Spanish Wines Score High
Spanish wines get 342 medals in the last edition of the International Wine Challenge 2009!
Competing against over 9,500 other wines from 41 different countries, Spanish wines stood out from the rest receiving a total of 342 medals. The Spanish wines received 23 Gold Medals, 108 Silver and 211 Bronze Medals. An additional 307 wines received special recommendations from the jury.
Barón de Ley 7 Viñas
The winner in terms of Spanish regions has been the Denominación de Origen Jerez (Protected Designation of Origin Jerez) with 9 different “Sherry” and “Pedro Ximenez” wines: ‘Néctar Pedro Ximenez’, ‘Apóstoles Palo Cortado VORS’, ‘Sandeman Character, Medium Dry Amontillado’, ‘Sainsburys Taste The Difference Amontillado’, ‘Lustau Solera Reserva Oloroso Don Nuño’, ‘Lustau Solera Reserva Moscatel Emilín’, ‘Lustau Almacenista Palo Cortado’, ‘Waitrose Solera Jerezana Fino Sherry’ and ‘Marks and Spencer Manzanilla Sherry’.
The Jerez region was closely followed by the Denominación de Origen Rioja, with 8 Gold Medals: ‘Barón de Ley 7 Viñas 2004’, ‘Inspiración Valdemar Edición Limitada 2004’, ‘Imperial Reserva 2004’, ‘Luis Cañas Reserva Selección de la Familia 2003’, ‘Juan Luis Cañas Reserva Selección de la Familia 2001’, ‘Campo Dorado Reserva 2005’, ‘Campillo Gran Reserva 1995’ and ‘Roda I 2004′.
Finally two wines from the Navarra region (‘Príncipe de Viana Vendimia Tardía de Chardonnay 2007’ y ‘Viña Zorzal 2007’), two from the Priorat region (‘Coma Vella 2006’ y ‘Scala Dei Cartoixa 2006’), one from the Rias Baixas (‘Maior De Mendoza 2007’) and finally one from the well known Ribera del Duero (‘Cillar De Silos 2006’) also received a Gold Medal.
The 26th edition of the well known International Wine Challenge, considered by many the world’s most prestigious wine competition, took place during May in London during two weeks when a total of 370 jury members tasted the wines. The award ceremony will be held in a gala dinner in London next 2nd of September.
Our recommendation: Try the awarded wines from Navarra for great value for money or for a different experience try one of the sweet Pedro Ximenez wines served with a nice blue cheese and toasted bread. Delicious!