Tesco-owned Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market won 29 awards for its exclusive wines at two recent events, bringing the grocer’s total for the category to more than 80.

The latest awards were presented at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition and the San Francisco International Wine Competition. “Having strong relationships with our wineries helps us create high-quality wines that can be offered at incredible prices,” said Karen Fletcher, category manager of wine and beer for El Segundo, Calif.-based Fresh & Easy.

Nearly 4,000 wines from around the globe competed in the 2009 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition held in Pomona, Calif., late last month. Fresh & Easy’s wines won three gold, eight silver and two bronze medals. The company’s popular New Zealand Pinot Noir took home the gold, along with the La Parra Loca Tempranillo Shiraz.

At the San Francisco International Wine Competition, also held in late June, a panel of nationally recognized wine experts awarded Fresh & Easy’s wines 16 medals, including one gold, two silver, and 11 bronze, in addition to its double-gold-award-winning Rene Florancy Premier Cru Champagne and Montcadi Rose Cava.

Almost 60 of the 170 wines offered at Fresh & Easy are exclusive to the company, with the majority of these retailing for under $10. Based on customer feedback, 25 new wines, exclusive to Fresh & Easy, are being introduced over the summer, according to the grocer.