Award Winning Wines for Everyone

AWARD WINNING WINES FOR EVERYONE

THE IWSC ANNOUNCE RESULTS OF THE 2014 NORTHERN HEMISPHERE JUDGING

Today the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) announced the winning wines from the Northern Hemisphere, with results showing that supermarkets and convenience stores are leading the way with their affordable own brands.

The IWSC promotes the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. Medals featured on winning bottles assure consumers that they are purchasing an award winning wine judged by some of the world’s leading drinks experts.

Starting from the most expensive, the IWSC announces the winning bottles from Britain’s leading retailers:

·         Tesco Stores PLC won the Gold Outstanding medal for their “Tesco Finest* Vintage Champagne 2007”- £24.99. Toasty aromas and fine, citrus fruit flavours

·         Waitrose gleaned a Silver Outstanding medal for their “Oro Puro Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry NV”- £12.99. Bright and fragrant bubbles give rise to floral notes

·         Sainsbury’s  “Taste the Difference Oloroso 12 YO” won a Gold medal - £12.99 for this complex sherry with toffee, raisin and nut flavours that has a full body and an aromatic bouquet

·         Another Silver Outstanding medal was awarded to Lidl for their “Lidl Barolo DOCG 2009” - £8.99. A dry, full-bodied red wine

·         Marks and Spencer “Manzanilla Sherry” was awarded the Gold Outstanding - £6.99.  A refreshing, dry with aroma of green olives, a lemony and slightly salty tang, with hints of fresh bread and biscuit

·         Aldi “Fletchers Ruby Port” won a Silver medal £6.29 and has rich red notes with balsamic notes

·         Spar was awarded an Outstanding Silver medal “La Catedral” 2013- £5.99. Scents of summer berries, soft creamy oak nuances with a dash of spice and laden with fruits

·         Morrison’s “Fino” won a Gold medal, £5.49. Fragrant and fruity, with dry, crisp flavours

IWSC General Manager, Ewan Lacey said, “The 2014 Northern Hemisphere results have been really interesting as we’re seeing the UK supermarkets leading the way with their own brands picking up top medals. Ahead of International Sherry Week (2nd – 8th June), sherry lovers should pick up one of the award winning supermarket own label sherries.”

For the full list of northern hemisphere winners, go to www.iwsc.net

Notes to editors:

For more information please contact Holly Axelrad at Green Row, Holly@greenrow.co.uk

·         The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world's best wines, spirits and liqueurs. All entries are blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary.

·         IWSC has appointed Laura Catena as the 2014 president. 

·         The 2014 Annual Awards Banquet will be held on Wednesday 12^th November, at The Guild Hall, City of London.

·         The IWSC has partnered with Wines Direct to promote its top 2014 award winning wines. The price comparison website will allow consumers to search for medal winners by country, variety, colour, region, or retailer. The website will also show judges’ tasting notes for wines which has won trophy, gold, gold outstanding and silver outstanding