10th July 2024

UK Wine Industry Celebrates Unprecedented Success at theInternational Wine Challenge 2024

International Wine Challenge Supermarket of the Year 2024 winner, Marks & Spencer

10th July 2024 - Last night, the International Wine Challenge (IWC), the world’s mostinfluential, impartial and rigorously judged wine competition, brought together the UK
wine industry for its annual awards announcement in London. There was much tocelebrate this year as businesses of all sizes were recognised in the IWC IndustryAwards, while England continued to cement its position as one of the world’s leadingwine producing countries.

Victory for English wine
England produced another impressive set of results in this year’s challenge, winning a
total of 125 medals, 13 of which were Gold. Gusbourne was the most highly awarded
English winery in the competition, taking home a total of eight medals for its red, whiteand sparkling wines. Gusbourne was also awarded the English Red Trophy for its Pinot
Noir 2022, the only still wine from England to win a gold medal.

10th July 2024
England came second only to France for its sparkling wines, with 88 medals awarded toEnglish fizz. This year, it was Sussex-based winery Wiston Estate that took home theEnglish Sparkling Trophy for its Library Collection Blanc de Blancs 2010. Further gold
medals were awarded to sparkling wines from Kent, Hampshire, Sussex and theThames Valley.
English wines judged best in show at the International Wine Challenge 2024:
Wiston Estate Library Collection Blanc
Sussex£130.00 from Wiston Estatede Blancs 2010
Gusbourne Pinot Noir 2022Kent£40.00 from Gusbourne
M&S Collections Hattingley EnglishHampshire £30.00 from M&SSparkling Wine Brut 2018
The Grange White From Black 2020Hampshire £42.00 from The Grange
Balfour Winery Leslie's Reserve Brut NV Kent
£35.00 from Balfour Winery
Chapel Down Kit's Coty Coeur DeKent£125.00 from Chapel DownCuvée 2016
Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2020
Kent
£45.00 from Gusbourne
Gusbourne Blanc de Blancs Single
Kent£95.00 from Gusbourne
Vineyard Boot Hill 2018
Gusbourne Rosé 2019
Kent
£55.00 from Gusbourne
The Squerryes Partnership Brut Late
Kent
£67 from Squerryes
Disgorged 2013
Roebuck Estates Classic Cuvée 2018
Sussex£38.00 from Roebuck Estates
Sugrue South Downs Cuvée Boz 2015Sussex£65 from Sugrue South Downs
ThamesHarrow & Hope Pinot Meunier 2019£38.00 from Laithwaites
ValleyIWC Industry Awards: Honouring excellence in the drinks industry
This year, 35 Industry Awards were given out to individuals and companies across thenation in recognition of the work that they do bringing the joy of wine to the UK
consumer.
For the second year in a row, Liberty Wines was named IWC Agent 2024, with judges
noting that “the company hasn't rested on its laurels, showcasing more events, moreagencies, and continued growth.” Liberty was also named Specialist of the Year forboth its Australian and Italian wines, and it won IWC On-Trade Wine Supplier 2024.
Majestic Wine was named IWC Large Multiple Retailer 2024 with judges praising its
positive contributions to both the wine industry and society as a whole. Judges

10th July 2024
highlighted Majestic's fantastic charity work and commendable commitment tosustainability, for example bottling in-country. Majestic also won IWC Rosé Retailer
2024 and IWC French Specialist 2024. Keith Blessley, Store Operations Director ofMajestic, noted “recognition like this is invaluable and I think the endorsement it gives
for our customers is super important”.
This year’s IWC Medium Multiple Retailer 2024 went to Amathus Drinks which
impressed judges with a significant sales uplift, an excellent online solution and a wide
offering, including a growing organic and biodynamic selection. It was Lea andSandeman that took home IWC Small Multiple Retailer 2024 and judges commended
the business for its huge selection and strong focus on service, whether online, instore, or through home delivery. It was also recognised for its championship of Grower
Champagnes and less obvious sparkling regions with the IWC Sparkling Retailer 2024
award. David Porter, Head of Operations and Buying at Lea and Sandeman said “we’redelighted, we’re absolutely thrilled to be recognised by the IWC and such a stringent
panel. It’s the most well regarded of all the competitions so we’re absolutely thrilled towin three awards.”
IWC Online Retailer 2024 went to The Wine Society for the second year in a row.
Judges described it as “a benchmark for online retailing,” noting its “impressive productrange” and “enduring relevance in the contemporary UK wine market.” Virgin Wines
was awarded IWC Wine Club 2024, with judges noting that it was navigating achallenging wine market by keeping up with current consumer trends, for example theintroduction of lower ABV and vegan wines. Emily Revell, PR and Outreach Manager at
Virgin Wines said “this award means the world for the whole business. It’s testament to
the hard work and dedication of everyone involved at Virgin Wines and we couldn’t behappier to be recognised for everybody’s hard efforts.”
This year’s IWC Supermarket 2024 award went to Marks & Spencer, which also tookhome 59 medals for its wines. Tesco had a strong year, winning more medals than any
other supermarket and claiming IWC Own Label Range 2024 for the second year in arow. There was plenty more success for supermarket wines in this year’s challenge with
the Great Value Awards in particular highlighting the remarkable quality found in UK
supermarket aisles. Tesco, Co-op, Asda and Spar were all recognised with a Great
Value Champion Award this year.
Savvy sips: IWC Great Value Champion Wines 2024
IWC Great Value
Champion Sweet 2024

Tesco Finest Dessert
Semillon 2019£6.75 from Tesco

10th July 2024
IWC Great Value
Champion Fortified 2024
IWC Great Value
Champion Sparkling 2024
IWC Great Value
Champion Rosé 2024
IWC Great Value
Champion White 2024
IWC Great Value
Champion Red 2024

Co-op Irresistible Pedro
Ximénez
ASDA Asquith Gardens
English Sparkling NV
Compagnia Ile de Beaute
Corsican Rosé 2023
Kleine Zalze Reserve
Chardonnay 2023
Spar Languedoc Rouge2023£7.50 from Co-op£16 from ASDA
£12.99 from Majestic£9.50 from Tesco£8.99 from Spar

There was also success for on-trade businesses with two restaurants recognised fortheir outstanding wine lists. Fitzrovia-based French bistro, Noizé Restaurant, won IWC
Restaurant Wine List - Contemporary 2024 while it was the Clove Club in Shoreditchthat took home IWC Restaurant Wine List - Fine Dining 2024. Head Sommelier of The
Clove Club, Emer Landgraf, said on winning the award “It’s very exciting for us, there
are so many amazing wine lists in London and the whole of England and it’s great to berecognised.”
Other awards announced on the night included:• IWC Trade Educator 2024: Bibendum• IWC Consumer Educator 2024: ThirtyFifty• IWC Single Site Retailer 2024: James Nicholson Wine• IWC Unsung Specialist 2024: Novel Wines• IWC Buying Team 2024: Jeroboams GroupThe full list of IWC UK Industry Awards winners, announced on 9th July, can be seen
here. The ultimate winners from the International Wine Challenge 2024, including IWC
Winemakers of the Year, can be seen here.
ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:
Launched in 1991, the Industry Awards (formerly Merchant Awards) recognise andreward the outstanding achievements of the UK wine trade, including merchants,educators, distributors and agents.
In its 40th year, the International Wine Challenge is widely acknowledged as the world’s
most rigorous, impartial, influential and global wine competition. The IWC assesses
every wine ‘blind’ and judges each for its faithfulness to style, region and vintage. Awards

10th July 2024
include medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze) and Commended awards. Trophies are awarded to
the very best wines in each category. The International Wine Challenge is committed tohelping consumers discover great wine, and the medals offer a trusted guarantee ofquality.
For more information, please contact the IWC team at Phipps
iwc@thisisphipps.com: +44(0)2080506073