CHILE'S SANTA RITA WINE BAGS “VINEYARD OF THE YEAR” AWARD

Friday, 26 September 2008 
The U.S. “Wine & Spirits” magazine this week named Chile's Santa Rita winery “Vineyard of the Year” for 2008. Santa Rita is owned by one of Chile's most influential economic conglomerates, Claro, which has business in ports, transport, and communications.
 
¨This award is a great honor for the vineyard and a great recognition of our commitment to consistently deliver high quality in our wines,” said Claro's manager Aníbal Ariztía, who was mentioned in the “Wine & Spirits” article.

The magazine performs blind taste-tests every month in which experts evaluate the quality, consistency and original expression of each wine. So far this year, the panel of experts has tested over 9,000 different wines from all over the world.

Santa Rita qualified with five different wines. Casa Real Reserva Especial of the 2001 and 2003 harvests received 92 and 93 points, respectively; Floresta Apalta Cabernet Sauvignon from 2004 received 90 points; Pehuén Carménère received 92 points; Medalla Real Carménère received 91 points; and 120 Cabernet Sauvignon trailed the list, receiving 89 points.

On the 100-point scale used by almost all wine critics, 90-94 is considered “outstanding” based on “superior character and style.” Wines that fall below 90 are considered in the category of “good to very good” and considered to be “wines with special qualities.”

Chilean wines have received high-profile international recognition in the past, such as the rigorous promotion from French luxury goods conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moët Henessy (LVMH).