Morrisons, Asda and Aldi are big winners in Quality Drink Awards

Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Morrisons, Asda and Aldi were the big supermarket winners in the Quality Drink Awards (QDA), the annual alcoholic drinks competition run by Independent Retail News and Talking Retail.com.

The overall Platinum Q award went to Morrisons for its own-label Green Hop Beer, while Asda won four of the wine awards.

Discounter Aldi collected five QDA trophies across beers, wines and spirits.

Drinks importer Mangrove UK scooped three QDA accolades for its South American spirits and liqueurs.

The Cornwall-based Sharps Brewery took the award in the speciality beers award with Chalky's Bark, which was produced in conjunction with celebrity chef Rick Stein and followed up last year's QDA success with Chalky's Bite.

The awards ceremony was held at the Hurlingham Club in Putney and the awards were presented by Angela Mount, the former wine buying supremo at supermarket chain Somerfield.

The overall Platinum Q award was selected from all of the individual category winners.

It went to an ale for the first time in the history of the Quality Drink Awards.

Morrisons launched a range of beers in 500ml bottles designed to give customers something "a little bit different" and exclusive to the supermarket chain.

Judges said the winning Green Hop Beer combined the "best of British malt with the first hops of the season's harvest to create a great-tasting beer with a distinctive flavour".

Green hops are added to the brew within 24 hours of being harvested.

One judge said: "Morrisons said they wanted to create something different to other bottled ales in the market and it has really achieved that objective with Green Hop Beer.

"It's such a fresh and hoppy tasting ale.

"You can get the freshness of the beer on the nose straightaway."

Asda scooped four wine awards and judges said its 2002 Asda Extra Special Vintage Champagne was great value for money at just £17 a bottle.

"It's a great introduction to vintage Champagne and a price tag you can't argue with," said a judge.

The judging panel also praised Asda for the quality and value for money of its 2008 Marsanne Vin de Pays d'Oc, with a retail price of just £3.19.

The Marsanne was the undisputed winner of the white wines under £5 category.

Judges were so impressed by this Marsanne that several were planning on making a special visit to Asda to pick up a few bottles!

"It is refreshing, lively, and packed with peach and raspberry aromas.

"If only more Marsannes were this good and such great value," said one judge.

The individual category winners were:

Speciality beers: Chalky's Bark, Sharps Brewery

Lagers: Steinhauser, Aldi

Ales: Morrisons Green Hop Beer, Morrisons

Ciders and perries: Sheppy's Vintage Reserve Cider, Sheppy's Cider

Local drinks: Bramley and Gage Organic Sloe Gin, Bramley and Gage

Alcoholic ready-to-drinks: VK Vodka Kick Pear, Global Brands

White spirits: El Jimador Blanco Tequila, Mangrove

Whisky: Highland Black Blended Eight-year-old Scotch Whisky, Aldi

Dark spirits: Santa Teresa Gran Reserva rum, Mangrove

Liqueurs and speciality spirits: Santa Teresa Rhum Orange, Mangrove

Fortified wines: Fletcher's 10-year-old Tawny Port, Aldi

Sparkling wines up to £9.99: 2006 Philippe Michel Cremant du Jura Chardonnay, Aldi

Vintage Champagne: 2002 Asda Extra Special Vintage Champagne

White wines up to £4.99: 2008 Asda Marsanne Vin de Pays d'Oc

White wines £5-£9.99: 2007 Asda Extra Special Alsace Gewurztraminer

Rosé wines up to £5.99: 2008 Asda Extra Special Languedoc Rosé

Red wines up to £4.99: 2005 Teroldego Rotaliano Riserva, Lidl

Red wines £5-£9.99: 2006 Cantina di Merlara Valpolicella Ripasso, Aldi

Red wines over £9.99: 1999 Hanson Tarrahill Arundel, Yarra Valley, The Wine Explorer

Platinum Q: Morrisons Green Hop Beer, Morrisons

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