Estômbar-based winery Quinta dos Vales was among this year’s winners at the 21st Grand International Wine Award “Mundus Vini”, which took place between August 31 and September 3 in Germany. The Marquês dos Vales and Dialog labels were awarded a record number of six medals.
The competition rated nearly 4,300 wines from 42 of the world’s wine-growing areas in blind tastings by a jury of 164 experts. “Mundus Vini” was founded by Meininger Verlag 15 years ago and is one of the most important wine competitions in the world.
The Algarve winery saw its efforts rewarded, winning two silver medals for the white Dialog Secretum 2016 and the red Marquês dos Vales Grande Escolha 2014, and four gold medals for the reds Marquês dos Vales Grace Vineyard 2011, Dialog 2012, Marquês dos Vales DUO 2014 and the newly-released Marquês dos Vales Syrah & Viognier 2015.
Inspired by the great wines of Côte-Rôtie in the Northern Rhône, the Marquês dos Vales Syrah & Viognier 2015 is a blend of the red grape Syrah and the white variety Viognier. These two foreign grapes have been amongst the most successful in the Algarve, especially at Quinta dos Vales.
“The two varieties were fermented together and aged in new French oak barrels followed by bottle ageing in the cellars. The Syrah provides the primary aroma of a burly, spicy and plum-and-blackberry-infused red; whereas the Viognier adds finesse and levity, as well as a perfume on the nose. In the mouth, the wine is medium-bodied with soft tannins and well-integrated oak. An elegant wine to enjoy on its own, or an ideal pairing for light meat dishes and even grilled fish,” reveals Quinta dos Vales.
