Aldi has teamed up with a leading London sommelier to launch a special dinner party wine pack to help consumers choose the perfect wine for their Christmas party.
The new Sommelier Dinner Party Pack pack comprises six winter wines including premium lines from its new Winemasters Lot range, which retails for under £100 (£98.44) – although the retailer claims would cost more than £800 if bought with a meal at a restaurant.
It comprises Winemaster’s Lot 2020 Pouilly-Fumé, a classic 2020 Chablis Premier Cru, a 2019 Specially Selected Priorat, a classic sweet 2016 Specially Selected Sauternes, Winemaster’s Lot Amarone and 2018 Le Moulin Teyroud, Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
The wines were picked in collaboration with London-based sommelier Ronan Sayburn, who has worked at a host of well-known high end restaurants including Gordon Ramsay’s 3 Michelin-starred restaurant in Chelsea, the Savoy and Claridge’s.
It comes off the back of research from the retailer which found that around 37% of dinner party hosts worried about choosing wine that complements the food, and a third fearing being judged for the wine they buy.
It noted that more than a quarter played it safe by serving the same wine throughout a meal.
It seems that younger consumers were more conscious about price, and more likely find wine etiquette a trying experience. A third (31%) of 25–34-year-olds admitting to pretending a wine is more expensive than it is, with a small minority have even gone so far as to pour cheap wine into expensive bottles in order to impress – or fool – their guests.
Furthermore a quarter (25%) having mixed different wines together in the same glass or decanter, and around 12% having been caught out lying about the wine.
Sayburn said that the ready–made meant Brits wouldn’t have to worry about buying a selection of wines to impress.
“My top tip is to prepare glassware in advance too. It means they don’t need to rush around on the night and can focus instead on finishing their food and enjoying the party.
“The only concern then is for guests, as 5% of dinner party hosts admit that they hold good wine back because they felt their guests were too ignorant to appreciate it.”