When was the last time you bought a bottle of wine from the corner shop? We are, after all, a nation of shopkeepers. Well, that’s what Napoleon allegedly said about us as an insult, but I think it’s quite a compliment.
The corner shop is often a quiet bedrock of our community. The warm glow of the lights behind the oversized photos of milk, bread and glasses of wine acts as a comfort on those early mornings when you realise you’ve run out of milk for breakfast, or bread for a packed lunch because you forgot your child is going on a school trip (thank you to my local Mace for not only selling bacon, but regularly saving mine too).
Or what about those evenings when you’re caught short on your way to a friend’s house and in need of a bottle of wine, and every random item in between. It’s Mary Poppins’ bag in shop form.
But when it comes to wine and the convenience store, there’s a fairly strong stigma that a wine from the SPAR is going to be sub-par (other brands of convenience store wine apply here too). But is that always the case?
There are a staggering 50,925 convenience stores located in the UK mainland, with a surprising 71 per cent being owned and run independently, even those using a symbol group name such as Mace or belonging to a franchise.
Data released by the Association of Convenience Stores showed that our nation’s corner shops generated a total of £10.6bn GVA (Gross Value Added) and just shy of £50bn in annual turnover. They’re a major contributor to the UK economy. Of those sales, alcohol accounts for approximately 15 per cent; it’s certainly not insignificant.
While there may be the occasional selection of bottles gathering dust, the vast majority will be working hard to earn their place on the shelf. The business model relies on rigorous monitoring of sales-to-shelf space, especially when you’re working in a limited space, with low profit margin items. You have to make every square centimetre of shelf and fridge space count. It makes little difference if that item’s a jar of pickles or a bottle of wine.
It’s where most people first discover wine
I’ve always believed the convenience store is the front door to wine. One that’s always open, seven days a week, often until the early hours and without even a hint of wine-bore snobbery. It was certainly the first place that I comfortably bought wine. No one cared if I confused my Sauvignon Blanc for a Cabernet Sauvignon. Because it’s a haven. One where the usual “wine rules” don’t apply.
Veuve Clicquot can sit alongside Buckfast
A decent Beaujolais that you might find in Waitrose alongside a bottle of “blue” Echo Falls, the world’s most popular Champagne, Moët et Chandon Brut Impérial, next to Lambrini… anything is possible in the mini-marts.
I’ve visited several convenience shops recently, and they’ve all further strengthened my belief that they’re a microcosm of a good society, where you’re just as likely to have a customer buying a bottle of “I heart Sauvignon Blanc” as they are a bottle of Veuve Clicquot, and who knows, they might even be the same person, because the corner shop doesn’t judge whether you’re buying a beautiful Champagne or a basic Savvy-B.
In my local Mace (yes, I’m a fangirl), their top-selling wines are Moët et Chandon Brut Impérial, Veuve Clicquot, the “chicken wine”, and Canti Prosecco. I don’t live anywhere fancy; it just seems people like to have a fun time.
But isn’t it all just big brands?
Well yes, mostly. There are outliers of corner shops, such as Caner Stores in Forest Gate, which sells an inspired selection of low-intervention wines alongside the more familiar classics. But for the most part you’ll be met with a wall of familiar names, some of which really should be avoided. Jamshed and 19 Crimes are at best average wines just trussed up with a heap of sugar. And the likes of Blossom Hill and Echo Falls always taste to me like grape-flavoured alcoholic sugar syrup diluted with water, not to mention the weirdness of the flavours.
But there are some reliable large brand wines to be found: Oxford Landing, Campo Viejo, Freixenet Cava, Louis Jadot, Errazuriz, Trivento and Villa Maria to name a few. These brands aim to produce well-made wines that deliver at their price point year in, year out. They want your return custom after all.
And with the major supermarkets recognising the value in the local convenience store, there are options to access a broader range of wines than ever. Of course it’s unlikely you’ll find the finest wines available to humanity, but you’ll probably find something that ticks the box on a Thursday night. And if you’re new to wine, it might just give you the confidence to work out the difference between a Sauvignon Blanc and a Cabernet Sauvignon.
If you’re not lucky enough to live round the corner from a convenience store that’s a bit more broad in its offering, then below are a selection of some of the most widely available wines that are good value for the price. I’m still grateful to Andrei for introducing me to a raft of Romanian wines in his shop.
You never know what might be waiting to be discovered sitting next to the Echo Falls.
Oxford Landing Pinot Grigio, South Australia
Widely available nationwide from £7, 10.5% ABV
Available pretty much everywhere, this is a really unexpected “yes” from me. Made by Hill-Smith Family Estates, who make some outstanding Australian wines, they have a real drive towards sustainability and quality. It’s a breezy, fresh white which is naturally lighter in alcohol and delivers a gentle note of fresh apples and a lovely citrus edge. Superb value for money.
Co-op Irresistible Eight Acres Sparkling Rosé
Available nationwide through Nisa/Co-op from £25.25, 12.5% ABV
Made by Balfour Winery, one of the UK’s best producers, this is a delightful, traditional method English Sparkling wine. It has poised, lifted notes of fresh raspberries and strawberries with a soft butter-biscuit finish.
Angel’s Vine Rosé, IGP Mediterranean, France
Available nationwide through Nisa/Co-op from £9.65, 12.5% ABV
A switch-up for the normal “chicken wine” or the other expensive angel wine, this is full of slices of white peaches and hints of fresh cherry, wild strawberry and an uplifting tangerine-tinged finish.
Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand
Widely available nationwide from £11, 12% ABV
An incredibly reliable New Zealand sauvignon blanc which would always be my recommendation if you’re looking for a savvy b in your local shop. It’s supremely energetic, bursting with fresh lime, passionfruit and mouth-watering gooseberries. If you love this style of wine, you’ll enjoy this wine.
Errazuriz Estate Reserva Pinot Noir, Chile
Widely available nationwide from £9.25, 13% ABV
The Errazuriz stable of wines is consistently of good quality, and this elegant Pinot Noir is no exception. Coming from Chile’s cool-climate Aconcagua region, it’s full of ripe cherries, strawberries, hints of violet and an effortlessly smooth finish.
Beaujolais Villages ‘Combe aux Jacques’, Louis Jadot, France, 2025
Widely available from £12, 12.5% ABV
Louis Jadot offers consistently good value for money for wines from Bourgogne in eastern France. This 100 pet cent Gamay is a beautifully fruit-forward Beaujolais that has waves of brooding hedgerow fruits, alongside hints of sour cherries and a charming, delicate finish.
Co-op Irresistible País, Chile
Available nationwide through Nisa/Co-op from £9.25, 13.5% ABV
Made from País vines that are over 130 years old, this is an old grape variety found predominantly in Chile, and is affectionately regarded as “the wine of the people”. This has notes of ripe plums, black cherries and a tinge of wood-smoke; it would be enjoyable served slightly chilled with an array of friends.
Campo Viejo Rioja Tempranillo, Spain
Widely available nationwide from £9.25, 13% ABV
An absolute corner-shop staple that I suspect you haven’t tried for a while. Yes, of course it’s not the most thrilling Rioja on the market, but its quality-to-price ratio certainly delivers. It’s everything you expect an entry-level Rioja to be, with notes of bright red fruits alongside a warming lick of sweet vanilla spice and the smoothest of edges.
