LA RIOJANA’S BONARDA WINES TRIUMPH AGAIN

Despite being the year that it was, 2020 saw our co-operative win a host of notable awards in a number of wine competitions, including three Double Gold medals most recently awarded by the Argentine Bonarda Competition 2020 (Concurso Bonarda Argentina).

The Argentine Bonarda competition, now in its seventh year, took place in Mendoza, Argentina at the end of December 2020 where a total of 70 wine entries from Mendoza, La Pampa, Catamarca and La Rioja provinces were judged by 40 wine professionals.

Following on from our Bonarda Gold medal success in previous years, the judges once again recognised the quality of Bonarda being produced in La Rioja province and the full potential of the region’s terroir and awarded three of the four of the 2020 competition’s top Gold Medals to La Riojana. 

The Concurso Bonarda Argentina 2020 awarded three Double Gold (Doble Oro) medals to the following wines from La Riojana:

Raza Argentina Blend Bonarda / Malbec 2017

75 Vendimias Bonarda 2018

Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Bonarda 2018

Chief Winemaker for La Riojana co-operative, Rodolfo Griguol, commented “Our Bonarda wines are characterized by their intense red colour, fruity nose with red, black and dry fruits which stand out. On the palate they are well-structured and smooth which makes them easy to drink and to pair with different dishes, such as roasts, flavourful pasta dishes, cheese and dark chocolate desserts.” 

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).