The competition held by The Drinks Business bestowed two Silver medals to Medalla Real Gran Reserva and Floresta Chardonnay.

The Global Chardonnay Masters, now in its eight edition, recently published its results, highlighting the outstanding quality achieved by competitors this year. “In the many years we’ve run the Chardonnay Masters, this year’s results were the best. Such a high tally of topscoring wines is testament to better winemaking, along with an improved decision making when it comes to picking times, ensuring grapes are harvested when neither under- or over-ripe”, commented Patrick Schmitt MW, Editor-in-Chief of The Drinks Business and judge of the awards.

Indeed, Santa Rita was selected with two of its wines among the winners: Floresta Chardonnay 2019 and Medalla Real Gran Reserva Chardonnay 2020, both obtaining Silver medals. These wines are sourced from the Limarí Valley, with a climate that is strongly influenced by the low-lying Coastal Mountains and the Pacific Ocean 28 km (17.5 miles) away. The frequent morning fogs dissipate at midday, allowing the temperature to rise, although they are moderated by cool maritime breezes. The proximity to the sea is also manifested in the somewhat elevated evening temperatures that reach 20ºC (68ºF) in January, the warmest month of the year.

For Floresta Chardonnay 2019, the panel commented on its “Quite delicate nose, some citrus, chalk, cashew. Palate quite tight, lemon, apple, chalk, hazelnut, dry fresh finish. Bit tight and lean at this price, but intense fresh lemon fruit holds appeal. Dry hazelnut grip. Lingers”.