For the eleventh consecutive year, the best wines in the Balkans were awarded in the prestigious contest The Balkans International Wine Competition (BIWC). This year it was held on the historic Greek island Salamina, and a record number of participants took part in the competition – more than 1,000 wines and 280 wineries. At an official ceremony and gala dinner in Ktima Filippikon, the prestigious international jury announced the host country of the next edition of the Competition – Romania! In June 2023, Bistrita-Nassaud, Transylvania, will host the 12th edition of the BIWC.

The biggest prize in the competition – the Grand Trophy for the “Best Wine in the Balkans”, the best cellar in the Balkans, which won the largest number of medals in the competition, as well as the trophies in each category – will be awarded at a glamorous Balkan ceremony “Balkan Wine Oscars” on the first night of the Festival in Sofia – on June 16 at 8 p.m. in the Wine Town in front of the National Palace of Culture.

The International Wine Travel Awards was presented to BIWC as an information partner. In addition, the WTA team presented the Wine Travel Awards Guide, published by the Drinks + media group, which includes stories about all nominees, winners and prize-winners.

On the last day of the competition, the wines of the WTA nominees and sponsors were presented, and a presentation of Ukrainian wines was held.

Traditionally, the jury awards one of the best participants from each country in the Competition with the ‘Best of Show’ award, for the wine that won the highest number of points for each country. The Bulgarian winner in this category is Zelanos Rose Pinot Noir 2021, ZELANOS WINERY winery. From Ukraine such a winner was the wine Odessos Merlot Limited Edition 2020, winery ODESSOS WINERY. Here are the other winners:

Best of Show Albania

Juga e Bardhe 2021

KANTINA FABA

Best of Show Bosnia and Herzegovina

Perle Ljubavi 2021

VINARIJA FAZAN

Best of Show Croatia

Plovac Ploski 2015

CARIC WINERY

Best of Show Greece

Diaporos Xinomavro 2017

KIR YIANNI ESTATE

Best of Show Kosovo

Rahova Klasike Reserve 2019

LABI WINES

Best of Show Montenegro

Stari Podrum Vranac 2013

PLANTAZE WINERY

Best of Show North Macedonia

Luda Mara Vranec 2019

TIKVES WINERY

Best of Show Romania

Crama Gabai Red Blend 2019

CRABA GABAI

Best of Show Serbia

Vincic White Reserve 2012

VINCIC WINERY

Best of Show Slovenia

Seven Numbers Sauvignon Blanc 2019

PUKLAVEC FAMILY WINES

Best of Show Turkey

Suvla Bogazkere – Okuzgozu 2021

SUVLA WINERY

Best of Show Ukraine

Odessos Merlot Limited Edition 2020

ODESSOS WINERY

The award ceremony was hosted by Galina Niforu, BIWC’s director, Igor Lukovic, this year’s BIWC president, and Konstantinos Lazarakis, honored president of BIWC. It was opened by the mayor of Salamina Georgios Panagopoulos, in the presence of the Bulgarian ambassador in Greece – Valentin Poryazov, the ambassador of Turkey in Greece – Mr. Özügergin, and diplomats from Slovenia, Romania, and Ukraine. The ceremony was also attended by the President of the Trade association of Salamina – Konstantinos Speciotakis, Konstantinos Zafiris, and Antonis Zafiris from the Link EPE  company – logistics partner of the Competition, business representatives from Athens, Piraeus, Salamina, and fans of the Balkan wine.

I am really impressed by the warmth and professionalism of the hosts from Salamina. For me personally, it was extremely exciting my second home to host the twelfth edition of BIWC. For the glamorous ceremony, we had not only a record number of samples but also a record quality! I’m observing the development of the wines from the region and I can honestly say that we are approaching, with a brave tempo, the world powers!, says Galina Niforou.

Special awards with the image of Salamina island and an olive branch were given by the mayor of Salamina to all Master of Wines that attended the event: Earl John Salvi MW, Caroline Gilby MW, Rod Smith MW, Robin Kick MW, and all other jury members received diplomas for their participation.

All awarded wines from the Competition can be tasted in the special Golden Tent in the Wine Town in front of the National Palace of Culture. Apart from the rich program and the extremely generous selection of wines from the whole Balkan region, the guests of the Festival will be the first to learn the name of the winner of the Grand Trophy, the real culmination of the eleventh edition of BIWCF!

If you want to be accredited for the festival, please reply to this email with your first and last name, email address, phone number, and the media you will represent.

Journalists that are accredited journalists will be able to take their pass only on the first day of the festival – June 16 from 17:00 to 22:00.

The Balkan International Wine Competition and Festival 2022 is supported by the Sofia Municipality, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the media partnership of Wines of Macedonia, All Wine Stories, Vino & Fino magazine, Sofiaadventures, Visitskopje, Vinopedia, Winepeople.ro, In your pocket, Drinks.ua, Wine Travel Awards, ivanasimjanovska.com,  Autentika, Turističke priče, Moto Pfohe Rent a Car, Страница.бг, vevesti.bg, divident.eu, Sportal Media Group, Exporter.bg, Apollowine.com, Hit-bg.com, WineBG.info, списание твоят БИЗНЕС, b2b media.bg, ExpoWorld.bg, Agro TV, Стандарт, Trio.bg, White Water, АИДБ, Аз чета, Jasmin.bg, bgtourism.bg, Winetours.bg, Wineo.bg, Bulgaria Wine Тours, Bulgaria Wine Тours, Fresh Cuts of Life, WineTourMaker.com, Exotic Wine Travel, bgvipnews.eu, hotpressbg.com, bulgarianews.bg, green-news.bg, Литературен клуб „Перото“, Екопак.

• BIWC
• Igor Lukovic
• Salamina
• the Balkans International Wine Competition
• Wine Travel Awards
• WTA
• Константинос Лазаракіс