Supermarket budget bubbly beats off heavyweights to win champagne 'oscar'

Tesco’s own label budget bubbly has beaten off heavyweight names to win the champagne world’s equivalent of the Oscars.

Tesco’s own label budget bubbly has beaten off heavyweight names to win the champagne world’s equivalent of the Oscars.

The supermarket’s Finest Premier Cru NV was considered better than bubbly more than twice its price.

It will be great news to millions of Brits on a budget looking forward to toasting the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in June.

The announcement was made at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London this week where Tesco won the ‘Gold Outstanding’ award – the judge’s top mark.

Judges praised the champagne’s ‘exceptional palate’ and ‘beautiful balance’ saying: “The flavours and minerality bite, the crisp acidity drives along with a refreshing, tingling presence and lead you to a prolonged, flavour packed finish.”

Tesco Beer, Wines and Spirits Category Director Dan Jago said: “Winning Gold at these prestigious awards underlines what millions of our customers already know – that Tesco Premier Cru holds its own against many of the champagne world’s best known names.

“And winning the recognition of the industry’s top experts proves you don’t have to pay sky high prices to enjoy quality champagne.

“Hopefully our customers will be able to celebrate many more British Gold medals over the Summer with this award-winning Tesco Champagne.”

Tesco Premier Cru was launched in 1995 and caused an immediate stir in the drinks industry thanks to outstanding reviews from wine writers.

Added Tesco’s Dan Jago: “Premier Cru is one of Tesco’s greatest success stories because it has been a massive favourite with our customers. Hopefully anyone who has not yet tried it will now consider the opinion of experts to see why they have made it their No 1.”

The International Wine and Spirit Competition, which was founded in 1969, promotes the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs.

A panel of over 300 expert tasters drawn mainly from the wine industry ‘blind test’ wines and champagnes available to the British market.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

 

• Tesco Premier Cru costs £20.99 a bottle.

 

• The grapes used for this champagne come exclusively from Premier Cru vineyards, based mainly in the Cote des Blancs, to the south of Epernay.

 

• Bottle maturation takes up to 36 months, which is longer than average in Champagne. After disgorging, the bottles are returned to the cellars for about three months so as to ensure the optimum condition of the bottle when it is shipped.