Retailers and wholesalers listing English and Welsh wine have been recognised as UK supermarkets triumphed at the International Wine Challenge (IWC), claimed to be the world’s most rigorously judged independent wine competition. Waitrose’s role in stocking and promoting English wine saw it pick up a Specialist Merchant of the Year award for English wine.
Led by Tesco, the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Supermarket of the Year Award winner, supermarkets stood out from the competition by collecting nearly a quarter (9) of the 41 Awards. This 50% increase over last year (6 in 2011) includes Marks & Spencer’s win in the Great Value Rosé category for Le Froglet Rosé 2011, Maison Virginie RRP £5.99 and the Own Label Range of the Year.
For the fourth consecutive year, Majestic Wines won High Street Chain of the Year and Slurp.co.uk took the honours as Direct Merchant of the Year. Cambridge Wine Merchants saw off national chains to take the top award, Wine Merchant of the Year.
Charles Metcalfe comments: “The IWC’s aim is to recognise excellence and help wine drinkers source some of the world’s best wines. The credibility of the IWC logo is testament to the competition’s unrivalled professionalism and meticulous judging processes. IWC medals help to take the risks out of buying wine, and point consumers towards quality wines at all prices and in all styles.”
The IWC, now in its 29th year, has six co-chairmen: Charles Metcalfe, Tim Atkin MW, Sam Harrop MW, Derek Smedley MW, Oz Clarke and Peter McCombie MW. Its Merchant of the Year 2012 awards reflect the growing listing of English and Welsh wine, with around 17 merchants out of some 45 business in three categories: Merchant of the Year, Regional Merchants of the Year and Specialist Merchants of the Year.
Five of the regional winners out of nine list UK wine, while nine other merchants picked up other specialised awards, including Corporate Social Responsibility (Bibendum Wine) and Direct Merchant of the Year (Slurp.co.uk).
Merchant of the Year 2012 Award Winners
(Retailers in red stock English or Welsh wine)
Merchant of the Year
Cambridge Wine Merchants
Regional Merchants of the Year
~ Central England ~
Tanners Wine
~ Central England South ~
The Oxford Wine Company
~ North East England ~
House of Townend
~ North West England ~
D.Byrne & Co
~ Northern Ireland ~
James Nicholson Wine Merchant
~ Scotland ~
L’Art du Vin
~ South & South East England ~
The Wine Reserve
~ South West England ~
Great Western Wine
~ Wales ~
Mumbles Fine Wines
Specialist Merchants of the Year
~ Alsace ~
The Wine Society
~ Argentina ~
Las Bodegas
~ Australia ~
Liberty Wines
~ Bordeaux ~
Bordeaux Index Ltd
~ Burgundy ~
O.W.Loeb & Co
~ Champagne & Sparkling ~
The Sampler
~ Chile ~
The Wine Society
~ Eastern Europe ~
Hungarian Wine House
~ En Primeur ~
Farr Vintners
~ England ~
Waitrose
~ Fortified ~
Cambridge Wine Merchants
~ Germany ~
The Wine Barn Ltd
~ Italy ~
Liberty Wines
~ Languedoc Roussillon ~
Terroir Ltd
~ Loire ~
Waitrose
~ New Zealand ~
The New Zealand House of Wine
~ Portugal ~
The Wine Society
~ Regional France ~
Yapp Brothers Ltd
~ Rhône ~
D. Bryne & Co
~ South Africa ~
Handford Wines
~ Spain ~
Indigo Wine
~ USA ~
The Wine Treasury
Corporate Social Responsibility
Bibendum Wine Ltd
Direct Merchant of the Year
Slurp.co.uk
Generic Body Campaign
Coco PR – Wines of Lebanon
High Street Chain of the Year
Majestic Wine
Innovator of the Year
Marks & Spencer
Large Agent of the Year
Bibendum Wine Ltd
Large Independent of the Year
Cambridge Wine Merchants
On Trade Supplier of the Year
Liberty Wines
Small Independent of the Year
Bottle Apostle
Small Agent of the Year
New Generation Wines Ltd
Supermarket of the Year
Tesco
Wine Club of the Year
The Wine Society
Wine Educator of the Year
Berry Bros. & Rudd
Wine List of the Year
Alliance Wine
Photo: Mark Graham
