Italy is third this year in terms of total medals gained at IWC a wine competition which involves the most of the countries all over the world.

We have the final results given by the 2 tranches foreseen by this competition in 2 different periods of the year to give to all the producers the possibility to send their samples  when the wines are truly ready. A very well organized competition if we think that are involved thousands and thousands wines. Here are my impressions from the inside!

The atmosphere is relaxing also thanks to the music: this year I have appreciated the songs of the Italian artist Conte such as “Via con me (It’s wonderful)”! Anyway the most important think is the meticulous process which allows each wine to be tasted more than once and by different tasting panels before being rewarded or rejected as stated also by Tim Atkin MW, one of the (only) 5 Chairmen; about the italian production he says: “Italy has such a richness in terms of native grapes, it should better invest into communication to avoid the confusion that it could create in the mind of the consumers”. (follow me to discover the full interview to Tim).

But what about the results? As usually there are some surprises: Andorra Principality and Lebanon got they first gold medal at this competition; China gets even 3 gold medals with international grapes. Georgia gets an important result as it has been rewarded with gold for a native grape (Saperavi). Nothing new for France which is again the first country for number of medals especially thanks to Champagne this time. And then Australia, its wines are a confirmation year by year as well as for Spain, Portugal, New Zeland and USA thanks to California. Argentinian Malbec exceeds any expectation such as Chile which starts to get medals with white wines too.

Italy registers a very good result: 682 medals, 28 gold, 218 silver and 436 bronze ones! Red wines win over the white ones (23 gold medals out of 28) thanks to Tuscany and Veneto as well as some reds from Piemonte: Barolo e Barbera. But the less known regions, here in Londra, such as Trentino-Alto Adige, Campania, Sicilia and Sardegna have gained a good position. Campania region wins 3 gold medals thanks to its red Aglianico. It is also interesting the medal got by the native Cagnulari from Sardinia such as the red Marzemino from Trentino Alto Adige and the white Pecorino from Marche!

But “less-known” regions as defined by Charles Metcalfe, Co-Chairman, are still very little. According to those experts Italian producers should get together to better promote the single regions which make Italy unique in the wine world.

Please find here the most important results.

ITALIAN GOLD MEDALS:

1. Omaggio a Gillo Dorfles, 2012 byAzienda Agricola San Salvatore,  Campania (grapes: Aglianico)
2. Opera Mia Taurasi, 2010 by Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, Campania, (grapes: Aglianico)
3. Taurasi Campore, 2007 by Terredora Di Paolo, Campania, Italy (grapes: Aglianico)
4. The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Fiano, 2014 by La Guardiense, Campania (grapes: Fiano)
5. Bàcco Isola dei Nuraghi Cagnulari, 2014 by Società Agricola Siddura, Sardegna (grapes: Cagnulari)
6. Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva Famiglia Pasqua, 2006 by Pasqua Vigneti E Cantine, Veneto (grapes: Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta)
7. Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, 2012 by  ETTORE RIGHETTI, Veneto, (grapes: Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina)
8. Brunello di Montalcino “Orbitali”, 2010 by Sensi Vigne E Vini, Toscana (grapes: Sangiovese Grosso)
9. Brunello Di Montalcino La Togata, 2011 by La Togata Sas, Toscana (grapes: Sangiovese Grosso)
10. Al Hamen, 2014 by Feudo Ramaddini, Sicilia (grapes: Moscato Bianco)
11. Barolo, 2011 by Pio Cesare, Piemonte (grapes: Nebbiolo)
12. Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Domini Veneti, 2012 by Cantina Valpolicella Negrar, Veneto (grapes: Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella)
13. Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vi Veje, 2012 by Poderi Elia, Piemonte (grapes: Barbera)
14. Barolo, 2012 by Fontanafredda, Piemonte (grapes: Nebbiolo)
15. Marks & Spencer Da Vinci Vin Santo, 2008 by Cantine Leonardo da Vinci, Toscana (grapes: Trebbiano)
16. Reve Pecorino Offida, 2014 by Velenosi, Marche (grapes: Pecorino)
17. La Rocca, 2013 di Pieropan Leonildo, Veneto (grapes: Garganega)
18. Marcello Ariola, NV di Ariola Vigne E Vini, Emilia Romagna (grapes: Lambrusco Maestri)
19. Rocca Alata Amarone della Valpolicella, 2013 by Cantina Di Soave, Veneto (grapes: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara)
20. Rocca Alata Valpolicella Ripasso, 2014 by Cantina Di Soave, Veneto (grapes: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara)
21. Cantina di Montalcino Brunello by Montalcino, 2011 di Cantina di Montalcino, Toscana (grapes: Sangiovese Grosso)
22. Terraria, 2011 by villa pinciana, Toscana (grapes: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot)
23. Seconda Stella A Destra, 2011 by Vini Italiani Da Sogno, Toscana (grapes: Sangiovese Grosso)
24. Rocca Sveva Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore, 2013 by Cantina Di Soave, Veneto (grapes: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara)
25. Tenute Orestiadi Nero d’Avola, 2014 by Cantine Ermes Soc. Coop., Sicilia (grapes: Nero D’avola)
26. Sondraia, 2012 by Poggio Al Tesoro, Toscana (grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc)
27. Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso, 2012 by Corte San Benedetto, Veneto (grapes: Corvina, Corvinone)
28. Mezzacorona Marzemino, 2014 by Mezzacorona, Trentino-Alto Adige (grapes: Marzemino)

ITALIAN TROPHIES (The reward open to gold medals only)

1. Opera Mia Taurasi, 2010 by  Tenuta Cavalier Pepe, Campania, (grapes: Aglianico)
2. The Co-operative Truly Irresistible Fiano, 2014 by La Guardiense, Campania (grapes: Fiano)
3. Bàcco Isola dei Nuraghi Cagnulari, 2014 by Società Agricola Siddura, Sardegna (grapes: Cagnulari)
4. Amarone della Valpolicella Riserva Famiglia Pasqua, 2006 by Pasqua Vigneti E Cantine, Veneto (grapes: Corvina, Rondinella, Oseleta)
5. Barbera d’Alba Superiore Vi Veje, 2012 by Poderi Elia, Piemonte (grapes: Barbera)
6. Reve Pecorino Offida, 2014 by i Velenosi, Marche (grapes: Pecorino)
7. La Rocca, 2013 by Pieropan Leonildo, Veneto (grapes: Garganega)
8. Marcello Ariola, NV by Ariola Vigne E Vini, Emilia Romagna (grapes: Lambrusco Maestri)
9. Tenute Orestiadi Nero d’Avola, 2014 by Cantine Ermes Soc. Coop., Sicilia (grapes: Nero D’avola)
10. Sondraia, 2012 by Poggio Al Tesoro, Toscana (grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc)
11. Mezzacorona Marzemino, 2014 by Mezzacorona, Trentino-Alto Adige (grapes: Marzemino)
12. Al Hamen, 2014 by Feudo Ramaddini, Sicilia (grapes: Moscato Bianco)
13. Rocca Alata Valpolicella Ripasso, 2014 by Cantina Di Soave, Veneto (grapes: Corvina, Rondinella, Molinara)