Casa Silva wins two Five Nations gold medals

Chilean winery Casa Silva has been awarded a double gold for its cuvée the Altura 2007 in this year’s Five Nation Wine Challenge.

The Microterroir Carmémère 2007 also gained a gold medal for the winery.

The Five Nations Wine Challenge is now in its second year, following eight years as the Tri-Nations Wine Challenge. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and now Chile and Argentina all take part, with winery participation by invitation only.

The judging team is made up of one person from each country and this year’s judges were; Michael Fridjhon from South Africa, Huon Hooke from Australia, Eduardo Brethauer from Chile, Fabricio Portelli from Argentina, and Bob Campbell from New Zealand.

The Altura, which is a blend of Carménère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, was entered into the Bordeaux Blends category. The wine is aged in new French oak barrels for 14 months, followed by a further three years in bottle before release.

Mario Pablo Silva, MD of Casa Silva, comments: ”Only five double gold awards and five gold were awarded to the 39 Chilean wineries that entered into this year’s Five Nations Wine Challenge so it goes without saying that we are hugely proud to receive these medals.

“These awards are a clear reflection of Casa Silva’s efforts to constantly improve our knowledge of terroir, and the grape varieties best suited to it.”

The Microterroir Carménère was entered into the Merlot and Carménère class, and is made from plots often as small as one barrel from Casa Silva’s Los Lingues estate. Both wines are available through UK distributor Jackson Nugent.

Next year the competition will become the Six Nation Wine Challenge as wineries from the US will be invited to participate.