Judges awarded more trophies and gold medals at this year’s Argentine Wine Awards than in previous years.

An international panel awarded 42 gold medals and 14 trophies to the top wines from the 512 entered for the third annual Awards, held last week at the Septima winery in Mendoza.

The ‘Red Blend between US$20-50’ (£14-35) category was the most hotly contested, with 13 gold medallists vying for the trophy which was awarded to Grand Reserve Pasionado 2004, a Bordeaux-style wine from Andeluna Cellars.

‘I have always been certain that Argentina could produce great red blends, and these Awards have proved it,’ said James Forbes of Wines of Argentina UK.

The trophy for Best Malbec between US$20-$50 went to Vina Federico Villafane 2006, a single vineyard wine from Trapiche, while the top prize for Best Malbec over US$50 went to Dona Silvina Reserva 2006 from Bodegas Krontiras.

No Malbec trophy was awarded for the ‘under US$10’ category, reflecting a generally poor performance across all varieties in the lowest price category.

Argentina’s flagship white, Torrontés, also performed well. Highlights included a trophy each for Bodegas Etchart’s Ayres de Cafayate Torrontés 2008 and Late Harvest Torrontés 2007, and a gold for Crios de Susana Balbo Torrontés 2008.

Written by Sarah Jane Evans MW

Sarah Jane Evans MW
Sarah Jane Evans MW
Decanter Magazine, Wine Writer, DWWA 2019 Co-Chair

Sarah Jane Evans MW is an award-winning journalist who began writing about wine (and food, restaurants, and chocolate) in the 1980s. She started drinking Spanish wine - Sherry, to be specific - as a student of classics and social and political sciences at Cambridge University. This started her lifelong love affair with the country’s wines, food and culture, leading to her appointment as a member of the Gran Orden de Caballeros de Vino for services to Spanish wine. In 2006 she became a Master of Wine, writing her dissertation on Sherry and winning the Robert Mondavi Winery Award. Currently vice-chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine, Evans divides her time between contributing to leading wine magazines and reference books, wine education and judging wines internationally.