chewy tannins.
- The Hedonist Ecology Shiraz Organic, £23.99; Score: 75/100 - this biodynamic vineyard has produced an aromatic wine, with lashings of spice, juicy red cherry and a touch of chocolate.
- Penfolds Max's Cabernet Sauvignon, £22; Score: 74/100 - Penfolds has crafted a soft, herbal and fruity red, loaded with vanilla, plum, star anise and a little smoke. Pair with roast beef and all the trimmings.
- ASDA Extra Special Merlot, £6.98; Score: 74/100 - pronounced tannins in this merlot lean towards chocolate and vanilla, though you’ll still find the typical plum and blackcurrant.
- Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir, £13.50; Score: 73/100 - this easy drinking pinot noir impressed the panel with red berries and a hint of mushroom. Perfect with lamb.
- Mud House Pinot Noir, £15.50; Score: 73/100 - Smooth and elegant with a sweet, spicy nose, this fruity pinot noir also has a herbaceous note.
- M&S Classics Cabernet Sauvignon, £9; Score: 72/100 - Hailing from Chile’s renowned Maipo Valley, there’s intense cherry, blackberry, dark chocolate, leather and liquorice.
Stacey looks after all food and drink reviews — from coffee pods and veg boxes, to natural wine and tequila. Stacey is also founder of Crummbs, where she’s written nearly 2,000 restaurant and hotel reviews since 2013. Prior to this, Stacey wrote hundreds of in-depth buying guides for the Independent, i newspaper and BBC Good Food, as well as reviewing restaurants and interviewing celebrities in her column at Balance Magazine. Stacey has also appeared in BAFTA-nominated BBC documentary Blood, Sweat & Takeaways, where she investigated South East Asia's food production industry, appearing on both Newsnight and BBC World Service to share her findings. Regularly checking out the latest restaurants, bars and product launches, Stacey also loves experimenting with recipes at home, and is a WSET-certified wine and spirits expert, with over 10 years of experience in the business. You can follow Stacey on Instagram @crummbs_uk
Callum is our Food and Drink Testing Manager and has been part of the world of professional catering for 10 years, from cheffing to food manufacturing. While working in manufacturing he specialised in bespoke product and menu development for several start-ups and well-known brands such as Wrap It Up! and HOP Vietnamese. He holds the WSET Level 2 in wine, a Level 3 in spirits and has a particular interest in agave spirits.
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