Supermarket Own-Label Wines Scoop Top Decanter World Wine Awards
LONDON, June 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
The 2014 Decanter World Wine Awards have seen Morrisons and Marks & Spencer beat thousands of rivals to scoop two of the most coveted trophies.
Morrisons' Valpolicella Ripasso - a blend of 70% Corvina, 20% Rondinell and 10% Molinara, recently on offer at £6.49 per bottle* - won the International Trophy for best red wine blend under £15.
Marks & Spencer joined Morrisons on the winners' podium after its Eclipse Bio Bio Riesling from Chile won the International Trophy for dry Riesling under £15.
33 International Trophies were awarded at DWWA 2014, representing just 0.22% of the 15,007 wines tasted by 224 specialist judges from around the world, including 66 Masters of Wine and 18 Master Sommeliers.
Victory for these supermarket wines, both 2012 vintage, demonstrates the rising quality of supermarket winemaking teams and reminds wine lovers that they needn't rinse their wallets to enjoy some of the world's top drops.
Sales of own-label still wine hit £1.24bn in 2013, constituting 22.6% of the UK still wine market, according to Mintel data**
Steven Spurrier, Decanter World Wine Awards chair, said: "The better supermarkets are known for two things. They have a top team of buyers, often with more than one Master of Wine, and offer the best value to their customers. It takes the Decanter World Wine Awards to highlight these values by the awards they give to the wines."
Judges awarded 10,455 medals in total at this year's awards, including 125 regional trophies, 454 gold medals, 2,003 silver, 4,378 bronze and 3,620 commended.
Full results and details of the awards are available on the Decanter World Wine Awards website:
*Offer as of 16/06/2014
**Own-label still wine sales rose by 5.8% in the 52 weeks ending 7 December 2013, versus the previous year. The overall UK still wine market rose by 1.7% in value over the same period. Own-label still wine volume sales dropped by 1.4%, versus a 2.2% drop for the entire still wine category. Sales of own-label sparkling wine, including Champagne, totalled £187m for the 52 week period, up 14% in value and 9% in volume on the previous year. Source: Mintel, Own Label Alcoholic Drinks - UK, April 2014.
Notes:
- The DWWA launched in 2004, now celebrating 11 years as the world's leading wine competition.
For more information please contact: Clementine Communications, +44(0)20-7471-8730, Clemence de Crecy , clemence@clementinecom.com
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