Canadian and Australian wine professionals are exercised about the number of wines big retailers currently sell, or may be about to offer, under their own labels.
Here in Australia Aldi have a limited range of wines- about the same as what Dan Murphy's have in their fridge section. However each & everyone of Aldi's offerings that I have tasted have been excellent quality at often mind blowing prices. A few years ago Aldi's Blackstone Ridge Margaret River Cabernet at around $20-25 a bottle won the Trophy for the best red wine at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show!!
Aldi's wine buying skills - judging by what we see in the UK and Germany- are also first class. Despite their toughness on pricing (and preference for bulk shipping) some suppliers like dealing with them because they are seen as more straightforward. The German chains don't ask suppliers for listing/marketing fees and discount promotions.
Exclusive labels and house brands are a screaming deal and IMO often terrific examples of somewhereness, tasty, and generally exceed our expectations! I have consulted on several over the past 30 years both on and off premise. SO IT IS NOT A BAD THING! Cheers. My current favorite is Kirkland Chat. du Pape
Here in Australia Aldi have a limited range of wines- about the same as what Dan Murphy's have in their fridge section. However each & everyone of Aldi's offerings that I have tasted have been excellent quality at often mind blowing prices. A few years ago Aldi's Blackstone Ridge Margaret River Cabernet at around $20-25 a bottle won the Trophy for the best red wine at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show!!
Aldi's wine buying skills - judging by what we see in the UK and Germany- are also first class. Despite their toughness on pricing (and preference for bulk shipping) some suppliers like dealing with them because they are seen as more straightforward. The German chains don't ask suppliers for listing/marketing fees and discount promotions.
Exclusive labels and house brands are a screaming deal and IMO often terrific examples of somewhereness, tasty, and generally exceed our expectations! I have consulted on several over the past 30 years both on and off premise. SO IT IS NOT A BAD THING! Cheers. My current favorite is Kirkland Chat. du Pape
I think I made my position clear in the piece. I understand why small producers and small retailers hate them. But they serve a great purpose