PLMA’s 2026 International Salute to Excellence Wine Awards celebrated the best supermarket private label wines from around the globe with Albertsons Companies Inc. and Aldi Inc. named the U.S. winning retailers among the overall 12 award winners from eight countries.
Albertsons won Best Quality in the New World Cabernet & Blends Category with its Vinaforé Reserve Stags Leap District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 and Best Quality in the Sauvignon Blanc & Blends Category with its Vinaforé Collection Marlborough New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2024.
Aldi was awarded Best Quality in the Pinot Noir Category with its Peaks & Tides Sonoma County Pinot Noir 2023. The Awards reinforce private label wine is not just a value alternative but a leader in quality, creativity, and excellence worldwide.
In the U.S., the Silicon Valley Bank’s 2026 State of the US Wine Industry Report that provides an analysis of current market conditions, success strategies, and forecasts for the year ahead expects double-digit growth in private label wines, as consumers seek high-quality, high-value wines.
Continuing to capitalize on this emerging growth category, PLMA’s Show in Chicago will once again feature a special section devoted to Wine & Spirits to provide the opportunity for retailers in all channels to expand their wine portfolio with new product offerings and exclusive partnerships. In addition to being displayed in Amsterdam, all the award-winning wines from the International Salute to Excellence Wine Awards will also be on display on the Show floor in Chicago.
“We’re seeing momentum in this category and are giving buyers in Chicago the opportunity to connect with exhibitors ready to collaborate and grow their wine programs,” said Director, Trade Show Sales, Sharon Davis. “Because our show is exclusively private label, buyers know they’re meeting partners who truly understand how to build and expand their offerings.”
In addition to wine, PLMA’s Store Brands Marketplace will feature spirits, ready-to-drink cocktails and non-alcoholic adult beverages among the tens of thousands of food and non-food offerings at the Show.