Uruguayan wines won eight medals, including the top honour in the red wine category, at the 52nd International Wine Contest held some time back in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.

The event is considered by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), the United Nations of the wine-producing world, as the 'tasting school' because of its long tradition, academic value of its decision of the judges, and the rigorous selection process, according to a media release issued by the Uruguayan Embassy in New Delhi.

The contest is special because only the best qualified white, rose, red and sparkling wines as well as liqueurs enter its second round. In the second stage, the first five wines of each category are selected for the final round. At the final round, the selected wines are tested once again by an expanded committee, comprising all the judges (that is, the members of the six juries, or 42 sommeliers).

This year, Uruguay reached the final round of the red wine category with Tannat wines. The awards won by Uruguayan wines include: World Champion in the red wine category; WineFed Trophy for receiving the most homogeneous scoring of all wines; two gold medals and four silver medals. This event once again reaffirmed the supreme quality of Uruguayan red wines. The award-winning wines were:

• World Champion in the Red Wine Category: Tannat Daymán - Castel La Puebla - 2003 - Vinos Finos H. Stagnari Winery.
• Gold Medal: Tannat Daymán - Castel La Puebla - 2003 - Vinos Finos H. Stagnari Winery.
• Gold Medal: Tannat Daymán - Castel La Puebla - 2002 - Vinos Finos H. Stagnari Winery.
• Silver Medal: Del Pedregal - Prima Donna - 2005 - Héctor Nelson Stagnari Winery.
• Silver Medal: Del Pedregal - Tannat Reserva - 2004 - Héctor Nelson Stagnari Winery.
• Silver Medal: Don Pascual - 2004 - Establecimiento Juanicó Winery.
• Silver Medal: Vino Varela Zarranz - Tannat Roble 2003 - Varela Zarranz Winery.