Viña de Madrid Awards 2013

The Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Borja Sarasola, delivered last September 17 Viña de Madrid Awards 2013 at 23 wines of the Appellation of Origin Wines of Madrid who have been awarded in this Edition XXVI. These wines from eleven wineries and have competed in five different categories: white, pink and red, the latter divided into vintages: 2012-2011, 2010-2009 and before 2008. In total, 115 samples have been submitted.

Viña de Madrid Awards are organized every year by the Regulatory Council of the Denomination of Origin Wines of Madrid. Its aim is to establish a healthy competition among all wines made by wineries in the region, which are the only ones that can occur, so as to stimulate and improve the quality.

In this year's awards include three Gran Viña harvested for their Vinos Jeromín with Vega Madroño Blanco 2012, Félix Martínez Cepas Viejas Reserva 2009 and Manu Crianza 2007. The other two awards Gran Viña were for Bodegas Muñoz Martin, for his pink wine Viña Jesusa 2012 and Vinos y Aceites Laguna for his red wine Alma de Valdeguerra 2012.

The jury was composed of 15 trained tasters renowned Spanish wine scene inside and from different disciplines, such as sommeliers, universities, restaurants, specialty shops, Vine School and other contests that are held nationwide.

Of all agrifood subsectors, the wine occupies an important place for its national and international: Madrid is the only capital of a country that gives its name to a Denomination of Origin wine, a feature that provides an internationally recognizable hallmark.

In Madrid there are 8,390 acres of wine crops spread over 58 municipalities within the DO Vinos de Madrid. Currently there are about 3,000 growers and 44 wineries in the appellation, controlled by the Control Board, which provides technical support and supervision of the Ministry of Environment. Most of the wine production is focused on young red and pink, while there are also white, upbringings, some sparkling and Sobremadre characteristic.

In 2012 were sold 3.5 million bottles of DO Vinos de Madrid, most young red. A 23 percent was exported and the rest, 95 percent was marketed in the Community. Those countries that imported more wine from Madrid are the U.S., China, Germany and Japan. The total economic value of the sales of the wines DO Vinos de Madrid amounted to more than 30 million euros.