Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The first-ever Mondial du Merlot, a global wine competition organized in southern Switzerland, has just awarded gold medals to the top 19 Merlot wines from the 278 entered, from 24 countries. Merlot is one of the most widely grown grapes in the world. “I discovered wines with profoundly different characters, all of them very interesting,” said Rodrigo Banto of Chile, one of the judges.
Seven countries were represented among the winners. Switzerland carried off more than half the gold medals, 11, with Ticino winning six of these, Valais four and Vaud one. A special prize for best wine of the competition went to the 2006 Hahn Estates Merlot from Monterey, California, entered by Hahn Family Wines. The prize is given to the wine with the highest number of overall points.
Italy won three gold medals and one each was awarded to Argentina, Australia, Austria, France and the United States. The Mondial du Merlot also awarded 70 silver medals to wines from 16 countries.
Other special prizes:
- Best Swiss Merlot – UNIverre Pro Uva Prize, SanZeno Costamagna Riserva, Ticino DOC, 2007 / Eredi Carlo Tamborini, Tamborini Claudio, Lamone (TI), Suisse
- Best older vintage Merlot – S. Pellegrino Prize, La Macchia, Provincia di Pavia Rosso IGT, 2000 / Azienda Agricola Bellaria di Massone, Massone Paolo, Casteggio (PV), Italie
- Best foreign Merlot – City of Lugano prize, Hahn Estates Merlot, Monterey, 2006 / Hahn Family Wines, Hahn Nicolaus, Soledad, USA
- Best winery, Mondial du Merlot – Isicom prize, Cave Gilbert Devayes, Devayes Gilbert, Leytron (VS), Suisse / Merlot, AOC Valais, 2005 and Merlot, AOC Valais, 2006
- Judges’ unanimity – Vinea prize, Merlot Riserva Tenimento dell’Ör, Ticino DOC, 2006 / Agriloro, Perler Meinrad, Arzo (TI), Suisse.
The competition was organized by Isicom, an events company, in collaboration with Vinea, which organizes the annual Mondial du Pinot Noir competition in Sierre, Valais. It was run with the sponsorship of the OIV (Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin) and the Swiss Sommeliers Association.