A wine from Ribera del Duero named ‘Best Spanish Wine - Vintage 2011’ at Baco Awards

The competition which recognises quality young wines awarded a Baco Grand Gold to ‘López Cristóbal Roble 2011’

06/12/2012

A total of 32 awards were presented to wines from amongst the half a thousand entries taking part

‘López Cristóbal Roble 2011’ a red wine from the bodega of the same name under DO Ribera del Duero, won a Baco Grand Gold, the maximum accolade, in the latest edition of the Baco Awards, held on 6^th June in Madrid. The competition, organised by the Spanish Tasters Association, which is the most long-standing competition of its kind endorsed every year by the Spanish Ministry for Agriculture, Food and the Environment (MAGRAMA), recognises the quality of young wines; one of its idiosyncrasies being that it is open to all types of wines made in the most recent vintage irrespective of origin or style.

The diversity of wines entered in the competition was patently highlighted on the list of Baco Gold medal-winners; ten wines won the coveted award of which only two appellations repeated: Rioja and Rueda. As a result the winning-wines were from: Rioja (‘El Primavera’ from Agrícola Labastida and ‘Colección Privada Félix Azpilicueta Blanco’, from Domecq Bodegas), Rueda (‘Tres Olmos Classic’ from Bodegas Garciarévalo and ‘Blanco Nieva Sauvignon’ from Viñedos Nieva), Costers del Segre (‘Raimat Terra’ from Codorniu), Ribera del Duero (‘Tinto Arroyo Joven’ from Bodegas Arroyo), Jumilla (‘Amatus’ from Bodegas Bleda), Binissalem (‘Macia Batle Tinto’, from the bodega of the same name), Penedès (‘Alsina & Sardá Finca La Boltana’ from Cellers Alsina) and Tierra de León (‘Vivaz’ from Coop. Unión del Valle). Also to the list has to be added the Special Baco Gold for New Brands, which went to ‘Verdejo Vendimia Nocturna’ from Yllera (Rueda).

In the 26th edition of the competition, almost half a million entries from 61 Spanish Geographical Indications of Origin took part and were subject to a strict blind tasting carried out by a total of 60 professional judges from the Spanish Tasters Association. In total 32 awards were presented, including ten Baco Silver Medals and the same number again of Baco Bronze Medals.