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YOU HAD ME AT MERLOT: DELIVEROO LAUNCHES DOORSTEP SOMMELIER SERVICE, OFFERING UNLIKELY WINE AND TAKEAWAY PAIRINGS THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

Brits kicking back with a takeaway this Valentine’s Day will be on cloud wine to hear that you can up the ante with a limited-edition 30-minute wine and dine experience, minus the hefty price tag, all from the comfort of your sofa.

  • Grape-loving Brits can level up their Valentine’s Day thanks to a new, FREE sommelier service from Deliveroo.
  • ‘Decanteroo’ will see a sommelier visit customers’ homes and provide unlikely Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference wine/Deliveroo takeaway pairings curated by TikTok wine guru, Tom Gilbey.
  • Whether it’s pairing a voluptuous Viognier with Wingstop chicken wings, a Five Guys Cheeseburger and a smokey Rioja, or Prosecco with a PizzaExpress pepperoni pizza - these unexpected pairings are a guaranteed match made in foodie heaven.
  • It comes as a quarter (25%) of people in a relationship say they get the “ick” if their date chooses the wrong bottle of wine.
  • With limited slots available, customers in the UK’s top wine-loving cities - London, Manchester and Brighton - can book the sommelier service on a first-come-first-serve basis, on 13th February from 4pm.

Wednesday 5th February 2024: Brits kicking back with a takeaway this Valentine’s Day will be on cloud wine to hear that you can up the ante with a limited-edition 30-minute wine and dine experience, minus the hefty price tag, all from the comfort of your sofa.

‘Decanteroo’ is a free service which sees Deliveroo’s trained sommeliers acting as Cupid for the evening, visiting lucky customers to deliver a personalised Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference wine tasting, matched expertly to their Valentine’s night dinner. But these aren’t your typical food pairings and this certainly isn’t your typical sommelier service.

With a superbly curated wine list thanks to TikTok’s favourite ’wine guy’ Tom Gilbey who has matched stand-out Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference wines with some of the nation’s favourite takeaway dishes; there’s not a shred of fine-dining snobbery in sight.

From a crisp Taste the Difference Conegliano Prosecco that marries beautifully with an American Hot pizza from PizzaExpress, a voluptuous Viognier that perfectly complements Wingstop’s succulent garlic and parmesan 8 pieces boneless, to a bold Malbec alongside TGI Friday's famous Full Rack of Ribs. Enjoy a sniff, swirl and sip of up to three wines alongside your takeaway, and your favourite bottle will be gifted totally free of charge.

**Tom Gilbey’s recommended Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference wine pairings with Deliveroo (see here)

  • Five Guys, Cheeseburger & Fries x Taste the Difference Vinedos Barrihuelo Rioja Crianza: Rioja's blackcurrant and a hint of smokiness carries the burger's juiciness, in tune with American cheese and salted fries. Even better if you opt for Cajun style; that spice will jump for joy when meeting this Rioja.
  • Wingstop, 8 Pieces Boneless in Garlic Parmesan x Taste the Difference Viognier: Viognier’s peach and nectarine notes and rich voluptuous palate feel works wonders with juicy chicken, packing the perfect punch to carry the flavours of garlic and parmesan rather than overpowering.
  • PizzaExpress, American Hot x Taste the Difference Conegliano Prosecco: This prosecco, like the pizza, is the best style you can get. Its zingy flavour, together with its freshness and elegance, balances the spice and richness of pepperoni and hot pepper.
  • Taco Bell, Chicken Nachos Deluxe Box x Taste the Difference Chenin Blanc: A vibrant wine bursting with orchard fruits and honeysuckle, perfectly matches both the meatiness and spice of this Mexican dish.
  • Toby Carvery, Carvery for One x Taste the Difference Rioja Reserva: A classic British carvery demands a classy Rioja, which offers warming oak, sweet vanilla, and ripe black fruit notes allowing this red to sing a perfect tune when it meets a succulent hearty roast.
  • Krispy Kreme, “Hearts in Bloom” doughnut x by Sainsbury’s Alcohol-Free Sparkling: This non-alcoholic fruity wine perfectly pairs with Krispy Kreme doughnuts, elevating their sweetness.

Some of the more unusual pairings will be welcome news to the 36% of Brits who - according to new research from Deliveroo - confess they would never order an untraditional wine pairing at a restaurant for fear of being judged (22%) or appearing like they know nothing about wine (28%).

Tom Gilbey, ‘The wine guy’ said: “I’ve spent over 32 years working in wine, from winemaking to running a flagship city wine merchant - so when Deliveroo requested my expertise to curate the ultimate takeaway and wine pairings for Valentine’s, how could I resist? You don't need a fancy restaurant to enjoy these food and wine combinations; just an appetite to discover the pairings you never knew existed!

So put your feet up and enjoy a sublimely matched Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference glass of wine with your Deliveroo of choice this Valentine’s. We’ll take care of presenting the best selection and matching you with the perfect tipple, but when it comes to a love match, we’ll leave that up to you…”

These surprisingly accessible pairings come as Deliveroo’s research reveals this Valentine’s Day, Brits want to stop and smell the rosé without the pretentiousness - with over a third (36%) viewing traditional sommelier services in the fine dining world to be expensive, as well as exclusive (23%) pompous (22%), and snobby (22%). But it doesn’t need to be, with the new ‘Decanteroo’ service making wine and food pairings as accessible as your favourite local chippy.

Launching in three of the top wine-loving cities - London (80%), Manchester (64%) and Brighton (67%) - it comes as the research reveals a quarter (22%) of Brits wish they knew more about wine to impress their date this Valentine’s Day, whilst 38% believe a mediocre bottle of wine has the potential to ruin a takeaway. With a quarter (25%) of people in a relationship confessing they get the “ick” if their date chooses the wrong bottle of wine, Decanteroo is sure to help avoid Valentine’s Day faux pas.

What’s more, a third of Brits - single or otherwise - will be staying in on the most romantic day of the year (33%) opting to chill at home with their go-to takeaway (32%) and a nice glass of wine (44%).

Arabella Jenkins at Deliveroo said: “Sommelier pairings shouldn’t be exclusively for ten-course haute cuisine, so we’re excited for Brits to be able to uncork romance and enjoy the brilliant wine and takeaway pairings Tom Gilbey has curated to make Valentine’s at home even better. Because who doesn’t want to just kick back on the day of love with their favourite takeaway and a glass of wine?”

With limited Valentine’s Day slots, available on a first come first served basis, Brits better be quick. Simply register your interest via Eventbrite today (selecting London, Manchester, or Brighton), and you’ll be notified by email before the free tickets go live at 4 pm on Thursday 13th February.

Lucky lovers who bag themselves the free Decanteroo experience get a personalised wine tasting designed for two people lasting up to 30 minutes with an expert sommelier, who will recommend the perfect Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference wine to match their Deliveroo dinner. Moreover, every Decanteroo order will come with £40 Deliveroo credit to order their favourite local takeaway ahead of the sommelier’s arrival.

Customers who aren’t able to sign up for the Decanteroo service can still level up their Valentine’s Day evening by trying the unique wine and takeaway pairings created by Tom Gilbey for themselves - as Deliveroo is offering up to a third off (30%) on select Taste the Difference wine from Sainsbury’s available 10th-14th February.

Notes to editors

T&Cs

  • The Decanteroo Service is for 18+ adults only; ID checks will be carried out before wine tasting and service commences. Deliveroo has the right to cancel the experience if age verification checks are not met or if it has any concerns regarding the age of participants. Please check T&Cs for more information. Please drink responsibly.

  • For full terms and conditions and eligible postcodes relating to the Decanteroo service, see here

  • The complete list of recommended takeaway and wine pairings curated by Tom Gilbey for Deliveroo can be found here.

  • Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference wines are available via Deliveroo (available nationwide, delivery and service fees apply. 18+ only. Proof of ID is required upon delivery. Please drink responsibly).

Sainsbury’s wine promotions available now until 25th February on the Deliveroo app.

  • Taste the Difference Vinedos Barrihuelo Rioja Crianza (pairs with Five Guys) - was £12, now £8 (saving £4)
  • By Sainsbury’s Alcohol-Free Sparkling (pairs with Krispy Kreme) - £3.90
  • Taste the Difference Montepulciano d’Abruzzo (pairs with Pho) - was £9.60, now £8 (saving £1.60)
  • Taste the Difference Albariño (pairs with Pho) - was £15.60, now £12 (saving £3.60)
  • Taste the Difference Conegliano Prosecco (pairs with PizzaExpress) - was £13.20, now £8 (saving £5.20)
  • Taste the Difference Côtes de Provence Rosé (pairs with PizzaExpress) - was £15.60, now £10 (saving £5.60)
  • Taste the Difference Chenin Blanc (pairs with Taco Bell) - £11.40
  • Taste the Difference Morador Malbec - £12.60
  • Taste the Difference Rioja Reserva (pairs with Toby Carvery) - £13.20
  • Taste the Difference Viognier (pairs with Wingstop) - was £11.40, now £8 (saving £3.40)

Georgina Haughton, Head of Wine Buying at Sainsbury’s said: "Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion to savour a special bottle of wine and we’re thrilled to partner with Deliveroo for Decanteroo. This unique service brings the sommelier experience directly to your doorstep, featuring Taste the Difference wine pairings expertly curated by Tom Gilbey. Perfectly matched with the nation’s favourite takeaways, this experience offers an enjoyable way to taste delicious quality wines from our range in the comfort of your own home”.

Delivery Radius

  • London – 14th February 2025, from 5pm - 9pm
  • Delivery radius: SW18 1, SW11 1, SW11 2, SW11 3, SW11 4, SW11 5.
  • Manchester – 14th February 2025, from 5pm - 9pm
  • Delivery radius: areas of M3, M15, M16, M21, M32
  • Bristol – 14th February 2025, from 5pm - 9pm
  • Delivery radius: BN1, BN2, and BN3

Research Methodology Research was conducted via OnePoll between 18th-21st January. Sample size for data collection is up to 2,000 respondents in the UK, adults (nationally representative on the basis of age / gender / region).