Asda’s Award-Winning Wines Prove You Don’t Need to Spend a Fortune for a Great Bottle – I’ll admit it – for years I was guilty of assuming that the best wines always came with the highest price tags.
Like many wine lovers, I’ve occasionally splashed out on bottles from specialist merchants or premium supermarkets, believing that quality and cost naturally go hand in hand. So, imagine my surprise when, over the past year, I’ve found myself reaching for wines from Asda and being genuinely impressed by what was in the glass.
In fact, there have been several occasions when I’ve served an Asda wine to friends and family, only for them to assume it came from a much more expensive source. Crisp whites, elegant sparkling wines and beautifully balanced reds have all found their way onto my table – often at a fraction of the price I would have expected to pay.
It seems I’m not the only one who has discovered this hidden gem in the supermarket wine aisle.
A Record-Breaking Year for Asda
Asda has just been crowned the UK’s most awarded supermarket for wine after achieving an incredible 460 awards across the wine industry’s three most prestigious competitions: the International Wine Challenge, the International Wine & Spirits Competition and the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Even more impressively, the retailer secured more gold medals than any other UK retailer, taking home 13 Gold awards alongside 118 Silver medals, 286 Bronze medals and 43 Commended awards.
The achievement marks Asda’s strongest performance ever, with total awards increasing by 16% compared to last year’s already impressive total. Gold medals alone increased by a remarkable 44%.
What makes these accolades particularly meaningful is that the wines are judged blind by leading wine experts. The judges don’t see the label or know the price; they simply evaluate what’s in the glass. That means every medal is awarded purely on quality.
Exceptional Wines at Everyday Prices
One of the biggest misconceptions about award-winning wines is that they must be expensive.
Asda’s results prove otherwise.
Among this year’s Gold medal winners is the Exceptional by Asda Asti from Piedmont, Italy, priced at just £4.70. That’s less than many coffees and pastries yet it’s been recognised by some of the world’s most respected wine judges.
Other standout Gold winners include:
- Exceptional by Asda Mas Miralda Brut Cava, Spain – £7.75
- Exceptional by Asda Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Australia – £7.50
- Exceptional by Asda Barbera d’Asti Superiore, Italy – £8.00
- Exceptional by Asda Pouilly-Fumé, Loire Valley, France – £15.00
- Navigator Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California – £16.00
Particularly noteworthy was the Exceptional Noble Riesling, Canterbury, New Zealand 2017, which achieved an outstanding 96 points from Decanter and was recognised as a Top Value Gold winner.
Why This Matters to Everyday Wine Drinkers
For many of us, wine isn’t just reserved for special occasions. It’s something we enjoy with a meal, while catching up with friends or celebrating life’s small moments.
With household budgets still under pressure, finding wines that deliver both quality and value have never been more important.
Asda’s success demonstrates that you don’t need to spend £20 or £30 a bottle to enjoy something genuinely excellent. Whether you’re planning a summer barbecue, a garden gathering, a relaxed Friday night dinner or simply looking for a reliable bottle to keep on hand, there are award-winning options available without breaking the bank.
My Verdict
As someone who has been consistently surprised by the quality of Asda’s wine range, these awards don’t come as a shock.
I’ve been fooled more than once into thinking I was drinking wines that cost considerably more than they actually did. The quality, consistency and variety available across the range continue to impress me, and these latest industry accolades suggest the experts agree.
So, if you’ve been overlooking the wine aisle on your weekly supermarket shop, perhaps it’s time to take another look.
You might just discover your next favourite bottle and have enough change left over to buy another.
Cheers to that.
Poppy Watt