With the 2009 Tropical Fruit Wine Competition, Federico Island Wine of Region 6 prevails as the Best Bignay Wine.

The 2009 Tropical Fruit Wine Competition, National Level held recently at SM City, Sta. Rosa, Laguna during the Department of Science and Technology South Luzon Cluster Science and Technology Fair.

Federico's Island Wine received a P10,000 and the plaque of recognition from DOST, which is awarded by Regional director Alaxander Madrigal.

The annual competition aimed to support local winemakers to manufacture quality wine for government's support to increase growth and development in the local economy.

Behind the wine is Federico Barredo, a research plant pathologist/microbiologist, whose passion other than sugarcane research since the 1970's has been producing wine as gift to friends, the press release said.

Federico's Bignay (Chinese Black current tree) wine is a natural organic wine made from handpicked fruits and processed fresh.

This is another proof that the country can be globally competitive even in wine industry.