Beronia, Spanish winery of the year at the IWSC
Beronia, Spanish winery of the year at the IWSC

We have very good news to share with all of you. We are delighted to announce that Beronia has been recognised as the best winery in Spain in the 2018 edition of the prestigious IWSC (International Wine and Spirits Competition).

The jury highlighted the “very high quality” of Beronia’s wines in the context of the Spanish labels that entered the competition. They particularly appreciated the great consistency of the range, given that all of the wines had been given high scores in their respective categories. Matías Calleja, the company’s winemaker, was exultant. “This is an achievement of the first order”, he acknowledged, adding that “Behind it there has been painstaking work in both the vineyard and the winery, and we made a significant effort to use sustainable practices to make high-quality wines. This prize will definitely help us strengthen our position as one of Rioja’s best-known brands”.

IWSC: a very different competition

 

Unlike other wine competitions, the IWSC has a permanent tasting facility in London where over a period of seven months, more than 400 experts taste and judge an infinite number of samples. This is why it is particularly difficult to be awarded any of the competition’s highest accolades.

The origins of the competition go back to 1969 when chemist and winemaker Anton Massel created the Club Oenologique with the intention of organising a competition for spirits that not only rated their organoleptic virtues but also analysed the products.

The practice of carrying out chemical analyses has continued until today, although it was in1978 that the scope of the competition was broadened, and the current name began to be used.

Because of the ongoing nature of the competition, the awards are announced in phases across the year. There is just one date for spirits but several for wines, according to geographical region. The highpoint is the awards dinner for the top prizes, the Trophies, which this year took place on 14th November and was so special for Beronia.