- New range includes grape varieties ¾ of UK haven't heard of

- The supermarket's survey shows most recognisable variety is Chardonnay

Waitrose & Partners is introducing a new range of nine own label wines celebrating lesser-known grape varieties. The 'W' range, which launches in-store and online from the 17th June, will introduce an experimental range of wines from different regions and countries including Sardinia, Austria and Chile.

A survey by the supermarket* shows that the most familiar grape varieties in the UK are Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, as they were recognised by at least 85% of those surveyed.

The new range, which includes an Arinto from Portugal and a Cannonau from Sardinia, were widely unrecognised by those surveyed; an average of 78% of people had not heard of the nine new wines launching at the supermarket.

Waitrose & Partners Wine Buying Manager, James Bone says: 'The 'W' range has been a whole team effort, with a great deal of care and effort being placed on selecting the wines we think our customers will find really exciting. We want this range to inspire and encourage our shoppers to experiment even further with their wine choices and try something they've never heard of or tried before.

'We've worked with talented winemakers across Europe and South America to  bring together a range of wonderfully exciting wines at affordable prices, some of which have never been widely available in the UK before. We see this as an ever evolving range which we hope to expand even further in the future.'

The survey also revealed that France and Italy were the most popular European countries for Brits to enjoy wine from. 68% of people have tried French wine compared to only 11% of people having tried wine from Sardinia.

Of those asked, France and Spain topped the list of winemaking holiday destinations for Brits, with 45% saying they've tried the local wine while visiting these countries. A quarter of us have tried wine while in Germany and Portugal, and 35% of have imbibed Italian wine on location.

The range of four reds, one rose, three whites and a fizz includes:

Red
Marselan IGP Méditerrané, France £6.99
Pais, Chile £7.99
Cannonau, Sardinia £8.99
Mencia, Spain £9.99

Rosé
Zweigelt, Austria £8.99

White
Elbling, Germany £6.99
Arinto, Portugal £7.99
Petit Manseng, France Regional £9.99

Sparkling
Sparkling Pecorino, Italy £8.99


The Full Range:

Marselan
Colour: Red
Country of Origin: France
ABV: 12.5%
A crossing of Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon, this combines red fruit with freshness and structure. More often found in blends, here it shines by itself.

Pais
Colour: Red
Country of Origin: Chile
ABV: 12.5%
Chilean País dates back to the 16th Century, and it's now being brought back to life as a high quality variety in its own right. If you like Beaujolais, you'll love this.

Cannonau
Colour: Red
Country of Origin: Italy
ABV: 13.5%
Cannonau is a hidden gem of a variety from Sardinia. This Italian expression of Grenache has flair and character.

Mencia
Colour: Red
Country of Origin: Spain
ABV: 14%
Mencía is loved in its local Spain, and we're delighted to introduce this perfumed example. Fruity and firm, it's brilliantly versatile for food pairing.

Elbling
Colour: White
Country of Origin: Germany
ABV: 11.5%
This is a truly ancient variety from the Mosel Valley, with historic family links to Riesling. It's been brought back to the limelight here to show off its zippy refreshing style.

Arinto
Colour: White
Country of Origin: Portugal
ABV: 12.5%
Sunny days and cool nights help bring fruity freshness: this is a real find from Portugal's coastal vineyards that will appeal to lovers of Sauvignon Blanc

Pecorino
Colour: Sparkling White
Country of Origin: Italy
ABV: 12%
The Pecorino grape variety is usually made into still wines, but here it is a deliciously elegant sparkling wine. It's ideal for parties, or paired with informal meals.

For more info please contact:
Bethan Davies
01344 825025
bethan.davies@waitrose.co.uk 

* The survey, conducted by 72Point, surveyed 2,000 people in the UK