Wines and Winemakers from 28 countries were present at the international organic wine award 2018

Wines and Winemakers from 28 countries were present at the international organic wine award 2018
Also in 2018, the PAR®-Jury tasted more than 1000 wines represented by 28 states

Global diversity is a vanguard – Top Ranking for Mexico, Italy, Spain and Austria – German white wines in the paramount position

Frasdorf, 12. July 2018 – The 09th edition of international organic wine award, that is known to be the leading contest for the organically made wines, took place from the 29th of June until the 2nd of July showing a high level of the international attendance. The unique variety of participating countries represented by 289 wine-growing estates compassing more than 1000 products from 28 nations made it possible to achieve an excellent pertinence for the submitted qualities in the most significant cultivation areas in the world of wine. Newcomers of this year were wines from Belgium,  Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Malta.

This tasting once again took place under the leadership of sensor expert Martin Darting. Initiated and organised by WINE System AG, 38 qualified auditors tasted each of the submitted organic wines and ran the sensory assessment based on its ingredients following the PAR®-standards working in a team of three people. Along with Germany, Italy, Austria and Spain, China again belonged to the most represented winegrowing nations. 52 nominees – who represent 4,8% - were decorated with „Top Gold“ (96 – 100 points).

View complete ranking and corresponding documentation forms under www.bioweinpreis.de

Top Gold winners from 12 countries - superb quality spread over a large number of participating countries.

While Italy held the top place in 2017, Germany was in leading position this year earning 11 Top Gold medals for the high class in the category of white wines. Italy shared a further top spot with Austria.

In total 7 wines received 98 out of 100 possible points. Mexican vineyard Casa Madero was one of them excellently performing in the category of red wines with its „2015 Casa Madero Cabernet Sauvignon Organico“. All 4 submitted Mexican wines achieved top results.

Carrying on with talking about the Top Gold league it is worth to mention a discussion that has taken place regarding the „2011 Chardonnay Aurum Qualitätswein“ from Hirschmuggel with its clear-cut superiority of Austrian qualities. „2017 Weißburgunder Spätlese trocken“ coming from the vineyard Jürgen Walz was a star player among the 11 supreme awarded German whites.

Also this year, the jury paid particular tribute to several dessert wines that earned Top Gold. A particular highlight was the „2012 Montefalco Sagrantino Passito DOCG“ from Antonelli, which received 98 points.

4 sparkling wines from different countries could win the highest awards. Apparently the „2017 Riesante – Rheinriesling“ - an aerated sparkling wine coming from organic vineyard Sigrid & Erwin Lehner - took a leading position with 98 PAR points.  Likewise, products from Great Britain, Italy and France received the prestigious trophies.

The jury reports: a lot of new winegrowers – Tasting marked by vintage – Quality and creativity consistently at a high level

Martin Dartin speaks about the jury’s feelings: „high quality of the winegrowers‘ work and distinctive features of tasted vintages shaped our overall impression.“ The whole crew was especially happy to welcome so many new winemakers who joined the contest this year.
„We explored plenty of various new ideas and styles how to make wine. Wine growers are poised to create and to implement something new as well as to set a fresh impulse“ adds the Sensory Expert. 
From sulphur-free and unfiltered to reductive maceration and up to Sur Lie, all combinations were broadly represented providing a wide-ranging spectrum for the tasting.
A few debatable products were rare among the brilliant results along with some curious examples.
 
Large variety made it not always easy for the jury to allocate these wines to the preformed categories. For that reason, the causal sensory inference becomes more and more relevant in the applied PAR System. Therefore, the understanding of why a particular wine creates a specific taste experience is crucial.

For that reason, the individual examination has significantly broadened its scope, and the results have been adjusted even more precisely.
 
Martin Darting: „Recently tasted vintages made a considerable cross-regional impact on wine. We observed excellent conditions in the regions of Sicily and Veneto in Italy. In contrast, Spain presented us quite a consistent picture; thus it was difficult to assess within the framework of authenticity.“ The New World is still featured by a „winemaker“ commonality, although even here producers refocus on „Terroir“ developing ideas to reflect sometimes severe conditions in wine – and that often with outstanding results.
 
The majority of introduced German wines was still very much tuned for the fruitiness. However, there was a trend – especially in vineyards with generation change – for love for craftsmanship driving the awareness away from the varietal typicity and towards the specification of location. This tendency was particularly strongly represented by Franconia and Württemberg.
 
A lovely aspect of the general picture of this tasting is the evidence that organic vintners definitely belong to the brave ones who dare to swim against the flow of marketing trends and customary practices discovering own ways to boost the complex diversity and rich and eclectic wine culture.
 
The international organic wine award 2018 team sums up: „Drinking wine this way turns out to be a great deal of fun again!“

Awarding and handing over the certificates to the attendant winemakers will take place on the 11th of August from 19.00 to 19.45 on the occasion of the  "Alpen & Adria Organic Wine Festival" at Castle Damtschach in Wernberg, Austria. For details, see www.bioweinfestival.org

View complete ranking and more details at www.bioweinpreis.de.

Further information

WINE System AG, based in Frasdorf, under the guidance of CEO Gisela Wüstinger, consults wine growers and retailers since 1999. WINE System AG provides wide range of expert services for creating and improving of internet presence. WINE System AG offers a comprehensive database which is well accepted in the industry. Informative bottlenecktag has been developed by WINE System AG in order to provide better product promotion in the retail. WINE System AG is co-developer of the international PAR-System for wine, bread, cheese, olive oil and organizes tastings during annual PAR organic wine award, PIWI Wine Award International and PAR Wine Award International. www.winesystem.de

Martin Darting is skilled wine grower and sensors tasting expert and initiator of BioFach wine award. Martin is the developer of PAR-System, oenological consultant for quality management, training lecturer and head of tastings during PAR wine awards. www.martin-darting.de