IWC 2014: Supermarket own brand wines take 8 of 13 Great Value Trophies

By Gemma McKenna

Published: 14 May, 2014

Supermarket own brand wines have taken home eight out of 13 trophies for great value wines at the International Wine Challenge 2014.

Asda, The Co-operative, Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose all received Great Value Awards for some of their wines. From well-priced Rioja to bargain Champagnes, shoppers will seek out these award winners to be guaranteed top quality wines.

Still wines must have a minimum availability of 100,000 bottles available to qualify, sparkling wines must have 60,000 bottles available, and sweet wines must have a minimum of 6,000 bottles.

The International Wine Challenge awards Great Value Status to wines at different price points up to £15 for still wines and to £25 for sparkling.

All three Great Value Awards for White wines went to Sauvignon Blancs from the Marlborough region of New Zealand. Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc, which retails at £13.99 picked up the Great Value White Wine under £15. Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2013 picking up White between £7 and £12, and the Koru Sauvignon Blanc 2012 (exclusive to Asda) and at £5.98 received best White under £7.

In the battle of reasonable reds, Tesco Finest Viña Mara Rioja Gran Reserva 2007 (rrp £13.99) was awarded Great Value Status for Red Wine under £15. The Award for Reds priced between £7-£12 went to The Wanted Zin Zinfandel IGT Puglia 2012 (rrp £9.99), and the prize for best red under £7 went to a 2013 Otra Vida Winemakers Selection Malbec by Trivento in Argentina (rrp £5.48)

Supermarket own-brand sparkling wines dominated the Great Value Sparkling category. Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Conegliano Prosecco Superiore DOCG Brut 2013 (rrp £10) was awarded the Great Value Sparkling under £12. The Co-operative picked up the mid-range Great Value Award (Sparkling wines between £12 and £20) for its Les Pionniers NV Champagne, which costs just £16.99. Premium supermarket Waitrose received the trophy for Great Value sparkling under £25 with its Blanc de Noirs Brut NV (RRP £21.99).

Marks and Spencer Paul Cluver Late Harvest Riesling 2012 (RRP£14.99) from South Africa was named best Sweet wine under £15, and the Tesco Finest Dessert Semillon 2009 (£6.79) from Australia received the Award for best sweet wine for less than £10.

Australian vineyard Yalumba received the Great Value Fortified under £15 award for its Museum Reserve Muscat NV. The vineyard continued its success in 2014, when it received a Great Value award in the White wine category. Sainsbury's NV Taste the Difference Oloroso Sherry 12 Year Old picked up the prize for best Fortified wine under £10.

Charles Metcalfe, co-chairman of the IWC said: "The Great Value Awards are always a fun part of the competition; who doesn't love finding a bargain, especially if it tastes so good. It is wonderful to see such great wines at such reasonable prices, which shoppers can easily find at their local supermarket, high street, independent or online retailer. You can find an IWC Great Value Award winner to suit any occasion, from a quiet Wednesday night in to a real celebration."

Printer friendly version