Richmond Plains has won the Trophy for the best Sauvignon Blanc at the 2012 Sydney International Wine Competition.
Richmond Plains Sauvignon Blanc 2011 from Nelson was awarded the Trophy ahead of other top gold medal winning wines from around the world. This is also the first New Zealand organic and biodynamic wine to be awarded this major honour at this show.
“We were very excited to be awarded a Gold Medal and to be selected as one of the top 100 entrants to this show (which is limited to 2000 entries from around the world) as well as being awarded a Blue Gold for excellence in food and wine matching. Wining the Trophy is certainly the icing on the cake” said owner Lars Jensen.
The Sydney Show differs from many as it not only awards the best tasting wines, they are also judged to find out which wines best match food. The Blue Gold is awarded for food matching. The Richmond Plains Sauvignon Blanc was paired with Celebrity Chef Michael Manner’s goats curd tartlet with asparagus and herbs.
This is the second International Trophy in a row for consecutive Sauvignon Blanc vintages awarded to Richmond Plains. Its 2010 Sauvignon Blanc was awarded the Trophy for Best of Show Organic & Biodynamic wine at the Hong Kong International Wine Challenge in 2011.
“We are thrilled to win this trophy for our wine and it is wonderful recognition for all the hard work the team puts into making our wine” said winemaker Steve Gill. “We strive hard to work With Nature in our organic and biodynamic vineyards to produce balanced wines that not only taste great but are good for you and the environment”
Established in 1991 and exclusively organic since inception, this small family vineyard in Nelson is an organic and biodynamic specialist – the first New Zealand winery to achieve both certifications. Richmond Plains produced New Zealand’s first ever Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Blanc de Noir from certified organic and biodynamic grapes.
Why let San Francisco have all the fun? The Punchdown, started by partners Lisa Costa and D.C. Looney, features organic, biodynamic and natural wines. From their website:
There is no regulation or certifications for “natural wine”. In fact, many of our purveyors are breaking the rules, regulations, and laws of their respective regions by choosing to make wine in this natural way. At the end of the day, we like our producers to make wines that have an interesting story and taste – reflecting a sense of place called “terroir”.
Terre de Vins magazine just published their list of the top 20 organic wines from the Languedoc tasting and the top wine was the Virgile – IGP Herault, Domaine Virgile Joly 2005. Wines from Château de Caraguilhes, Domaine de Cazaban, Domaine Borie La Vitarèle and Château La Baronne rounded out the top 5. Here is the complete list.
Organics and screwcaps could be the way forward for Chateau Margaux, according to new research by the Bordeaux first growth.
The estate’s managing director and winemaker, Paul Pontallier, claimed that organic farming was the future direction for Margaux. ‘We are very close to organic farming. I think it’s a matter of a couple of years,’ he said at a London seminar.
Pontallier presented 16 wines at the event, including wines produced using alternative farming methods.
The organic and biodynamic examples rated more highly than those conventionally farmed among trade members.
In addition to the main Return To Terroir tasting on February 27th, there will be a number of dinners and events with the winemakers:
Wednesday, February 22nd
Mas La Grillade, 7:00 PM: Abbatucci Wine Dinner featuring Jean-Charles Abbatucci of Domaine Abbatucci; 6-course tasting menu paired with Abbatucci wines (reservations required, enriqueipo@me.com ; ipowines.com/blog/)
Saturday, February 25th
Zachys (Scarsdale), 12-4 PM: Vive la France! Meet Jean-Michel Deiss and Jean Charles Abbatucci as they take you on a tasting tour of France (open to public)
Appellation Wine & Spirits, 4-7 PM: Tasting with Fred Niger of Domaine Guy Bossard (open to public)
Sunday, February 26th
Astor Center, 2-3:30 PM: Meet the Winemaker – Nicolas Joly ($49/pp, registration required, www.astorcenternyc.com)
Corkbuzz Wine Studio, 4-5:30 PM: Organic & Biodynamic Wine Class with Nicolas Joly & Christophe Ehrhart ($40/pp, registration required, www.corkbuzz.com)
Appellation Wine & Spirits, 4-7 PM: Tasting with Pierre Breton of Domaine Breton (open to public)
Monday, February 27th
Rouge Tomate, 8PM: Intimate 4-course dinner with winemakers, who will be presenting and pouring a selection of their wines, featuring Nicolas Joly, Christophe Ehrhart, Emmanuel Giboulot, Ales Kristancic, David Leclapart, Pierre Breton and Stephane Tissot ($195/pp, reservations required, 646-237-8977)
Appellation Wine & Spirits, 5-8 PM: Tasting with Marie Zusslin of Valentin Zusslin (open to public)
Tuesday, February 28th
Appellation Wine & Spirits, 5:30-8:30 PM: Tasting with Blandine Jequier of Mas Foulaquier and Christophe Ehrhart of Josmeyer (open to public)
FIVE is celebrating its 3rd International Organic Wine Fair, which promises to be one of the major vinicultural events of the coming spring. On the 17th and 18th of April wineries from Spain, Portugal and Southwest France will present their organic wines to specialists and professionals from the trade. The event, which aims to be the showcase for organic wines in the Iberian peninsula, will present top-quality wines, some of them produced from native vines seldom used in the commercial production of wine. Highlighting its international flavour, the fair aims to increase the number of participating countries, both buyers and visitors. In this year’s fair, not only will there be importers present from 13 traditional countries, it is also hoped to attract buyers from emerging countries such as Brazil and Mexico.
Last year some fifty organic wineries from Spain, Portugal and Southwest France used FIVE to exhibit their products to buyers from almost 20 countries. The fair also boasted a large selection of buyers from Spain.
FIVE is a professional fair, aimed at the different sectors of the wine trade. It is organised by organic wineries which are members of AEN (Association of Organic Agricultural Businesses of Navarre – Spain). The fair aims to be a showcase for regional wines, from an area with a great wine-producing tradition and a wealth of varieties and production techniques.
On previous occasions visitors have encountered wines of character with differentiated tastes and fragrances. Some are produced from native vines not usually used in commercial production, others are biodynamic and ‘natural’ wines.
On organic wine-production in Spain
The production of organic wine in Spain has shown signs of constant growth. The number of organic wineries has increased considerably: 408 from 2009, to 456 last year. Catalonia is the region which has seen the biggest increase in production, going from 86 to 108 organic wineries in the same period. The quality of these wines has also been a feature; many have won prizes in conventional wine-tasting competitions, as is the case of Lezaun and Aroa wineries (both from Navarre).
This 3rd FIVE fair is committed to promoting the best of organic wine in both the international and national markets. The fair will take place on April 17th and 18th in the Puerta del Camino Hotel in Pamplona and will join up once again with the National Organic Wines Competition in Estella. On the second day, the fair will hold a wine- tasting open to the public. The wines will be accompanied by traditional snacks, also organic, known as ‘tapas’.
Spain has emerged as the leader in the world’s largest organic wine competition, winning 50 medals, followed by Germany and France.
About 600 wines were entered in the 3rd annual Mundus Vini BioFach International Organic Wine Award, which were sampled over a two-day blind tasting session by a jury of international wine experts.
While Spain won 50 medals in total, Germany followed close behind with 47, followed by France which won 39 medals, and Italy which won 38.
Meanwhile, Australia also pulled off a strong performance, as two Aussie Shiraz labels were awarded the “Special Gold” award, for being the most impressive among judges.
Here is an interview with Karim Hadjadj, a co-owner of La Cabane à Vin which sells organic, biodynamic and natural wine in Hong Kong. Interview conducted by Now TV.
