California winery takes top honors in BRIT competition

LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards of Lodi, Calif., won the platinum medal in the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) 2014 International Award of Excellence in Sustainable Winegrowing competition. LangeTwins topped the field this year based on the winery’s on-going programs that address the three elements of sustainability – environment, economic and social – as well as wine taste. The awarded wine was LangeTwins Family Winery and Vineyards’ Estate Cabernet 2010. Five additional wineries – two from France, two from Italy and one from the U.S. – also have won awards based on their strong sustainable programs. “LangeTwins multigenerational philosophy to sustainable winegrowing shows its commitment and a passion for getting things right in all facets of its wine organization,” said Will McClatchey, BRIT’s vice president of research. “Their devotion to sustainability enhances their land and their community and produces an outstanding Estate Cabernet.” The BRIT award is the only international award of its kind. As a nonprofit, international plant research and knowledge sharing organization, BRIT offers this award to help raise interest and awareness of the value plants bring and the need for biodiversity. LangeTwins will receive the award at BRIT’s eighth annual Fête du Vin Wine Dinner and Auction on Oct. 4 at the Fort Worth Club in downtown Fort Worth. -Betty Dillard bdillard@bizpress.net