An English red wine has scooped a coveted gold medal at the International Wine Challenge for the first time. The Red Miller 2018 is produced in Kent by Hush Heath, which used 100% Pinot Meunier grapes. This grape is generally used along with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to make sparkling wine and it is rarely seen as a key component in still red wine. Yet…

Brewers from across the globe are celebrating after dazzling a demanding judging panel and scooping medals in the International Beer Challenge 2019. The IBC is widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious beer competition and it is now in its 23rd year. Nine hundred entries arrived from 38 countries this year, spanning traditional brewing nations like…

With more medals awarded than ever before, the 2014 International Cider Challenge was the best yet. An elite judging panel of producers, drinks writers, buyers and cider technicians tasted 150 ciders blind to unearth the very best in the business. The record-breaking medal haul comprised 14 golds, 38 silvers and 59 bronzes, selected from a truly international field that included niche ciders from…

Supermarket own-brand wines scooped 360 medals at the International Wine Challenge, with Marks & Spencer leading the pack with 138 gongs. The retailer won six golds, 50 silvers and 82 bronze medals. Sainsbury’s and Waitrose were each awarded four gold medals, delighting the judges with their “great value bubbly”. Sainsbury’s 2013 Taste the Difference Conegliano Prosecco Superiore Brut, retailing at £9.99, scooped a gold, along…

The International Beer Challenge 2014 is now open for entries and a dedicated website has been launched to celebrate excellence in brewing. The challenge is in its 17th year and the number of entries has risen steadily to the point where it is now the main event in the global beer industry calendar. The judging panel is made up of the shrewdest beer experts…

Pre-mixed drinks scooped a host of awards in the 2012 Pre-mixed Drinks Challenge, run by OLN’s sister paper Drinks International. Five gold medals were awarded – to Sierra Margarita from Borco International, Coppa Cocktails Strawberry Daiquiri by Toorank, Piña Colada and Strawberry Daiquiri from Funkin and Manchester Drinks’ My Cocktail Mojito. The winners were chosen from products entered from New Zealand, Mexico, France, Holland, Germany,…

The winners of the International Spirits Challenge trophies have been announced. Hundreds gathered at an awards ceremony in London to honour the top producers, retailers and marketers in the spirits industry. The prestigious distiller of the year trophy, which is calculated on a points systems depending on the number of medals awarded, went to Chivas Brothers. William Grant & Sons took the supreme champion award…