Marks and Spencer has been named Supermarket of the Year at the International Wine Challenge (IWC), winning 146 medals for its own-brand wines. The retailer's haul included 12 golds, 36 silvers, and 98 bronzes, a significant increase from last year's 117 medals.
Among the award-winning bottles was the £9 Hermits Hill Botrytis Semillon 2013 and the Marquès del Romeral Reserva Rioja 2011, priced at £13.50. The IWC, often described as the Oscars of the wine world, blind-tastes each wine three times by at least ten different judges.
Morrisons came second with 61 medals, including five golds for wines such as The Best Chablis 1er Cru 2014 at £15 and The Best Rioja Reserva Blanco 2011 at £8.99. Asda took third place with 37 awards, more than doubling its 2016 count, and secured a gold for its Italian Wine Atlas Negroamaro 2016 at just £5.48.
Overall, 350 supermarket own-brand wines received medals, with Tesco earning 36, Waitrose and Aldi 24 each, The Co-op 14, and Sainsbury's 4. English winemakers also impressed, winning 108 medals including 16 golds.
Charles Metcalfe, co-chairman of the IWC, said: 'The quality of supermarket own-brand continues to soar, proving you can get fantastic wines at outstanding prices.' Suzanne Webb, M&S wine manager, added: 'In the sometimes confusing world of wine, we know our customers appreciate the endorsement and reassurance that comes with these accolades.'
