Wine industry toasts IWC award winners

Published: 08 September, 2010

Marks & Spencer collected the Supermarket of the Year Award for the third year running at the International Wine Challenge awards dinner last night.

Forty-three awards, including Champion Winemaker of the Year and Merchant of the Year, were presented by Charles Metcalfe and Tim Atkin MW in front of a packed audience of the wine industry elite at London's Hilton, Park Lane.

Winners included Miguel Torres, fourth generation president of family-owned Bodegas Torres, one of Spain's best-known wine producers, who collected the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Personality of the Year went to Gérard Basset, master sommelier, hotelier and this year's World's Best Sommelier.
Battersea's Artisan & Vine won Small Independent of the Year, Laithwaites won Large Independent of the Year and Liberty Wines scooped the On-Trade Supplier award.

Charles Metcalfe, International Wine Challenge co-chairman, said: "No other wine competition entails the fastidious level of judging required by the IWC. Each wine is tasted at least three - and sometimes up to six - times, scoring it for faithfulness to variety, country, region and vintage."

Marks & Spencer also collected the Champion White Wine award for its Puligny Montrachet Premier Cru Les Chalumeaux 2007, Jean Pascal & Fils.

Majestic Wines was named the High Street winner for the second consecutive year and was also awarded Wine Merchant of the Year.

Tesco took home the award for Wine Club of the Year and Innovator of the Year went to Naked Wines. Bibendum Wine scooped the Corporate Social Responsibility award and the Environmental Initiative award went to Sainsbury's.

For a full list of winners visit www.internationalwinechallenge.com

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