LA RIOJANA TAKES PART IN UNIQUE WINE TASTING AT THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

La Riojana, one of Argentina’s top three wine exporters to the UK, was delighted to take part in a rather unique wine tasting held in the Jubilee Room within the Houses of Parliament on Monday 21st January 2013. The event itself, which united Britain and Argentina as well as politicians from all political parties under one roof, was organised by Robin Walker MP, Chair of the British-Argentine All-Party Parliamentary Group, together with the Argentine Embassy in the UK.

La Riojana was one of four Argentine wineries that participated in the tasting and used the opportunity to showcase its award-winning Torrontés and Cabernet Bonarda blend from its celebrated Fairtrade Organic wine range Tilimuqui, as well as its Torrontés and Malbec from its premium range Raza Signature Series.

The event was a resounding success and was very well attended by many high profile guests, including the Ambassador of Argentina in the UK, her Excellency Alicia Castro, Robin Walker MP, The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein who is President of the British-Argentine All-Party Parliamentary Group and Baroness Hooper, Chair of the British-Latin America All-Party Parliamentary Group, as well as Members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords.

Ambassador Castro’s speech referred to wine as the symbol of unity and friendship that offers an opportunity to improve relationships, highlighting that Argentine wine exports to the UK have increased 50% over the last 10 years, and that the UK has now become the fourth most important destination for Argentina, after the United States, Canada and Brazil.  Her Excellency also pointed out that Argentina is the fifth largest wine producer in the world, with a total of 220 thousand hectares of vineyards and an annual production of 14 million hectolitres of wine. 

Andrew Maidment, UK director for Wines of Argentina, commented: “It was a pleasure to attend this event - one that clearly recognized the importance of Argentina’s wine exports to the UK.”

RAZA SIGNATURE SERIES MAKE A DEBUT AT WINES OF ARGENTINA ANNUAL TRADE TASTING 2012

La Riojana, one of Argentina’s top three wine exporters to the UK, will be showing its new Raza Signature Series product range for the first time at this year’s Wines of Argentina Annual Trade Tasting (table no. 56), which is due to be held at Lord’s Cricket Ground on 19th September 2012.

La Riojana’s newly created Raza Signature Series has been created by chief winemaker Rodolfo Griguol to salute the best of the 2011 vintage from the Famatina Valley. The range consists of a Torrontés, made from 100% Torrontés Riojano grapes with 75% aged in French oak barrels for eight months and a Malbec, made from 100% Malbec grapes with 60% of the blend aged in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels for five months. Both wines are being targeted at the Independent sector and On Trade.

In addition to this, La Riojana will also launch two new Rosé wines at the tasting, including a demi-sec, lower alcohol (7% vol) sparkling Raza Dolce Rosé 2012, as well as Tilimuqui Single Vineyard Fairtrade Malbec Rosé 2012, an exciting newcomer to La Riojana’s already well established and award-winning Tilimuqui range. 

Other wines on show at the tasting from La Riojana’s stable will include two Moscatos – La Mia Vita Moscato Blanco 2012 and La Mia Vita Moscato Rosado 2012. As well as two sparkling Torrontés – including its gold-medal winning Raza Brut 2011 and its double-gold medal winning demi-sec, lower alcohol (7%) Raza Dolce 2011. 

La Riojana’s export director Walter Carol and UK and Europe sales director Nick Day will both be in attendance at this year’s tasting to answer any questions about the product ranges being shown.

TORRONTÉS FROM LA RIOJANA BECOMES THE WINE OF CHOICE FOR LONDON CEVICHE WEEK 2012

As part of the Wines of Argentina “Time for Torrontés” summer campaign, La Riojana, Argentina’s leading producer of Torrontés, will be teaming up with London’s hot new Peruvian restaurant, Ceviche on Frith Street, Soho during London Ceviche Week 2012 to promote their Torrontés as a great wine match for ceviche. 

London Ceviche Week 2012, which has been created by Ceviche’s owner, Martin Morales, will run from 23rd to 30th June and is the first foodie festival of its kind, coinciding with National Ceviche Day in Peru (28th June). The week itself will involve a series of master classes and demos aiming to entertain and engage people across the capital and to introduce them to the wonders of one of Peru’s favourite national dishes and one of London’s hottest; ceviche. 

Throughout this event, La Riojana aims to demonstrate to audiences how their recently launched Raza Signature Series Torrontés Reserva 2011 makes a great wine match with ceviche, as well as offering customers the chance to taste and buy their Viñedos de la Posada Fairtrade Torrontés 2011 whilst dining at Ceviche.

Andrew Maidment, UK and Europe Manager for Wines of Argentina, comments: “We are delighted that La Riojana has taken up this opportunity to promote Torrontés to a wider audience. We already know that Torrontés and ceviche are a match made in heaven, and therefore this will be a fantastic opportunity for a large number of people to discover this perfect match for themselves.”

FINCA FEDERADA TOASTS RECENT SUCCESS

La Riojana, currently the world’s largest producer of certified Fairtrade and Organic wine, not only secured a silver medal for its Finca Federada Fairtrade Malbec Reserva 2011 in the one of the world’s largest wine competitions, the 2012 International Wine Challenge, but also received a “3-star Recommended” and “Good Value” rating for the same wine in Decanter’s recent Argentinian Malbec panel tasting.

Rodolfo Griguol, La Riojana’s chief winemaker, is thrilled by the International Wine Challenge medal, as well as the recent wine rating in Decanter Magazine: “This is great news for La Riojana. We are very proud of our Finca Federada Fairtrade Malbec Reserva, and very pleased to see it perform so well when tasted against some tough competition. This is a wine that we produce for Direct Wines for both the UK and US market and is one of our best-selling Malbecs.”

The results of the 2012 International Wine Challenge (IWC) were announced during the London International Wine Fair held 22nd to 24th May. The results of Decanter’s Argentinian Malbec panel tasting were published in the June 2012 edition of Decanter Magazine.