138/140 Greaves Road, Lancaster LA1 4UW 01524 874406DRINKS RETAILING AWARDS 2015Runners-Up 'Independent Drinks Retailer of the Year' 2015Judges comments:-....Lancaster Wine is a great wine shop whose range covers all the major countries & regions...also home to a dazzling range of British & International beers with their own room, premium spirits that represent the best in class....and liqueurs, fortified, dessert wines & specialities that take things to another level. DRINKS RETAILING AWARDS 2014Proud winners of the 'Newcomer of the Year Award 2014'Judges comment:-  "Lancaster Wine Company' is almost the complete package - a newcomer that feels like it's been there for years.  Barry and Fiona Howarth have taken years of experience from working in off-licence chains and local independents to hone their own vision of just what a specialist drinks store should be and the results are wonderful" An independent Wine Shop, personally run by Barry & Fiona Howarth, offering the finest wines, beers, spirits, cigars, gifts, hampers & baskets, local oils & vinegars, chocolate, biscuits

, /lancasterwinecompany138/140 Greaves Road, Lancaster LA1 4UW Tel No: 01524 874406Experts today named discount supermarket Aldi as the best place to buy wine with some of its £3.99 bottles judged better that ones being sold elsewhere for £45. The budget supermarket was named the new wine retailer of the year at the prestigious Drinks Retailing Awards, beating previous winner Waitrose, and top drinks merchant Majestic Wine.The award, designed to celebrate the best wine merchants in the country, is the latest accolade Aldi has received for its wine range.Last year the retailer - which sells wine from just £2.99 a bottle - was handed 121 medals at international competitions. Cream of the crop: Budget supermarket Aldi has been named as the best place to buy wine - stealing the crown from last year's winner Waitrose. It is the latest in a series of gongs for the German discount chain Cheap: The supermarket giant's wines - including a Baron Saint Jean rosé (left) - start at just £2.99.

One of the cheapest medal-winners last year was its £3.99 Kooliburra reserve Shiraz (right), which won a silver medalThese included Gold at the International Wine Challenge for its Caversham Cream Sherry, which costs £5.25. It was also given Gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards for The Exquisite Collection Plan de Dieu, which costs £6.49. It was one of only six Rhone reds in the world to receive a gold medalOther awards included a Gold at the International Wine Challenge for The Exquisite Collection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (£7.99); the only dry sauvignon blanc to win.And Aldi's Kooliburra Australian Shiraz Cabernet 2013 (£3.99) got a Silver award at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, beating a host of expensive bottles.These included the Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2010, which typically retails at £45 - 11 times the price of the Aldi winner. Cheap: Aldi wines won 121 medals in international competitions last year, including gold for its Caversham Cream Sherry, which costs £5.25 (left) and its £7.99 Exquisite Collection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc (right)

Beaten: Last year's winner Waitrose had its crown stolen - but won five awards including for cider and spirits THE GERMAN BUDGET CHAIN TAKING BRITAIN BY STORM Aldi's history began in a small grocer's shop in the mining town of Essen in Germany opened in 1914 by Anna Albrecht, By 1948, her sons Karl and Theo had taken it to four other locations in the countrywine bar ideas home, and in 1954, the first self-service shop was opened. best wine to buy on amazonThe brothers had a falling out in 1960 over whether or not to sell cigarettes in stores, and the brand was split into Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. name for wine storageIn 1971, Theo Albrecht was kidnapped for 17 days and held to a ransom of $3million. wine and food classes nyc

The Albrecht family has remained notoriously private since.Karl Albrecht is now in his nineties and was listed Germany's richest man by Forbes last year.  best gift bottle of wineThe brand's name is a combination of the family's and the word discount.  best white wine cocktailsAfter branches were opened in America, the first store in Britain welcomed shoppers in 1990. beer and wine menuIt now has more than 500 across the world.  good wine to gift in christmasThe panel of experts crowned Aldi best retailer at an awards ceremony in London last night.best wine for wingsTony Baines, MD Buying at Aldi, said: 'We're thrilled to receive this fantastic award.

It's a real testament to the excellent quality wines our talented team work tirelessly to deliver.'Our close relationships with some of the best suppliers from around the world enable us to bring the best quality wines to our customers, whether they cost £3 or £10'. It stocks wines costing between £2.99 and £9.99, with more expensive, 'premium wines' introduced at Christmas. It was not all bad news for Waitrose, however - as the upmarket retailer managed to win five other awards compared to Aldi's one.While Aldi scooped the gong for wine, Waitrose won prizes for cider, spirits and champagne.It was also named supermarket of the year and online retailer of the year.It came as an influential report found class and snobbery are no longer a barrier for middle-class families when it comes to shopping at budget stores.A study shows 45 per cent of wealthy households have stopped at Aldi or Lidl in the past three months – exactly the same percentage as for lower income families.While the budget chains have made their name by selling household essentials at low prices, they have also made a concerted move to attract the wealthy with upmarket food and drink offerings.