German Pinots make a strong showing

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Wines from Languedoc in France, Valais, Bern and Aargau won the top five awards at the Mondial des Pinots international wine contest, whose results were announced  30 August.

The winners will receive their prizes Friday in Sierre, where 1,500 wines were judged earlier this month by a group of 60 international wine experts.

The public will be able to taste the winning wines Saturday during the Vinea Swiss wines fair in Sierre, part of the offer covered by the CHF40 entry fee.

The top five winners, who will receive Grand or medals:

Vieille Vigne Pinot Noir Barrique, Bielersee 2009, Andreywein winery, Ligertz, canton Bern

La Part des Anges Pinot Noir fût de chêne (oaked) 2010, AOC Valais, Cave des Champs, Miege, canton Valais

Pinot Noir 2011, AOC Valais, Frédéric Dumoulin winery, Uvrier, canton Valais

Aigle Royal Pinot Noir2011, IGP Haute Vallée de l’Aude, Sph Gérard Bertrand winery, Narbonne, France

Alter Berg Tegerfelder Pinot Noir barrique, AOC Aargau 2009, Alter Berg winery, Tegerfelden, canton Aargau

The competition also awarded 99 gold medals, of which 86 went to Swiss wines, the largest group to take part, and 9 to Germany. New Zealand, France, Italy and Austria each had 1 gold medal winner. Within Switzerland, wines from Valais were top winners (37) as well as the largest numbered entered, followed by Vaud (12) and Graubuenden (7).

Another 253 wines won silver. The complete list can be consulted on the Mondial des Pinots web site.

Photos below (click on image to view larger): international judges visit a cheesemaking operation in canton Valais, the staff at the blind-tasting competition ensure that service is perfect and the wines are just right for judging, Terravin wines from Vaud explained to judges from several countries, a group of Italian judges smiles for the camera in Vevey.