Corking wine awards for The Co-operative
In a significant coup, The Co-operative has gained an International Trophy in the 2009 Decanter World Wine Awards for its own-brand Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir.
Only 24 out of 10,285 entrants worldwide received an International Trophy - one of the highest accolades in the prestigious competition - making The Co-operative wine one of the best wines in the world.
According to the judges, The Co-operative Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir, which is sold under the retailer’s own-brand “eclectic” range at £7.99, scooped the prize for the best Pinot Noir under £10 because it is ”creamy, warm, full bodied and soft, with lots to get stuck into and lots to like” .
The judges also commented, “At a time when all the talk was trading down to sub-£4 wines, the Co-op supermarket chain launched a clutch of own-label wines priced at £7.99 – and just look at the results. For an own-label wine to win an International Trophy is a spectacular achievement in itself, let alone one that is so fresh to the market – and other wines in the Co-op range prove it’s no one-trick pony.”
The Decanter World Wine Awards reflect regional styles, celebrate diversity, promote value for money and highlight quality around the globe.
Kay Wheelton, Head of Trading Beverages at The Co-operative, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won a coveted International Trophy for one of the wines from our new eclectic range. We knew the introduction of the range was a bold move, but we had every confidence in its success, and the sales to date and the award for the Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir have justified this.”
Meanwhile The Co-operative has picked up the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the International Wine Challenge 2009.
The IWC is the world’s most respected wine competition, and this year it attracted over 9,000 entries from 41 different countries. As well as presenting prizes for wines, the competition also hands out accolades for merchants and retailers.
Judges awarded The Co-operative with the accolade because it has “continued with its business ethos of supporting its suppliers and their sustainability.” In particular, they praised the retailer’s support for Fairtrade in Argentina, where the premium generated by sales of The Co-operative Fairtrade wine had funded a clean water project and a new school, currently under construction.
The La Riojana co-operative in the Famantina Valley in Argentina has been a major beneficiary since it gained Fairtrade accreditation in 2006. As well as receiving a fair price for their grapes, the growers also receive a Fairtrade social premium, provided by the FLO (Fairtrade Labelling Organisation) and The Co-operative.