When it comes to wine dupes, nothing has been attempted more than Whispering Angel. It’s the stunning packaging and delicious juice combined with a seriously premium price point that does it! Some are blatant copies by the supermarkets and some are simply decent pinks that offer a similar flavour profiles but hail from different places. Here’s a mixture of the best of both styles for half the price of the original - or less!
Breath of Paradise, Lidl, £10.99
Going head to head with Aldi’s Sainte Victoire is this blatant (but beautiful) Whispering Angel dupe. It has the brighter colour and it has the vibe - but does it have the flavour? Yes it does. When it comes to a similar taste profile, this wine knocks it out of the park. Think ripe white peaches with sliced strawberry and cantaloupe melon, all corseted in by a slick of saltiness. It’s an exceptional copy of the Angel in its heyday. Chapeau, Lidl!
Sainte Victoire Provence Rosé, £10.99 Aldi
Sainte Victoire is actually its own, high quality, designated area in Provence while Whispering Angel is a blend from all over the Côtes de Provence. This makes Aldi’s tipple a particularly high class dupe! Sainte Victoire pinks are especially crisp, lean and mineral with subtle strawberry and peach notes in the background. A classy thirst slaker that’s on the leaner, paler, more complex side. Delicious though.
Morrisons The Best Touraine Rosé, £8.50 Morrisons
We’re stepping away from Provence here and moving north to the Loire Valley but what’s in the bottle offers a lot of what you’d want from Whispering Angel. A blend of juicy Gamay and crunchy Cabernet Franc, expect a pleasing dollop of tangy, red fruit with a zippy acidity and cool mineral character keeping it all balanced. It’s excellent value too. Tell your friends that Touraine is the next big thing!
M&S Fleur De Lise Rosé, £8.50 M&S
Another outlier, this pretty pink packs a flavour punch without being too sweet or too acidic. Hailing from Saint-Mont in the foothills of the Pyrenees, it’s a surprisingly elegant wine when you consider it's made with bold red grapes like Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon - but the result is a dry, savoury, textural vino that works as well with food as Whispering Angel. Have a glass with your cold cuts!
Bijou Sophie Valrose Coteaux de Béziers, £9.25 Sainsburys
If you take a sideways step away from Provence to France’s Languedoc region, you’ll find excellent value pinks that often have a splash more fruit thanks to a slightly warmer climate and different soils, though they remain elegant. This jewel of a wine (bijou means jewel) pays homage to Sophie Valrose who fought for women’s rights in the 19th Century. It’s refreshing with some soft, raspberry fruit. A decent drop.
Gérard Bertrand Cote Des Rosés, Co-op, £10
Another Languedoc legend, ex rugby pro Gérard Bertrand makes wonderful, easy drinking wines and this perfumed pink punches way above its weight for a tenner. Made with the same blend that’s often used in neighbouring Provence, it's fuller than some but still elegant and refreshing. Think beautiful, ripe berry notes from the Grenache and Syrah balancing a crisp tang from the Cinsault.
La Vielle Ferme Rosé Wine, £8.50 Tesco
The original Whispering Angel dupe, ‘Chicken Wine’ has won hearts thanks to its pretty packaging and pocket friendly price tag. It hails from the warmer Rhône valley and is made by the famous Perrin wine family with the same grapes as many Provence styles (Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault). The result is a riper, more fruity style but everything is perfectly in balance. Perfect for parties and it’s now enjoying cult status. A long time bargain!