With the appointment of new head of BWS Caroline Thompson-Hill as well as new buyers Giota Polizoudi and Harriet Coates, Marks & Spencer continues to build on its the successes of the past few years with a host of medal winners at this years’ Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA).
Alongside the introduction of the Classics range in 2020, the supermarket has adopted a renewed focus on value, with 80% of its still wines priced at £10 or less with quality remaining paramount, especially if securing a Value Gold medal for its M&S, Classics No2 Riesling, Pfalz, Germany 2022 is anything to go by. At just £10 per bottle, this delicious wine delighted the judges with its graceful white blossom aromatics and gleaming acidity.
To showcase the versatility of its wine selection, in late 2022 M&S launched the premium wine range, Collection as a collaboration with producers in the world’s best wine regions and has consistently impressed the DWWA judges ever since. A highlight this year being the expressive and powerful Collection El Duque de Miralta, Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain 2016 scooping 94 points for its dark bramble fruit and forest floor aromas.
A further six Silver and seven Bronze medals were awarded to this inspiring curation including the Collection Chablis 2021, a result of a 35 year old partnership with the Union des Viticulteurs de Chablis, which scored 91 points for its crisp, fresh mineral character and the Collection de St-Gall 1er Cru Rosé Brut, Champagne NV, which secured 89 points for its joyful red cherry, raspberry and nectarine aromatics.
Scroll down to see our M&S Shopper’s Guide
Another own-label launch from 2022, M&S’s Found range aims to shine a spotlight on ‘hidden gems’ – wines from lesser-known regions that are worth getting to know. Winning a Silver, the Found Organic Verdil 2023, an orange wine from the Valencia region of Spain scored 90 points for its pine needle and white flower perfume and elegant texture.
Moving onto reds, the Silver medal-winning Found Marzemino from Veneto, Italy a steal at £7.50, dazzled the judges with its violet floral characters and spicy edge. For a new world benchmark, over to South Eastern Australia where the M&S, Lock Keeper’s Reserve Shiraz 2022 achieved 88 points for its alluring sweet, creamy fruit.
An impressive line-up from a retailer that continues to think creatively about its wines.
Discover our full M&S Shopper’s Guide below, including tasting notes and prices. All wines listed have been tasted and rated by some of the world’s leading wine experts at DWWA 2024.
Shopper’s Guide: Award-winning wines from Marks & Spencer
Gold
M&S, Classics No2 Riesling, Pfalz, Germany 2022
Value Gold, 95 points
£10
Dazzling mango, pineapple and yellow plum interspersed with graceful white blossom and citrus peel which refreshes and delights with its gleaming acidity and fine length. Alcohol 12%
Silver
M&S, Collection El Duque de Miralta, Gran Reserva, Rioja, Spain 2016
Silver, 94 points
£17
Showing powerful dark brambly fruit on the nose, with notes of forest floor and mushrooms. Expressive and well rounded. Alc 13.5%
M&S, Garganega-Pinot Grigio, Garda, Veneto, Italy 2023
Silver, 93 points
£6.50
Elegant and great value wine, lemon, nuts with a stony saline tang and hint of spice on the finish. Alc 12.5%
M&S, Collection, Chablis, Burgundy, France 2021
Silver, 91 points
£15
Classic Chablis aromatic character of lemon peel, mineral and coconut water. Crisp and fresh flavours with plenty of tension and a harmonious lemony acidity. Alc 12.5%
M&S, Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy 2020
Silver, 91 points
£14
Cherries and woodland notes on the palate, earthy and juicy with grainy tannins, and fresh acidity. Great value wine. Alc 13%
M&S, Found Organic Verdil, Valencia, Spain 2023
Silver, 90 points
£9
Delicious and original, with a perfumed nose, showing red peaches, green oranges, pine needles and white flowers. Elegant texture. Alc 12%
M&S, Found Marzemino, Veneto, Italy 2023
Silver, 90 points
£7.50
Lovely floral character, violets and purple fruits, fun easy going with riper black fruits on the palate alongside plums and spices. Alc 12%
Bronze
M&S, Bellante Prosecco Brut, Veneto, Italy 2022
Bronze, 89 points
£12
Gentle nose with fresh citrus fruit and herbs along with hints of pastry notes, delicate. Alc 10.5%
M&S, Collection de St-Gall 1er Cru Rosé Brut, Champagne, France NV
Bronze, 89 points
£30
Joyful, fruit forward aromatics; red cherry, nectarine, raspberry and citrus on the palate. Alc 12.5%
M&S, Classics No1 Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy, France 2022
Bronze, 89 points
£12
White flower nose with lemon peel and grapefruit accents. The palate is fresh and clean, with bright fruit and zesty acidity. Pleasant and well made. Alc 12.5%
M&S, Classics No3 Gavi, Piedmont, Italy 2023
Bronze, 89 points
£10
Distinct nose of pear, lemon and quince with a rich, rounded palate and a long, elegant finish with hints of beeswax.
Alc 12.5%
M&S, Classics No5 Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch, South Africa 2023
Bronze, 89 points
£8
Quince, white peach and grapefruit aromas. Broad, rich and honeyed palate with good structure and length. Alc 13.5%
M&S, Expressions Alvarinho, Vinho Verde, Portugal 2022
Bronze, 89 points
£10
Stone fruit on the nose with nice citrus aromas and nectarine nuances. Round and ripe. Alc 13%
M&S, Balfour Pinot Noir, Kent, England 2022
Bronze, 89 points
£22
Intense red fruits, summer pudding, and strawberry, followed by earthy, smokey, spicy, a touch of vanilla oak. Clean fresh palate, chalky tannins, with some complexity and length. Alc 12.5%
M&S, Expressions Organic Garnacha, Uclés, Spain 2022
Bronze, 89 points
£8.50
Fresh and floral with lavender and roses, notes of raspberries. Light and juicy, easy to drink. Alc 12.5%
M&S, Classics No12 Crémant de Bourgogne Brut, France NV
Bronze, 88 points
£12
Crisp and herbaceous with a touch of pear. A clean, honest and well made sparkling.
Alc 12%
M&S, Organic Chardonnay, Yumbel, Bío Bío, Chile 2023
Bronze, 88 points
£8
Bright and vibrant aromatics lead to a palate of textured fruit and a hint of saline. Alc 13.5%
M&S, Tierra y Hombre Sauvignon Blanc, Casablanca, Chile 2023
Bronze, 88 points
£7
Inviting, with a nose of green pepper and honeyed citrus, while the crisp palate is laced with tangy fruit. Alc 12%
M&S, Lock Keeper’s Reserve Shiraz, South Eastern Australia 2022
Bronze, 88 points
£7.50
Alluring, with a lovely fruit forward nose, then to a palate of sweet, creamy fruit. Alc 13.5%
M&S, Peacock Tail Fairtrade Pinotage, Swartland, South Africa 2023
Bronze, 86 points
£8
Star anise, cinnamon, elderberry and plum aromas. Ripe and jammy palate with a slight herbaceous character. Alc 13.5%
