Britain’s supermarket wine aisles are paved with Gold, Silver and Bronze according to the latest results of the International Wine Challenge, announced today. A flurry of medals was awarded to own-brand and exclusive wines at Tranche One of the world-renowned wine competition, highlighting how lucky UK shoppers can get their hands on world-class wines from their local stores.
- A total of 222 Gold, Silver and Bronze medals were awarded to supermarket own-brand and exclusive wines, with Marks & Spencer trouncing the competition, picking up 58 medals, 22 more than its closest rival, Morrisons.
- Marks & Spencer received a whopping ten Gold medals for its wines, with half being awarded to fortified wines. Three Marks & Spencer sparklers also picked up Gold medals.
- Second in the medal chart was Morrisons, which scooped 36 medals at this tranche of the competition, including three Gold medals, nine Silver and 24 Bronze. Named 2015 IWC Supermarket of the Year earlier this year, Morrisons received two Gold medals for its non-vintage sherries, with its Morrisons Signature Oloroso Dry and its Morrisons Signature Pedro Ximénez NV impressing the judging panel, both costing just £6.00 for a half-bottle. The supermarket earned its third Gold medal for its Morrisons Signature Chablis 1er Cru 2013. With its price tag of just £15, it should fly off the shelves.
- Close on its heels was Asda, with an impressive haul of 34 medals, including a single Gold for its Noster Nobilis Priorat 2010, for a very reasonable £7.98. Asda also won seven Silver and 26 Bronze medals.
- Next in the medal count was Tesco, earning a total of 31 gongs, including a pair of Gold medals for its Tesco finest* Sancerre 2014 (£11.00) and its Tesco finest* Dessert Semillon 2009 (£6.00 per half-bottle).
- Aldi picked up a total of 23 medals, with four Gold, six Silver and 13 Bronze medals.
- Waitrose and The Co-operative both failed to win Gold at this tranche of the competiton, but took home a handful of respectable Silver and Bronze medals. Waitrose racked up 15 medals in total for wines from its range, with four Silver and 11 Bronze, while The Co-operative earned itself four Silver and four Bronze medals.
