The Co-op stocks Portuguese red wine that ‘broke’ Majestic’s website

UK retailer The Co-op has boosted its range of wines with around 25 new lines  – many in the £10 price bracket – including the Portuguese red wine that ‘broke’ the Majestic wine website after it was mentioned on a BBC cooking programme in 2015.

Among its latest range review, The Co-op has listed Porta Seis Red 2018, a blend of Tinta Roriz, Castelão and Touriga Nacional from producer Vidigal (RRP: £6.25), a best-seller at rival Majestic, which was responsible for the specialist retailer’s busiest ever online trading period after Susie Barrie MW recommended the wine on BBC’s Saturday Kitchen in August 2015. Within hours of the show airing, Majestic has sold out, clocking up orders for a further 30,000 bottles over the rest of the weekend, prompting it to snap up the entire stock of the 2012 vintage.

Majestic is currently listing a Porta 6 (Seis) 2017 vintage on its website.

Spain and Portugal buyer Sarah Benson said the retailer had seen three digit value growth for Portugal in value terms, and four digit volume growth for Portugal over the last 12 months

“We gave more space to Portugal, as we see that it’s a close relationship [between the two countries] and shoppers will think of Iberia as a whole, so the wide, loyal [Spanish] shopper base does shop in Portugal as well,” she explained.

“Sales had been driven in part by the “hugely popular” everyday red wine from the Douro, which retailed for £6. she said. Having it under the helix cork system had helped to give it “huge resonance”  with customers she added.

Other wines added at the latest review, which went in store this week, include a new own label English sparkling rose, Co-op Irresistible Eight Acres Sparkling rose NV from Balfour Hush Heath Estate in Kent (RRP: £18), A Chateau Tour du Pas, St-Georges-St-Emilion 2015, from Vignobles Delbeck (RRP: £15), Rock & Roots Organic Tempranillo, from Felix Solis (RRP: £6.25), Is this it? Pinot Blanc 2018 from Pannon in Hungary (RRP:£6.50) a Colome Altitude Malbec Blend from Salta (RRP: £13), and Wynns The Sidings Cabernet from Coonawara (RRP:12).

It also has a host of exclusive lines from producers such as Jean Paul Mas, Domanine des Valanges and Henry’s Drive in Padthaway.