South America & South Africa Results Released!

The International Wine & Spirit Competition’s expert judges, along with our award winning operations team have been hard at work sipping, swirling, sniffing and scoring and the final results for South Africa & South America are now available.

The results release comes in conjunction with two major trade tastings – WOSA’s Intrepid South Africa and Wines of Chile’s Mercado Chileno. Intrepid South Africa, taking place at Tobacco Dock in London on 8th September 2016 will put the spotlight on South Africa and focus on their fearless, brave and intrepid nature as a winemaking country. The IWSC will have a table showcasing award winning wines including Silver Outstanding winners KWV Labories MCC Blanc de Blanc 2011, Paul Cluver Seven Flags Pinot Noir 2014 & Rustenberg Stellenbosch Chardonnay 2015.

Mercado Chileno is the largest gathering of Chilean wine producers in the Northern Hemisphere and a celebration of all things Chile, at Old Truman Brewery in London on 13^th September. The IWSC will have a table showcasing award winning wines including Viña Cono Sur Sparkling Brut NV, Santa Carolina Reserva de Familia Carmenere 2013 and Porta Reserva Carmenere 2015.

Chilean Golds were scooped by Viña Undurraga SA for their T.H. Syrah Maipo 2012 and Agricola y Comercial Santa Camila SA for their Terranoble Gran Reserva Carignan 2015, described by judges as ‘Pure, precise fruit wrapped in a charming ripe character’. Gold Outstanding was awarded to Casas del Bosque Syrah Pequeñas Producciones 2014

South African Wine Farms were awarded an astounding 30 Gold medals, and 9 Gold Outstanding. Unusually, of all awarded wines, 24% were Silver Outstanding, 53% Silver and only 18% Bronze. Usually the larger proportion are awarded Bronze medals, highlighting how high the standards are for this set of South African wines.

Highlights include a Gold Outstanding for Hartenberg Shiraz 2013, described by judges as having a ‘jam packed nose with cranberry, dark cherry, ripe plum and rich fruit cake’ and ‘Big and impressive entry’. Diemersfontein Wines also scooped a Gold Outstanding for their Carpe Diem Pinotage Reserve, which judges called ‘elegant and classy’.

Origin Wine, producing a number of the UK supermarket wines, scored very highly at the 2016 Competition. The Morrisons Signature Shiraz, produced by Origin Wine, was awarded Gold, and their Tesco Finest* Shiraz 2015, and Tesco Finest* Sauvignon Blanc 2015 were both awarded Silver Outstanding. Origin also produce the Waitrose FT Merlot 2015, awarded a Silver by IWSC judges. These are just a handful of the outstanding accolades awarded to Origin Wine.

Also being announced today are the Argentine wine results. Highlights from Argentina include Golds for Carmelita Malbec 2013, Pascual Toso Malbec 2015, Viniterra Single Vineyard Malbec 2013 and Cadus Single Vineyard Finca Las Torcazas 2011.

Full results are available online at https://www.iwsc.net/result/search

International trophies such as Chenin Blanc, Riesling, and Red Blends will be announced on the 26th September, and all trophies will be presented at the IWSC Annual Awards Banquet which takes place at London’s Guildhall, on Wednesday 16^th November. For tickets please contact Pip Mortimer pip.mortimer@iwscgroup.com