Lidl adds to awards for wines

Lidl U.S. recently received 42 medals at the 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. According to Lidl, competing wines go through an extensive blind tasting and judging process that pits them against nearly 7,000 bottles.

“The San Francisco Chronicle competition wins reinforce Lidl’s excellence in delivering high-quality wines that are available to customers at affordable prices,” according to a press released issued by Germany-based Lidl, which has U.S. operations based in Arlington, Va.

Since announcing its first stores in May of 2017, Lidl U.S. has won nearly 250 awards for its private label wine range, including its 46 listed American wines.

In all, Lidl U.S. captured two double gold, five gold, 26 silver and nine bronze medals at the competition. Top double gold and gold honors were awarded to 2015 Free Rain Gewurztraminer, Gold & Grape Moscato, 2015 Untamed Vine Cabernet Sauvignon, 2015 Wicked Winds Chardonnay, 2014 Free Wind Merlot, 2015 Sinful Grin Petite Sirah and 2014 1790 Pinot Noir.

Forty-six Lidl locations in the U.S. offer a private label collection curated by Master of Wine Adam Lapierre, who Lidl says is the only master of wine in the grocery industry and one of the few in the entire country.

“It is incredibly exciting to have received such high recognition at America’s largest domestic wine competition,” Lapierre said. “While curating our range, we search for wines that help elevate expectations yet can be offered at an affordable price. To bring home this array of medals — awarded by the country's leading wine experts — shows our approach offers world-class wines to our shoppers."

Previously, Lidl was recognized as the top performing retailer at both the 2017 LA International Wine Competition and the 2017 INDY International Wine Competition. It also became the best-performing exhibitor in the 25-year history of the INDY International Wine competition when it was awarded 104 medals, including Sparkling Wine of the Year.