Supermarket wines that won big at the International Wine Awards 2018

There's no need to spend a fortune on vino

Previous studies have suggested benefits from healthy properties of red wine but these are counteracted by other risks (Getty)

The results of the International Wine Challenge have been revealed, with many supermarkets winning awards for their offerings.

391 supermarket wines received medals in Tranche One of the International Wine Challenge 2018 proving that you can pick up a high quality bottle of vino alongside your bread, milk and houmous.

The judging is done blind by a panel of experts and the awards are known as the Oscars of the wine world.

Still, sparkling, sweet and fortified wines all won awards, with 14 Gold, 160 Silver and 217 Bronze medals being awarded to supermarket wines.

Top of the tipples was Morrissons, winning 78 medals in total. Three of its five Golds were awarded to own-brand sherries: Morrisons The Best Oloroso, Morrisons The Best Palo Cortado and Morrisons The Best Pedro Ximenez, all of which cost £6.

Morrisons’ red wines also scored highly, with their Cono Sur 20 Barrels Pinot Noir 2015 and The Best Marques De Los Rios Rioja Gran Reserva 2011 both winning gold medals too.

Waitrose was also successful at the awards, scoring 72 medals overall. The supermarket won two gold medals for its Polish Hill River Riesling 2012 (£12.99) produced by O’Leary Walker Wines, and The Hedonist Shiraz 2016 (£14.49) from Hedonist wines.

Tesco won 64 medals, with their Tesco Finest* Vintage Port 1997 (£20) and Tesco Finest* Chablis Premier Cru 2015 (£15) scooping Gold medals.

The supermarket also came top of the high street for their British bubbly, Tesco Finest* English Sparkling Wine (£17.50), which won a Silver medal.

(Aldi (Aldi)

Budget retailed Aldi excelled at the awards, winning 33 medals in total. They scored particularly highly for their port, winning Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

International Wine Challenge Supermarket of the Year Marks & Spencer impressed the judges, winning 67 medals overall. Its Colomé Altitude Blend Malbec Cabernet Franc Tannat 2015 won Gold, which at £12.50 was described as a “real steal.”

Asda took home 51 medals including one Gold for its Asda Extra Special Selection Pinot Noir 2014 - a “structured and elegant red.”

If you’re after a bargain, Lidl’s £6.99 Fortezza dei Colli Chianti Classico Riserva 2014 could be the one for you.

And Co-op secured 20 medals, albeit no Golds.

Peter McCombie MW, Co-Chair of the IWC commented: “Shoppers this Christmas will be spoilt for choice at their local supermarkets. Every year at the International Wine Challenge we see the wine buyers from the nation’s top retailers continue to improve and enhance their offering, going above and beyond to ensure shoppers are getting quality wines at unbeatable prices.

“Wine makes a great Christmas gift for friends and family, and with such fantastic options available in supermarkets, shoppers are really spoiled for choice. Our medal stickers are a sign of quality that can make selecting a great wine, for yourself or as a gift even easier. You can buy in confidence knowing this wine has been tasted and judged by some of the finest wine experts in the world.”