This year’s Wines of Argentina Awards took place in Mendoza as usual with a bumper tasting of 672 wines tasted by a panel of international judges including the likes of Sarah Jane Evans MW (England), Jennifer Luk (Hong Kong), Göran Klintberg (Sweden), Paul Hobbs (USA) and Phil Crozier (England). National judges accompanied the international judges in the tasting room, and over 133 wineries participated in a bid to win the coveted awards.
The top trophies of the night are the four regional trophies which went to:
- Valles del Norte, Serie Fincas Notables Tannat 2013, Bodega El Esteco,
- Valles de San Juan, Pyros Single Vineyard Malbec 2013, Pyros Wines.
- Valles de Mendoza, Numina Gran Corte 2013, Bodegas Salentein,
- Valles Patagónicos, Riccitelli Old Vines Semillon 2015, Riccitelli Wines.
Ten more trophies were handed out for the individual categories:
Chardonnay Trophy – Retail US$13–19.99, Medalla Chardonnay 2014, Bodega Trapiche.
Torrontés Trophy – Retail $13–19.99, Ciclos Torrontés 2015, Bodega El Esteco.
Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy – Retail $30-49.99, Viña Cobos Bramare Luján de Cuyo Cabernet Sauvignon 2013.
Malbec Trophy – Retail: $13-19.99, ‘The Apple Does Not Fall Far From The Tree’ 2014, Riccitelli Wines.
Malbec Trophy – Retail: $20-29.99, Ben Marco Malbec 2013, Dominio del Plata.
Malbec Trophy – Retail: $30-49.99, Dedicado Malbec 2014, Finca Flichman.
Malbec Trophy – Retail: $50+, Bramare Touza Vineyard Malbec 2013, Viña Cobos.
Red Blend Trophy – Retail: $6.99–12.99, Altaland Tinto Histórico 2015, Bodegas Esmeralda
Red Blend Trophy – Retail: $30-49.99, Porvenir Icon 2013, El Porvenir de Cafayate.
Red Blend Trophy – Retail: $50+ Anthology XXXVIII 2012, La Rural Viñedos y Bodegas.
As well as the trophies, the wines tasted were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals and this year 16 gold medals were awarded, 257 silver medals and 317 bronze medals.
2016 also marked two new awards: Best Young Winemaker and Personality of the Past 10 Years.
Germán Berra of Bodega Finca Flichman was recognised as the Best Young Winemaker. An award that was decided by the highest scoring wines produced by professionals under the age of 40.
And the award for Personality of the Past 10 Years went to Dr. Nicolas Catena Zapata, the renowned owner of Catena Zapata who pioneered higher altitude Malbec in Mendoza and helped put Argentina’s wine industry on the global stage.
Congratulations to all the trophy and award winners!
