| Britain's most expensive supermarket plonk has been unveiled at £100 a bottle. Tesco, Its biggest supermarket says it will stock Penfold Grange 1999 at its flagship outlets like Kensington Store to cater for the nation's increasingly expensive tastes, reports Guardian..
The action follows the study from the supermarket chain, which reveals that Brits spend more on wine than ever before. Sales of bottles costing more than £10 have risen 74% in the past two years, according to Tesco.
Even demand for books on wine are up 125% compared with 2005. Wine rack sales are up 55% over the same period, the superstore added.
"This would never have happened in a British supermarket even a few years ago, and it suggests that Brits are fast shaking off their reputation, especially with our European neighbours, as a nation of plonk drinkers," said one of the store managers..
Guardian food writer Matthew Fort said the move didn't surprise him "given that supermarkets are the major wine merchants in the country". However, he expressed doubts about how a supermarket operation could maintain the strict quality control necessary for fine wine.
"You have no idea how it's been kept or looked after. If you're spending a lot of money on wine then how it has been cellared is important."
Penfolds Grange is made from the Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has won prizes around the world and was labelled red wine of the year in 1990. It scored 99 out of 100 points from Parker for its 1998 vintage, which was one of teh ebst vintages for Australian Shiraz and enticed many viticulturists to plant new vines, resulting in a massive glut during the last 3-4 years.
The Penfolds brand was bought in May 2005 by Fosters.
For Details visit: http://business.guardian.co.uk
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