We are proud to be the UK’s most awarded Independent Wine Merchant, and we like to think there’s a good reason for that. Actually, there’s more than one: from our wide selection of wines, to our knowledgeable staff, to our welcoming wine bars. Why not come see for yourself, either online or in the shops?
Some recent awards and recognitions:
In January, we were the East Anglian Standout and no 7 in the UK’s 50 best indies.
In May, Hal Wilson was named the No 8 in the 100 Most Influential people in UK drinks.
And in April, Hal (busy guy!) was invited to join the board of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, with the task of representing the independent sector:
We are tickled pink to let you all know that we’ve just been named the IWC (International Wine Challenge) 2023 ‘UK Small Multiple Site Retailer of the Year 2023 (5 shops or fewer) ‘ Yay us!!
We’re honoured to receive another spectacular award (and two runner-up spots!) for this year’s highly coveted Decanter Awards. Say hello to 2022’s Best Regional Multi-Store for Central England as well as second place for Best Specialist Retailer for Champagne & Sparkling AND Sweet & Fortified. Thank you Decanter!
Yeah, we’ve done it again. Twice, as a matter of fact. At the International Wine Challenge 2022, we won both the ‘Large Independent Merchant of the Year’ and ‘Regional Merchant of the Year Eastern England.’ But don’t let that second one fool you. We deliver all over the UK.
Our very own Hal Wilson was recently named one of the 100 most influential people in Drinks Retailing for 2022. Voted on by industry voters, Hal comes in at No. 21.
We’re pleased as punch (does anyone say that anymore?!) to announce we’ve won not one, but two more awards.
At the 2021 Drinks Business Awards, which took place on 23 September, we were named both Independent Retailer of the Year and Fine Wine Retailer of the Year. We’ll share some pictures with you once we have them. But until then, you can read more about the awards here.
Decanter Best Specialist Retailer for Sweet & Fortified Wines, 2021. Read more about it (and other winners) here.
Number 1 (!!) in Harper’s UK Top 50 Best Indies 2021.
IWC Large Independent Merchant of the Year 2021
IWC Regional Merchant of the Year 2021 – Eastern England
London Wine Fair Independent Buyer of the Year 2020 – Hal Wilson
Our Bridge Street (Cambridge) Wine Bar cited by the Sunday Times in the Top 25 Wine Bars in the UK
Decanter Retailer of the Year Awards 2016
Large Independent Merchant – Runner Up
Our first major Decanter award meaning we have now been recognised by every wine merchant competition in the UK.
The judges praised us for our wide-ranging list, varied events and ambitious strategy. It’s a really tough category, being open to all merchants with £5m+ turnover, including Majestic, Laithwaites, Berry Bros, and Tanners. There was one Runner Up award and one main award on offer.
Drinks Retailing Awards Small Chain of the Year Award!
Oz Clarke: “Young, unstuffy merchants with a well chosen-list.”
As three time winners of the Independent Drinks Retailer category at previous Drinks Retailing Awards, Cambridge Wine is absolutely delighted to earn this prestigious trade award, open to independent retailers across the country with ten or fewer stores. We wouldn’t be able to do it without our retail customers, so thank you for continuing to support your independent merchants in Cambridge, Ampthill, Royston, Salisbury!
International Wine Challenge Eastern England Regional Merchant
International Wine Challenge Fortified Specialist Merchant
International Wine Challenge Languedoc Roussillon Specialist Merchant
Sud de France UK Retailer of the Year 2013
French Wine Awards 2013 Best Large Independent UK.
Beating off competition from Berry Bros and Laithwaite’s.
Cambridge Wine Merchants Voted UK’s No.1 Independent Wine Merchant in the Best of Spain Awards
For offering an eclectic, broad choice of Spanish wines, plus a great programme of events and tastings, as well as a wine school, and using these to educate and enthuse imbibers
2013: At this year’s International Wine Challenge we picked up three awards:
Large Independent Merchant of the Year UK
Regional Merchant of the Year: Eastern England
Fortified Specialist Merchant of the Year UK
Yet another major national award for us: at the Harper’s drinks industry awards we were voted Best Top Merchant (3 or more shops)
We have for the third time in four years been voted the UK’s No. 1 Independent Drinks Retailer at the prestigious Drinks Retail Awards.
The greatest business brains in the drinks retailing trade were honoured during the industry’s version of the Oscars at a glitzy dinner at the Dorchester.
The Drinks Retailing Awards are the trade’s biggest annual highlight, bringing together the leading lights in retail and rewarding the greatest innovators.
Competition was fierce as the awards received a record number of entries, but a rigorous judging process eventually named 19 overall winners in categories including Supermarket of the Year and Independent Drinks Retailer of the Year.
Taking home a Drinks Retailing Award represents the ultimate accolade for a business in the drinks trade, so winners were understandably delighted.
The International Wine Challenge 2012 (the world’s biggest wine competition) prize ceremony took place 11th September. Over 750 guests from the UK drinks industry, plus international producers and winemakers, gathered at the Hilton Park Lane.
Following past successes in this and many other competitions, we walked away with the top prize:
Merchant of the Year
This is the one IWC prize that can’t be applied for – the winner is chosen by a panel of expert judges and covers all this year’s UK award winners, from supermarkets to wholesalers. The judges described our wine range as “phenomenal”.
We scooped up a load of other awards too, in fact more than any other competitor:
Large Independent Merchant of the year UK
East of England Merchant of the year
Fortified Specialist Merchants of the Year UK
On the same day our Languedoc-Roussillon specialist Stewart Travers picked up
Sud de France Specialist of the Year.
A new prize covering the UK, sponsored by the Languedoc-Roussillon Region. It’s fair to say we’ve been regarded in the wine trade as the UK’s leading experts in and supporters of the region, so it’s a pleasure to have this confirmed.
Wines from Rioja in association with the Spanish Ministry of the Environment, Rural & Marine Affairs voted us Rioja Retailer of the Year 2012. We spent the £1000 prize on a huge staff dinner: happy times!
Decanter Retailer of the year Awards 2012 – shortlisted
Voted the UK’s Independent Drinks Retailer of the Year – 2010, 2011 (and now 2013)
A tremendous honour for CWM from the Drinks Retailing Awards.
Top Merchants Awards Best Employer 2011
International Wine Challenge Regional Merchant of the Year – Eastern England – 2010 and 2011 (and now 2012 too)
International Wine Challenge Specialist Wine Merchant of the Year – Fortified Wine – 2010 and 2011 (and now 2012 too)
Great news for us at the biggest wine competition in the world, the “Wine Oscars”, especially as we were the first merchants to win the ‘Fortified Wine’ category, which was introduced in 2010.
The IWC judges reported that Cambridge Wine Merchants were “very much going places, opening new stores, astonishing list of fortified wines especially Madeira and sherry, active in promoting events, innovative. Outstanding.”
And a number of other fantastic successes:
International Wine Challenge Specialist Merchant of the Year for Germany – Finalist
Drinks Retailing Awards Independent Spirits Retailer of the Year 2010 and 2011 – Finalist
IWSC Independent Retailer 2010 – Runner-Up
Drinks Business Awards Independent Retailer of the Year 2010 – Runner-Up
-Competing against some of the country’s most successful independent wine retailers, we managed to beat Adnam’s, Naked Wines and Roberson, and came second just after Chesire-based merchant Corks Out. Interestingly, Corks Out came second to us in the Drinks Retailing Awards of the same year, establishing us as probably the best two independent wine merchants in the UK. Judge Paul Shaafsma, UK Director for Australian Vintage, said of CWM that we “demonstrate flair and an innovative streak with a big emphasis on staff training”.
Drinks Business Awards Independent Retailer of the Year 2011 – Finalist
Portuguese Wine Awards 2009 and 2010 – Runner-Up
Our success in the annual Portuguese Wine Awards, held at the ambassador’s residence in Belgrave Square, demonstrates our commitment to expanding our range of Portuguese wines, and we’re thankful for this recognition of our specialist status within the trade.
