For the full set of winners and finalists in the People’s Choice Drinks Awards follow the links here:
Wine: https://peopleschoicedrinksawards.com/pcwa/2025-results
Spirits: https://peopleschoicedrinksawards.com/pcsa/2025-results
The presenters on the night captured the fun spirit of the People's Choice Drinks Awards - Kate Goodman of Reserve Wines and Dave Marsland, owner of Drinks Enthusiast, including Manchester Rum Festival
Such has been the growth and interest in the People’s Choice Drinks Awards since it started in 2017 that its founders - Janet Harrison and Judy Kendrick - are having to find bigger venues to host the awards - with this year’s event moving to the New Century music venue in the centre of Manchester.
But the DNA of the awards has not changed. This is an awards event and ceremony with a down to earth northern heart - a competition that relies on everyday drinkers to make up 70% of its judging panels. An awards ceremony that invites you to dress up as though you are going out for a night out with friends.
Rather than reward producers by country, grape variety or region these are awards that are in tune with how people buy their favourite wine or spirit - by occasion. Be it for a big night out, to share with pizza or have for a weekend BBQ.
It is also a very hard competition to walk away with an award for only one wine or spirit can win in any given category. This is not the place to come if you are looking to pick up multiple Gold, Silver or Bronze medals.
Paul Schaafsma of Benchmark Drinks has supported and been succesful in all the People's Chioce Drinks Awards since it started in 2017
It also attracts a different set of producers and wine importers who enter. Companies that are 100% focused on the needs and wants of their target consumers. Last night’s awards, for example, saw Paul Schaafsma, head of Benchmark Drinks, who has attended every PDCA ceremony, pick up awards for Kylie Minogue (Mindful Drinking for her 0% sparkling white) and Graham Norton for its Sauvignon Blanc 2023 in the Asian and aromatic cuisine category.
Rollo Gabb, head of South Africa’s Journeys End was there to pick up the winner’s trophy in the Rosé All Day category.
The Waitrose team, including Susanne McInness (who is also involved in the judging in London) and Barry Dick MW, received trophies across wines and spirits as well as the overall ‘Spirits Supermarket of the Year’, sponsored this year by Żubrówka Vodka.
The Waitrose team enjoyed a good night picking up a number of awards including the overall Spirit Supermarket of the Year
On-trade success
This year’s awards included a number of on-trade specific categories for the first time. Francis Bentley, wine buyer for LWC Drinks, for example, stepped on to the stage to accept the newly created On-Trade Supplier of the Year award, sponsored by Beyond Wines.The competition also now includes new categories for Best House Wine and Sommeliers Choice sponsored by WSET.
Janet Harrison said: “We’ve never excluded entries from the on-trade, it is just how the competition has evolved.As a consumer-facing awards, it makes total sense to include restaurants and bars and gives the owners and sommeliers something to talk about with their customers, should they win a prize. Particularly if it is for a particular food and wine matching category”.
Alex Green of Beyond Wines picks up a Gold Commendation award as well as the three other awards it won on the night
It was another big night for Romania’s Cramele Recas, taking home the greatest number of winners’ trophies from the wine categories, alongside a good number of other medals too. Its UK importer, Beyond Wines, also picked up three wine awards across multiple categories.
Manchester based spirits distributor Paragon Brands picked up largest number of awards - sixin total -in the spirits awards including including Naud Vodka, Maison Villevert’s Tequila, Pussers Rum and a whisky from the Belfast Distillery company.
Brewdog Distilling Company was the inaugural winner of the Ready to Drink: Cocktail Hour award for its Espresso Martini - the first time it had entered the competition.
All the winners on the night
Retailer awards
All the retailer categories are particularly sought after as they are voted for by the public.
Aldi was the big winner on the night picking up the Wine Supermarket of the Year award which reflects its broad appeal and good range of wines, including those at higher price points.
The Independent Wine and Spirits Retailer of the year, sponsored by The Buyer, was won by Kelder, an Urmston based hybrid retailer, run by Fred Davids.Kelder is a popular neighbourhood wine shop and bar in a suburb of Manchester, which stocks over 150 different wines from around the world with some sourced directly from the makers and some from small production runs. Other shortlisted retailers in this category included Gwin Llyn Wines and Vinotopia.
It was worth the trip from Norwich for Virgin Wines picking up Online Wine Retailer of the Year sponsored by Crate Communications
Online Wine Retailer of the Year went to Virgin Wines and (for wine) and Drink Supermarket for spirits.
Crate Communications, which sponsored the online categories, is also offering the winners the chance to be part of a consumer press campaign and is giving all medallists access to a free 30 minute PR consultation and look at ways they can best promote the awards and their brand’s success.
Rachel McCarton Jones, managing director at Crate, said: ”The 2025 winners showcase the incredible makers and minds behind some of the country’s best brands. We’ve been long standing fans of the ethos of the People’s Choice Drinks Awards, respecting how it prioritises what the consumer loves. We’re proud to work alongside this years’ winners to take their brands to UK press and media, as part of their awards package. Well done to all who placed.”
Judging process
The judging process takes place at the WSET School and the panels are made up of around 30% professionals, including respected buyers, importers, producers and sommeliers and 70% consumers, including many WSET qualified students, not working in the trade.
This year saw the greatest number of diploma students joining the teams – a great opportunity for them to test their skills, particularly for those who are considering a career in the drinks industry.
“It really is a very collaborative process, with professionals learning how consumers communicate about wine too,” says Harrison.
The super talented Damian Best, co-owner of DedBest Distillery, pulled together a band for the night playing vintage classics across rock, pop and indie
Special mention has to go to Damian Best, co-owner of DedBest Distillery, who not only won a Gold Commendation for his GINgerbread Liqueur but also fronted a four piece band and entertained guests with a set list of back to back indie, pop and rock classics.
* You can find out more about the People’s Choice Drinks Awards at its website here. Early Bird submissions open in July for the 2026 competition.
Full wine awards here: https://peopleschoicedrinksawards.com/pcwa/2025-results.
Full spirits awards here: https://peopleschoicedrinksawards.com/pcsa/2025-results/.
