This year’s Argentina Wine Awards saw some great wines come to the fore, and 58 gold awards, 256 silver awards and 276 bronze awards for the 650 wines tasted. After a week of judging with a panel of international wine experts, the winners were announced at a gala evening on February 21 at Bodega Escorihuela Gascon.

The big winners of the night were the 12 trophy winners and especially the 4 regional trophy winners. The regional trophies are a new category for the best wines that perform in the regions of Mendoza, the North, San Juan and Patagonia. Taking the North trophy was a the Fincas Notables Malbec 2011 from Bodega El Esteco; Patagonia’s prize went to a Cabernet Franc (2010 Fin Single Vineyard) from Bodega Fin del Mundo; and San Juan’s big winner on the night was the Paz Blend 2012 from Finca Las Moras. Mendoza’s trophy, and probably the most coveted of the night, went to Monteviejo for their Lindaflor Malbec 2009.

 Other trophies were given to the best in each category for the main varietals and one big winner on the night was Matias Riccitelli who took home two sought-after trophies for Malbec between $30 - $50US, and for the over $50US Malbec for his Vineyard Selection 2012 and Republica del Malbec 2012 respectively.

Here are the rest of the winners:

Amanda Barnes is a British journalist living in Mendoza and enjoying trying plenty of gold medal wines on their home turf.