Courtesy of Wines from Spain‘s “Latest News” section, here are some recent Comunitat Valenciana wine competition successes:
At the 2009 edition of Effervescents du Monde®: ” held in Dijon on 19-20 November, among the 3 Golds and 10 Silvers awarded to the Spanish sparkling wines were a Gold medal to Cava Luna de Murviedro Brut (the first Cava from the powerhouse Murviedro bodega, made with 100% Macabeo, it was launched in December 2008 ).
There were two Silver medals. One went to good old Reymos with its cheap as chips Charmat-method sparkling Moscatel (Moscatel Reymos Brut, DO Valencia). I always think that this is a really cheering drink to pick up at the supermarket when I don’t feel like splashing out. Apart from the allure of the bargain price, it is sweet without being cloying, and its 7.5% alcohol means that you’re unlikely to run amok. The second was another feather in the cap of Castell dels Sorells with their Cuvée Saten Gran Reserva Brut Nature 2003, after its Bronze at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2009
A jury consisting of Asian wine experts blind-tasted and judged the first best Spanish wines for Asia competition, “Challenge to the Best Spanish Wines for Asia”, gauging the wines in the context of Asian tastes and cuisines. Among the 14 Gold medallists were the Peñas Negras 2005 from Bodegas Emilio Clemente from DO Utiel-Requena (good luck with their weird website, which made me feel like I’d already had a few too many) and Finca del Mar 2008 from regional giant Bodegas Vicente Gandia (DO Valencia), whose wines can be found all over the world. Onward and upward, then for wines of varying styles from the Comunitat Valenciana, and congratulations to the respective bodegas.