All female-panel selects the winners in the 2015 Argentina Wine Awards

By Richard Siddle

Published: 20 February, 2015

An all-female line up of international judges have voted for the winners in the 2015 Argentina wine awards.

Susana Balbo Susana BalboSusana Balbo

With esteemed winemaker, Susana Balbo, as the president of the Wines of Argentina it was decided the theme of this year's competition would be 'the empowerment of women in wine'.

To help put this in practice Balbo and Wines of Argentina pulled together an international panel of female judges, supported by female Argentinian winemakers, and producers.

The international judges were:

Jancis Robinson MW (UK Financial Times)

Susan Kostrzewa (USA - executive editor, Wine Enthusiast)

Christy Canterbury MW (USA - wine writer)

Shari Mogk-Edwards (Canada - vice president of product, sales and merchandising at the LCBO in Ontario)

Barbara Philip MW (Canada - portfolio manager at the BCLCB monopoly)

Sara Damato (Canada - wine writer, sommelier and partner with WineAlign.com)

Essi Avellan MW (Finland - sparkling wine expert and wine writer)

Cecilia Torres Salinas (Chile - winemaker Santa Rita)

Felicity Carter (Australia / Germany - editor in chief Meiningers)

Megumi Nishida (Japan - wine writer)

Annette Scarf MW (Singapore - consultant)

Suzana Barelli (Brazil - wine writer and editor of Menu magazine)

Wines of Argentina also hoped the female panel would go some way to addressing the issue of its wines having a mainly masculine image and that its wines are more popular with men. In the UK, for example. 26% of Argentina's wine is drunk by are men aged between 25-45 (against only 17% for the total wine market).

The following wines received trophies.For a list of 'Gold' winners go to: https://www.pinterest.com/winesofarg/argentina-wine-awards-2015/

Sparkling wine

Ruca Malen Sparkling Brut NV

Chardonnay retailing at $7-13

La Rosa, Finca La Escondida Chardonnay 2014 Salta

Chardonnay $30-50

Salentein Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2012 Mendoza

Bonarda $30-50

Cadus, Single Vineyard Finca La Tortugas 2013 Mendoza

Malbec $13-20

Septima, Obra Malbec 2012 Mendoza

Malbec $20-30