LA RIOJANA WINS GOLD AT VINANDINO 2011

La Riojana, Argentina’s largest producer of Torrontés, was delighted to win a gold medal for its Raza Argentina Bicentenario Torrontés 2010 and a silver medal for its Santa Florentina Tardio Otoñal 2009 at the 10th edition of Vinandino, the prestigious international wine and wine-based spirits competition held in Argentina from 9th to 17th September 2011.

Raza Argentina Bicentario Torrontés 2010 was awarded gold within the “aromatic varietal wine” category and La Riojana’s Late Harvest wine, Santa Florentina Tardio Otoñal 2009, was awarded silver within the “natural sweet wine” category. These two winning wines, like all Torrontés produced by La Riojana, were produced from Torrontés Riojano, the predominant sub-variety of the three different sub-varieties of Torrontés produced in Argentina.

Vinandino was first held in Argentina in 1993 and was the first international wine competition to take place in the southern hemisphere. It is organised every two years by the Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (National Institute of Vitiviniculture) and the Consejo Federal de Inversiones (National Board of Investments) from the Republic of Argentina. In addition to which, it is sponsored by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the International Union of Oenologists (IUO).

The judging for Vinandino 2011 took place in the provinces of La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza, and for the first time the competition was held in Chilecito, the home town to La Riojana and its principal bodega. Judges for the competition included wine tasting professionals from different parts of the globe, including Argentina, Canada, France, Uruguay, New Zealand and South Africa.