新闻 - 11.02.11
The Best Sommeliers in the World Will Be Present at the Argentina Wine Awards
As every year, the wine contest will be honored with the presence of a world-class panel of judges. They will be evaluating 720 wines which were registered in record time.
The fifth edition of the Argentina Wine Awards, organized by Wines of Argentina and the Argentine Wine Corporation (COVIAR), will take place from February 21 to 25, 2011. This is the most important Argentine competition for export wines, bringing together the most prestigious wine experts in the world, and attracting international attention to wines in this country year after year.
The main purpose of this competition is to promote Argentine wines around the world and contribute to make award-winning wines gain international prestige. On this occasion, the judging panel will be integrated exclusively by the world’s most prestigious sommeliers.
The event will consist of three activities taking place over the course of five days: a blind tasting session of Argentine wines by a world-renowned panel of judges (February 21, 22, 23 and 24), a seminar where the judges will evaluate the quality of wines that are now successfully sold in different key markets and make recommendations to the participants (February 25), and an award ceremony and cocktail reception, where the most highly regarded personalities in the wine industry will meet to honor the award-winning wineries (in the evening of February 25 at Finca Sophenia winery).
As a result of the keen interest Argentine wineries have shown in this competition, the maximum quota of samples set by the organizing committee was quickly filled in December, shortly after registration was opened. This edition will evaluate 720 Argentine wines.
Judges of the AWA’s Fifth Edition and Seminar Speakers
This edition, called “World’s Best Sommeliers,” will gather the most prestigious sommeliers in the world. The sommelier theme was chosen not only to highlight the importance of the on-trade for the marketing of Argentine wines in their main markets, but also because of the key role that sommeliers play in the direct communication with consumers.
Based on the strong belief that the future of the wine industry depends on imparting more knowledge to consumers and enriching their wine drinking experiences, the organizers (Wines of Argentina and the Argentine Wine Corporation) think that sommeliers are key to the fulfillment of these objectives.
The panel of judges will be formed by an international group of extremely knowledgeable specialists, with a high level of technical training and an unbiased view of the international wine market – all of them worthy of such highly regarded world-class competition. The international judges will be joined by six prestigious experts from Argentina.
Seminar on Successful Wines and Styles 2011: “World’s Best Sommeliers”
The seminar “Successful Wines & Styles 2011: Cabernet Sauvignon and Aromatic Whites that Compete with Torrontés” will be held on Friday February 25, from 8:30 to 1:30, at the Sheraton Mendoza Hotel.
The international judges invited by Wines of Argentina will present wines that have succeeded in the world and can compete with Argentine wines. Attendees will be able to taste these wines, which were selected by the guest speakers and especially brought to the seminar from all around the world. Towards the end of the seminar there will be a question and answer session involving the international judges. Nearly 400 people from wineries from all over Argentina are expected to attend.
In this way, this select group of the world’s most prestigious sommeliers will educate attendees by sharing with them their knowledge and opinions on wine styles, winemaking techniques and marketing approaches.
For the selection of the judges, the organizing committee (Wines of Argentina and the Argentine Wine Corporation) relied on the invaluable collaboration of Andrés Rosberg, president of the Argentine Association of Sommeliers (AAS).
Guest Sommeliers and Wines to Be Presented
1- Gilherme Correa from Brazil
Wine: De Martino Cabernet Sauvignon Legado Reserva
Winery: De Martino
Origin: Maipo, Chile
Retail price: USD 36
Vintage: 2007
2- Élyse Lambert from Canada
Wine: J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: J. Lohr
Origin: California, USA
Retail price: USD 20
Vintage: 2008
3- Roger Dagorn from the USA
Wine: Honig Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Honig
Origin: Napa Valley, USA
Retail price: USD 30
Vintage: 2006
4- Gerard Basset from the UK
Wine: Katnook Founder’s Block Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Katnook Estate
Origin: Coonawarra, Australia
Retail price: USD 17
Vintage: 2008
5- Sören Polonius from Sweden
Wine: Rust en Vrede Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Rust en Vrede
Origin: Stellenbosch, South Africa
Retail price: USD 21
Vintage: 2008
6- Hans Qu from China
Wine: Domaine Helan Mountain Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Winery: Helan Mountain
Origin: DongLu, NingXia, China
Retail price: USD 29
Vintage: 2008
7- Andrés Rosberg from Argentina
Wine: Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio Valdadige DOC
Winery: Santa Margherita
Origin: Trentino, Alto Adige, Italy
Retail price: USD 20
Vintage: 2009
8- Isa Bal from the UK
Wine: Sancerre Les Perriers Sauvignon Blanc
Winery: André Vatan
Origin: Loire Valley, France
Retail price: USD 18
Vintage: 2009
9- Marcos Flores Tlalpan from Mexico
Wine: Château Ste. Michelle Gewürztraminer
Winery: Chateau Ste. Michelle
Origin: Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA
Retail price: USD 10
Vintage: 2007
10- Totte Steneby from Sweden
Wine: Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc
Winery: Stoneleigh
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Retail price: USD 15
Vintage: 2010
11 - Paolo Basso from Sweden
He will attend the tasting but will not present any wines.
12- Göran Klintberg from Sweden
He will attend the tasting but will not present any wines.
Some Information on the AWA
The AWA has been held every year since 2007. With the participation of the members of the judging panel and the “Successful Wines and Styles” seminar, this event aims to promote Argentine wine exports to key markets. Every year the AWA brings together the most important judges in the world to participate in the panel. Personalities like Jancis Robinson, Oz Clark, Andrea Robinson, Tim Atkin, Peter McCombie, Madeleine Stenwreth and Dirceau Junior Vianna have participated in previous AWA events.
The AWA is an iconic event that gives local wineries the chance to showcase Argentina’s high quality wines to the world. The 2010 edition saw a record participation of 650 samples submitted by 134 wineries. The competition produced 18 Trophies (Great Gold Medals), 30 gold medals, 182 silver medals and 260 bronze medals.
During the first edition, 400 samples were evaluated. The second edition received 490 samples, which went up to 512 on the third edition. Large, medium and boutique wineries from all over the country have participated.