TILIMUQUI CABERNET SAUVIGNON - BONARDA TAKES GOLD AT DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2013

The moment has come, the results are out and we are celebrating another wonderful win, this time for our Fairtrade certified Tilimuqui Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon – Bonarda 2012 which has won a Gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2013.

This is an impressive result considering the number of entries to this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards included a record-breaking 14,362 wines from 52 countries, of which only 229 wines were awarded a Gold medal and only 8 of these Gold medals were awarded to Argentina.

Walter Carol, export director commented: “We are extremely pleased with this Gold medal. This is not only good news for our Tilimuqui brand, which continues to win top awards on a regular basis, but also it also confirms the quality of our Fairtrade wines.”

Other medals won by La Riojana in the Decanter World Wines Awards 2013 include a Bronze medal for its Tilimuqui Single Vineyard Torrontés 2012 and Commended for its Ecologica Shiraz-Malbec Reserve 2012.

CAMBALACHE TIME FOR LA RIOJANA – A UNIQUE WINE EVENT IN NORTHEAST LONDON

La Riojana, the world’s largest producer of Fairtrade-organic certified wines, is participating in an exciting new wine tasting event which has been organized by Wines of Argentina at a

Cambalache is not a typical trestle-table, tweed and tedium, slurping and spitting event, instead it has been designed to invoke all the senses and to give an all-round, immersive experience of Argentina, a country known for its passion, complexity and contradiction. The word Cambalache is engrained in Tango history, and is used to describe something that is chaotic, haphazard, filled with contrast and is above all exciting – reflecting both the heart and soul of Argentina.

La Riojana is one of 23 top Argentine wineries to participate in the event and will be offering the 700 guests a chance to sample a selection of its wines available to buy in the UK off trade, including its award-winning Tilimuqui range (Torrontés and Cabernet Sauvignon-Bonarda) and a selection of wines that it produces for The Co-operative’s own-label Fairtrade range (Torrontés-Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Bonarda-Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec).

In addition to tasting wines, visitors to Cambalache will have the chance to try the offbeat art of matching wine with music (hosted by eminent professors Barry Smith and Charles Spence); sample true Buenos Aires street food (courtesy of Borough Market’s Argentine specialists Porteña) as well as the famous Dulce de Leche ice cream (from specialists The Ice Cream Union); experience the spirit of the 40’s with historic cocktails from Galante Bar; witness three of Argentina’s most talented and cutting edge graffiti artists live in action painting a giant mural; learn Argentine slang with James Bracken, author of the cult book Che Boludo; dance Nuevo Tango; meet true Gauchos and soak up the spirit of bohemian Argentine literature

LA RIOJANA LAUNCHES FAIRTRADE MOSCATO AND MALBEC ROSÉ AT PROWEIN 2013

Building on the back of one the winery’s best year’s yet, which saw double digit growth of exports into Europe in 2012, La Riojana will be launching three new Fairtrade products on its stand A14, hall 1 at this year’s ProWein (24th – 26th March 2013), including two wines from La Mia Vita, a newly created low alcohol Moscato range, as well as a Malbec Rosé for its award-winning Tilimuqui range.

With the rapidly rising popularity of Moscato wines among consumers and the current trend for slightly sweeter wines that are lower in alcohol, La Riojana has created La Mia Vita, a brand new Fairtrade Moscato range to add to its portfolio of wines. La Mia Vita comprises a Moscato Bianco 2012 and a Moscato Rosado 2012, made from 94% Moscato and 6% Malbec grapes. Both wines are just 5.5% alcohol and are produced from hand-picked grapes grown in Argentina’s Famatina Valley.

In addition to this, La RIojana will be launching its Tilimuqui Single Vineyard Fairtrade Malbec Rosé 2012. This wine, produced from 100% Malbec, has been created as a range extension to La Riojana’s successful Fairtrade certified brand Tilimuqui, which since its initial launch in 2006 has gone onto win a number of impressive awards, including the much coveted Torrontés trophy at the Argentina Wine Awards 2011. Current markets for Tilimuqui include the UK and The Netherlands, however there are plans to roll out the brand to other markets in the next few years. 

On the same stand La Riojana will also be showcasing the latest vintage releases from its other wine ranges, including Ecologica, Raza Argentina, Raza Dolce, Raza Argentina Signature Series and Viňas Riojanas.

LA RIOJANA TAKES PART IN UNIQUE WINE TASTING AT THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT

La Riojana, one of Argentina’s top three wine exporters to the UK, was delighted to take part in a rather unique wine tasting held in the Jubilee Room within the Houses of Parliament on Monday 21st January 2013. The event itself, which united Britain and Argentina as well as politicians from all political parties under one roof, was organised by Robin Walker MP, Chair of the British-Argentine All-Party Parliamentary Group, together with the Argentine Embassy in the UK.

La Riojana was one of four Argentine wineries that participated in the tasting and used the opportunity to showcase its award-winning Torrontés and Cabernet Bonarda blend from its celebrated Fairtrade Organic wine range Tilimuqui, as well as its Torrontés and Malbec from its premium range Raza Signature Series.

The event was a resounding success and was very well attended by many high profile guests, including the Ambassador of Argentina in the UK, her Excellency Alicia Castro, Robin Walker MP, The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein who is President of the British-Argentine All-Party Parliamentary Group and Baroness Hooper, Chair of the British-Latin America All-Party Parliamentary Group, as well as Members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords.

Ambassador Castro’s speech referred to wine as the symbol of unity and friendship that offers an opportunity to improve relationships, highlighting that Argentine wine exports to the UK have increased 50% over the last 10 years, and that the UK has now become the fourth most important destination for Argentina, after the United States, Canada and Brazil.  Her Excellency also pointed out that Argentina is the fifth largest wine producer in the world, with a total of 220 thousand hectares of vineyards and an annual production of 14 million hectolitres of wine. 

Andrew Maidment, UK director for Wines of Argentina, commented: “It was a pleasure to attend this event - one that clearly recognized the importance of Argentina’s wine exports to the UK.”