Sherry has been tipped for growth after two own-label sherries sold in UK supermarkets were among the gold medal winners announced by the International Wine Challenge (IWC) this week.

Sherry was one of the key strengths of supermarket wine ranges, wine critic and IWC co-chairman Charles Metcalfe said this week as Tesco Finest NV Amontillado and Morrisons NV Amontillado - which retail at £6 and £6.99 respectively - were awarded gold medals.

Metcalfe told The Grocer sherry could boom in the UK thanks to the growing popularity of tapas bars, which typically serve a range of styles of the fortified wine.

“I’m always heartened by the amount of good sherries that are put forward,” he said. “It’s a very underrated category. A lot of people think it is boring sweet stuff. Sherry is a hugely vibrant wine style, and at the moment the really good ones aren’t that expensive.”

Of the 184 medals awarded to own-label wines by the IWC this week, Marks & Spencer came out on top with 73, including five golds. Tesco won 32, including four golds, while Morrisons managed 30, with three of them gold.

“All the major supermarkets performed very well,” added Metcalfe. “They have very good buying teams, and Britain is lucky to have supermarket buyers who can source great wines across the entire range and to suit any budget.”

The IWC, organised by The Grocer’s publisher, William Reed Business Media, is in its 32nd year.

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