On the first day of the Fair, everyone was curious to know the competitions’ results. Importers, retailers and producers were keen to see if their wines scored a medal and to discover new champions. The booths of the International Wine Challenge, the International Wine and Spirits Competition and Decanter were crowded with people that wanted to see the winners and taste some of them.
Italian wines got twenty-one gold medals from The International Wine and Spirits Competition, coming third with Germany after France and Spain. Ten Gold medals went to Tuscan wines (for the majority Chianti e Brunello) but very complimentary comments went to the Villa Vallemaggiore Corte Alta 2008, a Maremma Toscana IGT of Tenuta di Vicchiomaggio, and the SorUgo Bolgheri Doc 2006 di Aia Vecchia. One the best deal around is probably the TerreDaVino Barolo DOCG 2006, a Best in Class Gold Medal that was called a “textbook” Barolo and that comes with a very reasonable price tag (slightly less than $ 20)
The International Wine and Spirits Competition, for its open tasting at the Fair, made a selection among the Gold winners. Among the fourteen wines, for the majority French, two were the Italians: a Brunello (Castello Banfi Poggio all’Oro 2004) and an Amarone della Valpolicella (F.lli Farina 2006).
The International Wine Challenge, that calls his awards the Oscars of the wine world, awarded a total of 394 medals to Italy (third after Australia and the eternal first, France). Italy has twenty-three gold medals (wines that score 95 – 100) of which the Amarone della Valpolicella got the major number (4) against two Brunelli and two Barolos. And while some gold medals were not a surprise like the Super Tuscan Fontalloro 2006 there were some hidden gems like Yume Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2007 which had the lowest price tag (around eight dollars).
Decanter Wine Awards, organized by Decanter, the leading UK wine magazine, is another large wine competition with more than 10,000 entries. This year Italy got twenty-one gold medals, with six wines from Tuscany (Chianti Classico but not Brunello) and seven for the Veneto (Amarone e Recioto). No surprise here, besides the unusual Albana di Romagna (Vigneti Galassi Secco 2009)
And a Salice Salentino Riserva (Paolo Leo 2006) both with a price tags of less than 16 dollars.
At his stand Decanter displayed a selection of the winners like the Roncolato Carnera Amarone della Valpolicella 2006 that got a special accolade as Regional Trophy, or the Cantina Pieve Vecchia, Pieve dei Monaci 2007 that got a Silver medal and a really low price tag (around $ 8)
But if there was a constant between the three competitions was the common praise for the Amarone della Valpolicella that got more gold medals than any other Italian wine.
In addition to the three competitions, the Top 100 (wines of the world) were chosen by the Wine Gang, a team of five very well known and respected British wine journalists. To celebrate the 30Th anniversary of the London International Wine Fair, the Wine Gang was asked to choose thirty champagnes/sparkling wines and seventy regional ambassadors, wines that display strong varietal character and terroir and which are highly evocative of their region of origin. The Top 100 wines were available for tasting around the clock at the Fair. The Wine Gang choose for the top 100, four Italian sparkling wines, two of them prosecco the Adria Vini and the Bisol Jeio and ten still.
The Italian whites chosen were from Alto Adige and both from Alois Lageder : the Gewurztraminer 2008 and the Benefizium Porer Pinot Grigio 2008. For the reds, The Wine Gang must have been very impressed by the Verona area as three of the eight red wines were Veronese wines: two Valpolicella Ripasso (Corte Giara 2008 and Alpha Zeta “R” 2008) and one Rosso del Veronese IGT (Ca del Pipa Corvina 2005).
Then there were two Chianti Classico, Fontodi 2006 and Isole e Olena 2006 a Tuscan (Tenuta di Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano 2007) as well a Barbera D’Asti Superiore (Tenuta Olim Bauda 2006) and a Sicilia IGT, Donnafugata Sherazade 2009.
The Top 100 list was particularly interesting as the wines chosen were for the majority very reasonably priced between 10-20 dollars.
Besides the competitions the London International Wine Fair was an interesting experience. Though smaller than Vinitaly, the wine Fair in Verona or VinExpo in Bordeaux the LIWF attracts a good amount of trade visitors, press and exhibitors from all over the world. This year’s novelties were the wines from India. The traditional wine producing countries like Spain and France and Australia had big pavilions and there was a visible presence of the up and coming countries like South Africa, Croatia, and some more Eastern Countries. The Fair was also Jam packed with seminars and tastings
Under the Italian Trade Commission flag, several Italian regions were present with their own group of producers that came with the hope to gain new business or to cultivate current relationship.
Sicily was there and actually paired the presence at the Fair with “Fish and Wine” a weeklong promotion of Sicilian wines and fish products in premier London restaurants.
Friuli had ongoing programs of tasting of the Friulano (the so renamed Tocai), the excellent Sauvignon Blanc, as well as the sweet Picolit and Ramandolo accompanied by tradition products from Friuli, like the Montasio cheese and the Prosciutto San Daniele.
The Veneto, that is one of the largest Italian wine producing regions, showcased his range of wines from the popular Prosecco, one of fastest growing Italian wines in the world, to the deeply respected Amarone.
Also the Campania showed his good collection of Fiano di Avellino, Greco di Tufo and Taurasi.
And for the Italian producers, the majority seemed happy enough as they went back home with some medals and some orders too.
Irene de Gasparis
