Thirty own-brand supermarket wines have won gold medals in the International Wine Challenge 2013.

Marks & Spencer topped the table with 13 golds for wines, including its own-label champagne and sherry. Sainsbury’s won five golds for its Taste The Difference range, as well as one for its own-label Blanc de Noirs Champagne NV, with Tesco and Waitrose also picking up five gold awards each. The Co-operative was awarded two golds for champagne, while Asda also won for its new Extra Special Champagne, which rolls into stores in June.

Thirteen of the retailers’ gold medal winners retail for under £10.

Co-chairman of the IWC, Charles Metcalfe, said the success of the supermarket wines showed the multiples had reacted to the demands of modern consumers to make quality wine accessible as well as great value.

“In this time of austerity, consumers are looking for affordable quality and supermarkets have definitely stepped up to the mark with their own-brand ranges”

Charles Metcalfe, IWC

“The International Wine Challenge is committed to helping the average consumer choose stunning wine just by looking for our medals in store. With the IWC medal on the bottle as a seal of approval, you can trust the quality of the product as it will have been judged by some of the most experienced wine tasters in the world.

“More people are now choosing to spend a little extra on a wine which they drink at home, and supermarkets are reacting to that changing trend. In this time of austerity, consumers are looking for affordable quality and supermarkets have definitely stepped up to the mark with their own-brand ranges.”

Metcalfe also commended the “shining” home-grown talent after four English wines - three sparkling and a one sweet white wine - were awarded gold medals. “It’s always brilliant to see a few surprise winners in the medals table and great to see these emerging wine regions and some great value wines triumph,” he said.

Nyetimber took a gold medal for its sparkling rose, Gusbourne Estates won for its Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs and Dorset-based Furleigh Estate won gold for its first commercial vintage Classic Cuvée. Surrey-based Denbies also won for its 2011 vintage sweet white wine Noble Harvest.

However, French wines still came out on top with 113 Gold medals, ahead of Australia, which improved on its 2012 showing to take 81 golds this year. Japan was also awarded its first gold award for wine, a 2011 Hokushin Chardonnay from Yamanashi.

The IWC is owned by William Reed Business Media, publisher of The Grocer.

Read this: Focus on wine & champagne

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