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Results and Highlights from the 35th Grand International Wine Award Mundus Vini Summer Tasting 2024.
As the 2024 harvest season kicks off across Europe, the 35th Grand International Wine Award Mundus Vini concluded in early September. This year’s Summer Tasting awarded 1,600 wines with the prestigious MUNDUS VINI medals, which include Silver, Gold, and the highly coveted Grand Gold. The Summer Tasting welcomed wine experts from 32 countries, including two representatives from Drinks+. It was once again a great honor and pleasure to reconnect with our colleagues, as well as the Team from Mundus Vini and the Meininger publishing house. As usual we had a huge work to do: over four days, 119 professionals evaluated 3,914 wines. Notably, Ukraine was represented by 14 wines in the competition.
Let’s give you a detailed account of how this year’s summer tasting went and, most importantly, what made it stand out from previous ones.
In recognition of their expertise and years of dedicated service, the Mundus Vini organizers extended their heartfelt appreciation to several senior professionals, honoring them with special awards during the spring session as they concluded over 20 years of judging. Meanwhile, at the summer session, the judging panel welcomed around 20 new members, aged 30 to 45 with a high level of competence in wine tasting and judging.
As Christian Wolf, the Director of Degustation, mentioned in his speech to the judges: “This year, 20 new jury members, all respected in the wine industry, brought fresh perspectives and expertise to the wine assessments.” Christian Wolf emphasized that by including these new experts, Mundus Vini is raising its own standards and setting a new benchmark for global tastings.
Olga Todoriuk, Drinks+ Editor-in-Chief, Jury 20.
“In our tasting team from Austria, Germany and Portugal, on behalf of Matthias Walter Dipl. Ing. Oenologie, we had some rather intriguing samples. Overall, the quality of the wines was consistent, and it’s worth noting that throughout the tasting, we never once needed to request a second bottle, as the wines were of outstanding quality. The wines made from the now highly resilient PIWI grape varieties truly impressed us. These innovative and eco-friendly hybrids, bred for their resistance to diseases and harsh climates, showcased remarkable quality. As a result, they were awarded well-deserved gold medals and strong silver honors from our tasting team.
PIWI varieties, which are gaining popularity for their sustainability and reduced need for pesticides, not only stood out for their environmental benefits but also for their flavor profiles. The craftsmanship behind these wines was evident, and we were pleased to recognize their excellence and underlined them with the high ratings: the fresh, pleasant and long aftertaste of the wines from Cabernet Blanc and Sauvignon Cita. Our flights of traditional varieties from Spain, Portugal, and Germany were complemented by wines from Eastern Europe. One standout was the Merlot flight, featuring wines from countries such as Moldova, Georgia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and the Czech Republic.
This diverse lineup offered an exciting opportunity to explore the unique expressions of Merlot from these regions, each bringing its own distinct terroir and winemaking traditions. It was a delightful addition to the tasting experience, highlighting the growing quality of merlot wines from Eastern European countries.”
Iryna Diachenkova, co-founder of Drinks+ Media Group joined the Jury 10.
“Today, in the opinion of our reviewers, expert wine evaluation – particularly in the context of competitions – has become a hot topic in international marketing. This issue sparks intense debate: should winemakers choose competitions that pat them on the back and hand out medals generously, or those that strive for more adequate assessments? Ultimately, I believe the final say will rest with the consumer. Wine lovers are becoming increasingly knowledgeable, not only about the wines but also about the significance of the medals.
As to Mundus Vini, first and foremost I’d like to highlight that the competition organizers prioritize diversity when assembling the international panel of judges. They ensure a balanced representation of different nationalities and markets, uphold gender equality, and invite experts from across the entire spectrum of the wine industry. The judging panel includes experienced winemakers, representatives from production and wine trading companies, wine ambassadors, sommeliers, consultants, and journalists. Our jury, headed by high experienced Mundus Vini judge Petteri Harjula from Finland, the great professional and personality, was include two representatives of Germany and one from Denmark.
Our flights included a lot of Italy, which presented 1130 wines – the maximum number of samples at the summer competition. We enjoyed the tasting of different styles of wines from various regions: Prosecco from Veneto, wines from Sicily, Sardinia, Soave, Alto Adige, Friuli, Puglia, as well as Chianti and Brunello di Montalcino from Tuscany. The most exotic experience was tasting two tank samples of Pinotin from Thailand. For the first time in my judging career, I got a Ukrainian sample – sparkling wine from Pinot Noir, Odesa region. It was included in the international flight consisting of sparkling wines from Italy, Germany, South Africa, Portugal, and Luxemburg and got a good estimation. However, the competition keeps the rules of only 40% of medals granted. This enhances the value of the Mundus Vini medals that go to wines with higher ratings. The most striking and highly rated flights for our jury were sweet Rieslings from Germany, with single samples from the Czech Republic and Austria, as well as the flight of Ribera del Duero wines.”
Eastern European countries continue to shine as rising stars in the wine world, collectively earning 175 awards, including 5 Grand Gold, 108 Gold, and 62 Silver medals. Leading the list is Georgia with 46 awards, followed closely by Romania with 43. Moldova secured 23 awards, the Czech Republic 16, and Bulgaria 13. The Republic of North Macedonia and Croatia each earned 9 awards, while Armenia took home 8, Hungary 5, and Bosnia and Herzegovina received 3 awards. These impressive results highlight the growing prominence and quality of wines from this region.
We’d like to personally congratulate some of the Mundus Vini winners who consistently excel in many editions of this prestigious competition and are also a proud members of the international Wine Travel Awards (WTA) community.
The WTA winner for all three years in a row in several categories – SHUMI Winery and Estate has been recognized as the BEST PRODUCER OF GEORGIA by the Mundus Vini Grand International Awards for the 3rd time. As well as SHUMI Winery won the following medals at the Summer Tasting 2024 for the wines SALOME 2017 – GOLD, ILERCO 2020 – GOLD, SAPERAVI QVEVRI IBERIULI 2021 – GOLD, MUKUZANI IBERIULI 2022 – GOLD, NAPAREULI IBERIULI 2022 – GOLD.
The Wine Travel Awards 2022-2023 winner in the The Visiting Card of the Country nomination, Brand – the visiting card of the country category – the family business of the Iukuridze family – Shabo Family Winery were awarded the 3 Gold medals (2022 Saperavi-Merlot by Kakhetian technology SHABO, Sparkling SHABO Grand Reserve Brut 2016, 2019 Sherry SHABO Limited Edition) and 2 Silver medals (Rkatsiteli by Kakhetian technology SHABO Limited Edition, 2016 Traminer Vintage wine SHABO Limited Edition).
Another exceptional member of the WTA Community, Castel Mimi, which combines traditional winemaking techniques with modern innovations to produce a diverse range of outstanding wines was honored at the Mundus Vini Summer Tasting 2024 with 2 Grand Gold (2020 Castel Mimi Chef Cuvée Rouge, Castel Mimi The Governor Feteasca Neagra 2019), 4 Gold (2022 Castel Mimi Chef Cuvée Blanc, 2023 Castel Mimi Sustainable Pack Sauvignon Blanc, 2023 Castel Mimi Sustainable Pack Merlot Rose, 2018 Castel Mimi Negru de Bulboaca Reserve) and 1 Silver (2019 The Governor’s Blend)
Our Congratulations to all the winners! Find all the awarded wines here.
The role of Mundus Vini is not only the organizer of one of the most prestigious wine competitions in Europe and the world. Each tasting session provides the opportunity for education of the professional judging community through the special supporting program events. At the same time, Mundus Vini is a community for networking and discussing the most pressing issues and challenges facing the wine industry today.
One of the most serious challenges today is the anti-alcohol campaign initiated by the World Health Organization, which could result in changes in European legislation and new restrictions. With wine consumption already low among younger generations, anti-alcohol campaigns could have devastating effects on an industry that is vital to the economies of many countries.
Christoph Meininger, CEO and owner of the publishing house Meininger Verlag, stressed the significant difference between drinking culture and alcohol dependence.
Christian Wolf, Director Degustation, Board Member Mundus Vini called on the participants to join forces in conveying the message that wine is not only an alcoholic beverage, but a product of the region, wine is a culture and history, education and values that unite people and has a significant social aspect.
We once again saw just how important wine is to Germans, who are eager to learn about it—even if they don’t always consume it themselves. For those who are energetic and eager to deepen their wine knowledge, Professor Urlish Fisher led us on an enlightening tour of WeinCampus Neustadt. WeinCampus Neustadt is a renowned center for wine education, offering cutting-edge programs and resources for both aspiring and experienced wine professionals. The campus combines practical training with theoretical knowledge, providing a comprehensive learning experience. The WeinCampus Neustadt’s cooperation with over 600 wineries worldwide is one of the key strengths of the dual study program.
During our visit, we saw a huge number of campus visitors of all ages who chose to spend here this unusually hot weekend in late August rather than on a cool beach or under air conditioning. The group of Mundus Vini judges eager to explore new experiences had the chance to taste a variety of wines from the Campus Cellar, featuring different vintages and grape varieties, generously provided by Professor Urlish Fisher. Actually we were impressed of the WeinCampus Neustadt. The campus seamlessly blends education with innovation, offering students and visitors a unique perspective on winemaking. From the moment we stepped into the facility, it was clear that this is not just a place of learning, but a hub for cutting-edge research and experimentation.
As part of the carefully curated program that the team develops for the judges each year, this time the jury had the chance to participate in a special event. They were treated to a tasting of wines from young German winemakers—a remarkable selection presented by “DIE JUNGE PFALZ.”
DIE JUNGE PFALZ” is a group of young, dynamic winemakers from the Pfalz region in Germany. These winemakers are redefining the image of German wine through innovation and modern techniques while maintaining a strong connection to the region’s rich wine tradition. They focus on producing high-quality wines that reflect the diversity and unique terroir of Pfalz, using sustainable practices and often experimenting with both classic and lesser-known grape varieties. Many of these winemakers are at the forefront of trends such as natural winemaking, minimal intervention, and the production of low-alcohol and non-alcoholic wines. Their collaborative approach to promoting Pfalz wines both locally and internationally helps them stand out, as they blend tradition with modern techniques to appeal to a broader, younger audience. This group showcases the fresh perspective and creativity that the new generation brings to the wine industry.
During the tasting, we had the chance to explore and discover the emerging trends among the new generation of winemakers. I caught myself thinking that while many of the Rieslings as well as and Weisburgunders were truly excellent, some had rather high acidity. I particularly enjoyed the Chardonnay from Lucas Hammelmann as well as Sparkling Blanc de Blanc Brute Nature from Weingut Fleischmann-Krieger. The next unforgettable and final evening for summer tasting started at Weingut Holz-Weisbrodt with the sparkling appetitive, crafted using traditional methods, offer a refined balance of freshness, complexity, and elegance including the dealcoholized sparkling wine – Holz-Weisbrodt Sparkling. Sebastian Weisbrodt, Holz-Weisbrodt Winery&Gastronomy, the great wine tourism player, who making 70% direct sales of his wines also mentioned the threat of new anti-alcohol campaign in his welcoming speech at the winery’s new hall, which opened recently.
Award-winning wines from this year’s Summer Tasting will be showcased at ProWine Tokyo in April 2025. MUNDUS VINI and ProWein have maintained a strong partnership for over 20 years, starting with the first Tasting Area at the Düsseldorf fair.
The next MUNDUS VINI Spring Tasting will be held in late February 2025, just in time for the new 2024 vintage. The awards will be presented at ProWein 2025, taking place on March 16-18 in Düsseldorf.
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Photo Credit: Drinks+; Group Photo: AD LUMINA
