This year’s Wines of Chile Awards was for the first time dominated by American judges:
Joshua Greene – Editor of Wine & Spirits magazine
Bob Paulinski MW – buyer for Sam's Club
Dr Jay Miller – wine critic for Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
Bruce Schoenfeld – Wine Editor for Travel & Leisure magazine
Mary Ewing-Mulligan MW – Wine educator and author
Josh Raynolds – Editor of International Wine Cellar
Michael Schrachner – Journalist and contributor to Wine Enthusiast
Ed McCarthy – Wine educator, author, and wine consultant
Darrin Siegfried – President of US Association of Sommeliers
See my account of the first Wines of Chile Awards in which all the judges but two were British – perhaps because the awards were dreamt up by Wines of Chile’s many in the UK, Michael Cox.
This year the overall winner of the Awards was for the first time a white wine, Casas del Bosque Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2006 Casablanca Valley from a family-owned winery in Casablanca with wines made by David Morrison who has very broad international winemaking experience.
Previous winners were, in 2004 Alvaro Espinoza’s organic VOE Coyam 2001 Colchagua (slightly unfortunate as Alvaro was a judge that year), in 2005 Viña Falernia Alto Tierra Syrah 2004 Elqui and in 2006 Viña Matetic EQ Syrah 2004 San Antonio.
To see a list of the medal winners in full – in Excel spreadsheet form, Philip Harden! – click here (and then click on DOWNLOAD).
As far as I can see, these Awards have had a thoroughly beneficial effect on the range and quality of wines produced in Chile and I’m looking forward to participating in the rather similar first annual Wines of Argentina Awards in Mendoza next month, not having visited South America (unlike Julia) since 2002.