GOLD MEDAL WIN AT SÉLECTIONS MONDIALES DES VINS CANADA 2020

La Riojana is celebrating its latest triumph after winning two top medals at the largest international wine competition in North America, Sélections Mondiales des Vins, which took place in Quebec City, Canada during 18th to 22nd November 2020.

Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada, which is held each year in the province of Quebec and now in its 27th year, saw a 38% increase in the number of wines registered for this year’s competition, with over 2100 wines participating from 33 countries, 55% of which were red wines. 

A total of 620 wines, representing 29% of the entries, won Grand Gold, Gold or Silver medals, 16 wines of which were Gold Medal winners from Argentina. Winning a Gold Medal and being awarded 90 Points is indeed impressive recognition for the RAZA Gran Reserva Malbec 2015.

Currently RAZA is available on the shelves of four different government stores including the New Brunswick Liquor Corporation (ABNL); Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC); Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL) and Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC). 

Ecologica Fairtrade Organic Syrah Malbec 2019 won a Silver Medal and was awarded 89 points. This is a great accolade considering only 3 wines from Argentina won Silver Medals. Currently this brand is only available in Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries (MBLL). 

Martin Palacio, La Riojana’s Export Manager for Canada, commented “We are delighted with our Gold and Silver medals. Canada is currently the world’s seventh largest wine importer (by volume) and is an important market for us. The fact that the country’s wine market is controlled by Liquor Boards in the majority of provinces means it is difficult to stand out on the crowded shelves. Having award-winning wines are a great way to showcase your quality and give consumers added confidence that the styles are perfect for the marketplace.”

TOP MEDALS FOR CO-OP FAIRTRADE DUAL VARIETALS

Despite the challenges set in 2020 by the world pandemic, the host of medals won this year in international wine competitions has certainly given La Riojana reason to celebrate, including two Silver Medals awarded to the red and white dual varietals we produce for the UK’s largest Fairtrade retailer, The Co-op.

“We are particularly pleased about these two medals,” comments Nick Day, Europe Sales Director for La Riojana “not only because both blends are amongst our top sellers, but these medals clearly show two Fairtrade wines, which currently retail under £6 per bottle, delivering fantastic value for money for the consumer.”

Decanter World Wine Awards 2020 awarded the Co-op Fairtrade Torrontés Chardonnay 2019 a Silver Medal and 90 points (results announced 22nd September 2020). This wine was described by DWWA as “Perfumed with notes of yellow fruits, wildflowers, honey and citrus. On the palate it is vivacious with beautiful underpinning freshness.”  

All the Torrontés we produce is made with the Torrontés Riojano grape variety, which itself is particularly well suited to La Rioja’s climate, producing wines with a distinctive, fresh, fruity aromatic and friendly character. 

More recently the International Wine Challenge 2020 Tranche 2 awarded the Co-op Fairtrade Bonarda Malbec 2019 a Silver Medal and 90 points (results announced 26th November 2020). This wine was described by the IWC as “Fragrant, delicate nose with coffee, wild strawberry and violets, generous and creamy on the long finish.”

In Argentina the Bonarda grape, characterized by its deep colour, is the second most cultivated red variety after Malbec. Its popularity has grown in La Rioja province over the last few years as it adapts well to hot regions. We have found at La Riojana that it also blends very well with Malbec.

TILIMUQUI FAIRTRADE MALBEC SCORES A HAT TRICK

2020 has really been a super year for La Riojana’s Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Malbec, winning a hat trick of medals in three of the world’s largest and most well-known wine competitions, as well as the much-coveted IWC Fairtrade Wine Award 2020. 

Being awarded top medals at three prestigious wine competitions, all of which were attended by some of the world’s finest wine judges, is itself no mean feat. The medals themselves are not only testament to the consistent quality of the award-winning Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Malbec but also to the high standard of Fairtrade wine being produced by La Riojana. 

However, this is not the only hat trick being celebrated by La Riojana co-operative. The most recent IWC Fairtrade Award makes it the third time that La Riojana has won this award in the last 7 years, with 2020 being the second year in a row after winning the same award for the Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Organic Malbec in 2019. According to Nick Day, Europe Sales Director for La Riojana, “The fact that La Riojana has won the IWC Fairtrade Award three times really helps reaffirm the level of quality of our Fairtrade wines and interestingly all three IWC Fairtrade Awards have been for our Fairtrade Malbec, making it yet another hat trick.”

Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Malbec 2019 won the IWC Fairtrade Award 2020 and a Silver Medal at the International Wine Challenge 2020 Tranche 2 (results announced 26th November 2020). It also won a Bronze medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition 2020 (results announced 5th October 2020) and a Bronze medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2020 (results announced 22nd September 2020).

MEDAL SUCCESS AT DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2020

After what has been a challenging year for the global wine industry in dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, La Riojana is delighted to be celebrating its eleven medals won at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2020, the results for which were announced on 22nd September 2020. 

La Riojana’s top competition medal went to its ever-popular blend Co-op Fairtrade Torrontés-Chardonnay 2019, which was awarded a Silver Medal and 90 points. 

La Riojana also won four Bronze medals for its Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Malbec 2019 (87 points - available in Waitrose, UK); Co-op Fairtrade Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 (88 points), Co-op Fairtrade Bonarda-Malbec 2019 (87 points) and Ecologica Fairtrade Organic Shiraz-Malbec 2019 (87 points).

In addition to this, La Riojana won six Commended medals for its Raza Reserve Fairtrade Shiras-Malbec 2019 (84 points); Raza Reserve Fairtrade Torrontés-Chardonnay 2019 (83 points); Raza Selection Malbec-Shiraz 2016 (85 points); Ecologica Fairtrade Organic Torrontés-Chardonnay 2019 (85 points); Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Organic Malbec 2018 (83 points) and Co-op Fairtrade Merlot 2019 (84 points).

The judging for the Decanter World Wine Awards, now in its 17th year, was held, whilst adhering to strict Covid safety guidelines and through socially distanced judging, over four consecutive weeks in August 2020. During which time, 116 expert wine judges tasted over 16,500 wines from 56 countries. South America won a total of 774 medals, with Argentina winning 383 medals, confirming its position as one of South America’s leading winemaking nations.