Gastronomy and Wine Portal

International wine group Vinos de La Luz presented, at Cervim-Viticoltura Eroica, wines from four countries, including Ukrainian Big Wines.Big Art.

Cervim-Viticoltura Eroica is the only global wine event dedicated to wines produced in regions with heroic viticulture. The competition selects the best wines obtained as a result of extreme viticulture, with the aim of promoting and protecting the production of small wine-growing areas which are characterized by their history, tradition and uniqueness, are of great ecological and landscape value, and grow mainly local vines. The competition takes place under the patronage of OIV.

This year, the sponsor and nominee of the Wine Travel Awards, the international winemaking group Vinos de La Luz, headed by Ricardo F. Nunez, presented wines from four countries at Cervim-Viticoltura Eroica, including the Ukrainian Big Wines.Big Art. The Vinos de La Luz has production facilities in Argentina, in two DO of Spain, in Italy (Tuscany), USA (California) and Ukraine.

The Grand Gold Medal at Cervim-Viticoltura Eroica was awarded to BIG WINES BIG ART limited edition wine. Ivan Marchuk 2020 Odesa Black. That was announced by Nataliia Burlachenko – the Vinos de La Luz ambassador, wine writer, head of Big Wines.Big Art., and Wine Travel Awards nominee, in the Ambassador and Wine & Food Influencer nominations, on her social network page.

Each bottle of Big Wines.Big Art has a serial number and is protected against counterfeiting. The label depicts the painting “Awakening” by Ivan Marchuk. The final decoration is a plaque in the form of a gold coin with the La Luz logo.

«Exactly! Ukrainian wine BIG WINES BIG ART limited edition. Ivan Marchuk 2020 Odesa Black! We sincerely rejoice at this achievement! We wish to thank Roberto Gaudio for holding the Heroic Wines Competition, which undoubtedly includes all wines of Ukraine. Thanks for the support to Victoria Agromakovа, who was the reason why I stayed awake for two nights, waiting for the results J and to Araik Manukyan, who immediately thought about us when it came down to heroic wines!», – wrote Nataliia Burlachenko.

The first gold medal was awarded to BIG WINES BIG ART limited edition wine. Ivan Marchuk at the prestigious international competition Mundus Vini-2023. The second gold was at the Berliner Wine Trophy-2023. And here is the Grand Gold Medal from Cervim-Viticoltura Eroica. We can proudly say that Ukrainian wines are getting better and better and we have something to show to the world.

The other wines from Vinos de La Luz – Iluminado USA 2018, Peñafiel 2018, Callejón Single Vineyard Pampa el Cepillo 2020, received gold at Cervim-Viticoltura Eroica.

By the way, three Malbecs from Vinos de La Luz simultaneously won platinum medals at the Decanter competition last year.

We sincerely congratulate our old friends Dr. Ricardo F. Nunez and Nataliia Burlachenko, as well as everyone involved in the creation of this wine, with a new victory and are proud of the success of Ukrainian wine from the local variety Odessa Black.

Gold at Cervim-Viticoltura Eroica was won by the famous Ukrainian winery BIOLOGIST Craft Winery, for Traminer Orange 2021 and Merlot 2020.

“So let’s support our Ukrainian winemaking, let’s choose Ukrainian wine in supermarkets, wine boutiques and restaurants! The more we choose our own, spread it, tell everyone how wonderful our wine is, the greater the demand will be in Ukraine and beyond its borders!”, – comments Nataliia Burlachenko.

Photo: facebook.com

International wine group Vinos de La Luz presented, at Cervim-Viticoltura Eroica, wines from four countries, including Ukrainian Big Wines.Big Art. Cervim-Viticoltura Eroica is the only global wine event dedicated to wines produced in regions with heroic viticulture. The competition selects the best wines obtained as a result of extreme viticulture, with the aim of promoting […]

Today we are talking about an event similar to winning the lottery: the Wine Travel Awards editors, as part of their trip to Georgia, visited the WTA winner at three categories – Shumi Winery. And the gift was a tasting of unique wines arranged by the world-famous enotouristic location owner.

In general, it was a comprehensively extraordinary visit to the winery. Firstly, the owner personally conducted the tasting – which in itself is a fantastic event, as he is not a public person at all and do not prefer an encore to tourists. And finally, our journalists felt like fate’s favorites when it became clear that we would test wines in the company of the famous author and wine critic Robert Joseph. (By the way, according to our insider information, Mr. Joseph has launched his own wine production in Georgia, so we hope to announce more about this event in the near future). In addition, such experienced tasters as the popular Georgian blogger and wine connoisseur Sofia Nikabadze and the well-known Ukrainian sommelier and businesswoman Jenia Nikolaichuk joined the company of the WTA and Drinks+ team.

The tasting was preceded by a not-so-light aperitif of several samples and further acquaintance with the numerous Shumi’s attractions – the spectacular marani and its huge qvevri, with the wine cellar where the miraculous Zigu is aged (the name ‘Zigu’ is translated from ancient Georgian as ‘heart of the sun’). This wine is made from 320 grape varieties, includes chacha and brandy infused with high-altitude flowers; however, its strength is only 19%. Then there was the museum of artifacts “Vazioni”, a review of the ampelographic collection (more than 900 varieties of grapes), etc.

During a sumptuous traditional Georgian feast and polyphony of singing, a tasting of ten wine samples took place. Including such unique ones as the world’s first sparkling and ice wine in qvevri (102 grape varieties). The participants, at the request of our editors, shared their impressions, and Mr. Robert Joseph even provided working tasting notes with the points given (please note that this is of rare value, because the notes were made by the experts for themselves and by no means for marketing reasons).

We hope that these posts will inspire our readers, if not just get on a plane tomorrow to Tbilisi to see and experience all this in person, then at least – entice them to visit the nearest Georgian wine shop and buy one or several (don’t limit yourself!) bottles of Shumi.

Robert Joseph:

Tsinandali 2021 (Rkatsiteli /15% Kakhuri Mtsvane).

A really good example of this style. Fresh and bright, with some pear fruit and creamy texture. Very well done, although I found it somewhat lacking in complexity. 89 points.

Kisi Qvevri 2019 Akhmeta. 100% skins – 6months. 100% M<L in qvevri – 6-8 months Fr 2nd/3rd year oak.

Rich, some floral, some ginger. Nice, peary, fruit. Slightly hard finish. But good, balanced wine. 91 points.

Shobili, sparkling, 70% Chinuri\30 Kakhuri Mtsvane 2017 – 3 months in qvevri, 22 months on yeast 2017.

An interesting variety with a distinctive pepper – red fruit character. It has nice mid length with a touch of bitterness that I don’t mind. The finish is a bit dry, but it’s a good, interesting wine. 94 points.

Editor’s note: Shobili is a white dry sparkling wine created using qvevri and the unique technology of Shumi Winery. According to D+, it’s the world’s first sparkling wine in qvevri.

Shumi Iberiuli Aladasturi Qvevri Red Dry 2019, 12.5%.

I can’t review this. Both bottles are spoiled by a bad cork. Behind that, I can see some raw plum and rose petal, but I’m sure this is not a typical example.

Simonaseuli 2019 – 100%, Qvevri 4 months.

An interesting variety with a distinctive pepper –  red fruit character. It has nice mid length with a touch of bitterness that I don’t mind. The finish is a bit dry, but it’s a good, interesting wine. 89 points.

Mukhuzani 2020 – aged in barrel.

Rich red with some good juicy, dark plum and black cherry fruit and quite nice oak. There’s a little rawness that lets it down, but the length is ok. Nice, but not very complex. 89 points.

Salome 2020. 100% Saperavi, 5 ton oak ferm, battonage, on lees, 1st vintage 2005.

This is good, rich wine with dark fruit aplenty and very good texture from the batonnage. Good length. 93 points.

Editor’s note: At the London Wine Competition, the SALOME 2020 won a gold medal and was recognized as the Best Wine of Georgia.

Khvanchkara 2020  –  semi-sweet.

Traditional, semi-sweet, with plum jam character. Nice. 88 points.

Lazare 2017 – 450 varieties, red and white in qvevri.

This is rich, intense wine with interesting spicy, peppery character plus olive and strawberry. The label says 14%. I think it’s more. Slightly let down by a slightly bitter finish. 92 points.

Editor’s note: some Georgian sommeliers claim that this wine has 10,000 aromas.

Barbale, first qvevri icewine, 102 aromatic grape varieties.

This is rich, intense and sweet, with some rose petal and a bit of bitterness. I’m not sure what the 102 grapes are bringing to it… In my opinion, the sparkling in qvevri leads in preferences. 89 points.

Sofia Nikabadze:

Sparkling wine Shobili – vintage 2017 – from two grape varieties: 70% Chinuri and 30% Kakhuri Mtsvane.

Fermented in qvevri partially with pulp, secondary fermentation is carried out in the bottle by the classical method. Excellent and rich taste, aroma of tropical fruits and citrus, characterized by a long bubles.

Tsinandali 2021 – white dry – Tsinandali microzone – Rkatsiteli 85% and Kakhuri Mtsvane 15%.

Greenish-yellow color – classic – characterized by a wonderful bouquet and fruity tones. Rich and elegant taste – with a pleasant fresh taste and balanced acidity.

Kisi Qvevri – vintage 2019 – amber, traditional dry, wine from the qvevri, 6 months in contact with the lees and 4 months in French oak.

The wine is refined and rounded, with well-defined tones of dried fruit and honey. After aeration – saffron, vegetal tones, vanilla, light traces of oak. Harmonious, soft and persistent taste.

Aladasturi, red dry wine – harvest 2019 – qvevri, made from Aladasturi grapes – Guria, Ozurgeti municipality.

The vineyard is located at an altitude of 120 meters above sea level. Fermented wine, noticeable currant, with aromas of raspberries and strawberries. It has medium, soft tannins and lively acidity with a long aftertaste.

Jenia Nikolaichuk:

Sparkling wine, 3 months in qvevri.

Extremely fresh nice sparkling. You don’t feel qvevri ageing in this wine, but definitely this wine worth to try. Ripe apples and brioches in the flavour. Fresh, but not acid.

Tsinandali 2021.

Just nice every day white summer wine. Great price/quality ratio. Good choice for big noizy parties, when you plan not to stop after one or two glasses. Easy-going, full of citrus fruits flavours.

Qvevri Ice Wine.

Love the balance of sweetness and acidity. Flavour full of ripe tropical fruits. Great choice as a digestive.

Today we are talking about an event similar to winning the lottery: the Wine Travel Awards editors, as part of their trip to Georgia, visited the WTA winner at three categories – Shumi Winery. And the gift was a tasting of unique wines arranged by the world-famous enotouristic location owner. In general, it was a comprehensively […]

WTA 2022-2023 award winner/ Wine & Food Influencer/Expert Opinion/ Gergely Szolnoki donated his prize to a charity fund in support of Ukraine.

This year in June, the winners of the Wine Travel Awards 2022-2023 were announced at award ceremonies in London and Tbilisi. During the following summer months, the WTA organizing committee sent the prizes and transferred the financial rewards to the winners.

One of the WTA 2022-2023 winners is a judge of the Wine Travel Awards, Professor of Market Research at Geisenheim University and honorary professor of Wine and Beverage Management & Marketing at the University of West Attica (Athens/Greece) Gergely Szolnoki expressed a desire to transfer his valuable prize (500 euros) to a charity fund in support of Ukraine.

We would like to remind that Professor Szolnoki won the Wine & Food Influencer nomination, sponsored for the second year in a row by Dr. Ricardo F. Nunez, a well-known philanthropist and ardent defender of the interests of Ukraine, founder and owner of the international group of companies Vinos de La Luz, which unites wineries from Spain, Italy, Argentina, Ukraine and the USA. So Professor Szolnoki’s initiative turned out to be close in spirit to Ricardo Nunez. After all, Dr. Nunez not only supports talented media on an ongoing basis, but also those in Ukraine who need it the most today: the military and winemakers affected by aggression. However, as we have repeatedly observed, the owner of Vinos de La Luz performs his every charitable step in a certain progression.

Therefore, this time was no exception: the reward of Gergely Szolnoki, which he wished to give to help Ukraine, was increased to 3,200 euros and sent to the non-governmental organization Unimos Corazones in Madrid, which deals with helping Ukraine and its war-affected citizens.

With this money, the defenders received food and drinks in innovative containers – self-heating cans, to make it possible to have a hot lunch in a matter of minutes under any conditions. This is a good idea and a very convenient format for the conditions in which soldiers or refugees find themselves today.

It is nice to realize that Ukraine is not alone in the fight against the aggressor. And the example of Gergely Szolnoki and Ricardo F. Nunez is another small illustration of the great deeds that lead Ukraine to Victory.

WTA 2022-2023 award winner/ Wine & Food Influencer/Expert Opinion/ Gergely Szolnoki donated his prize to a charity fund in support of Ukraine. This year in June, the winners of the Wine Travel Awards 2022-2023 were announced at award ceremonies in London and Tbilisi. During the following summer months, the WTA organizing committee sent the prizes […]

On August 10, InVino, the first wine club, shop and bar in Armenia, as well as the Wine Travel Awards nominee in the category The Visiting Card of the Country/Must Visit, invites you to a unique wine tasting by Tevan Poghosyan.

After 18 years of winemaking as a hobby, Tevan Poghosyan opened the MOONQ Wines winery. InVino offers wines from almost all over the world, always focusing on the best. On August 10, the organizers of the evening offer to taste wines from Voskehat, Areni, Nrneni and Khndoghni varieties, as well as a talk with their creator.

In the tasting program:

• Moonq Voskehat 2022
• Moonq Nrneni 2022
• Moonq Blend 2021
• Moonq Blend 2022
• And also Moonq Experimental Wine, a unique wine that is not on the market.

Limited number of seats. To reserve a place, you need to contact the organizer of the evening – the company InVino.

On August 10, InVino, the first wine club, shop and bar in Armenia, as well as the Wine Travel Awards nominee in the category The Visiting Card of the Country/Must Visit, invites you to a unique wine tasting by Tevan Poghosyan. After 18 years of winemaking as a hobby, Tevan Poghosyan opened the MOONQ Wines […]

This dynamic digital wine atlas has been created in partnership with the University of Vienna.

Wine Travel Awards is proud to partner with Austrian Wine, a marketing board dedicated to promoting the exquisite wines of Austria. In the public voting of the Wine and Travel Awards, Austria emerged triumphant in The Visiting Card of the Country/Region of the Year category, while the Austrian Wine Academy secured the top spot in the Education in Enotourism/Unique Program category, Schloss Esterházy’s earned the title in the Education in Enotourism/Cultural Mission category, and VieVinum has become the ultimate winner in the Enogastronomic Events/Magnet of the Region category.

Back in 2021, Austrian Wine unveiled the world’s first and only digital wine atlas covering an entire wine-producing country. Austriavineyards.com, an innovative online tool, opens up a world of exploration, offering in-depth insights into the origins and flavours of Austria’s renowned wines. Despite the platform’s instant success, the efforts to improve and enhance it have never ceased. With the recent legal definition of Rieds in Steiermark (Styria), the platform now boasts almost 5,000 digitally accessible single vineyards!

For those eager to delve into the distinctive characteristics of Austrian Rieds (Austrian term for a single vineyard, or “cru”), austrianvineyards.com serves as an indispensable resource. This dynamic digital wine atlas has been created in partnership with the University of Vienna.

CEO of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, Chris Yorke, proudly describes austrianvineyards.com as the go-to destination for wine aficionados seeking every intricate detail about the origins of their favourite Austrian wines. The comprehensive platform presents comprehensive information about each Ried, including sunshine hours, average temperature, precipitation, gradient, elevation, and the types of grape varieties grown in each vineyard. Moreover, it encompasses detailed insights into every wine-growing village and region, truly making it an extraordinary and one-of-a-kind digital wine atlas.

Austrianvineyards.com stands as a testament to Austria’s pioneering spirit and innovation in the world of wine production. Yet, Austrian Wine remains dedicated to continuous improvement and development. Yorke reveals that they are actively working to include even more detailed geological information in the future, further enriching the already exceptional experience for wine enthusiasts. Cheers to the blend of tradition and innovation that continues to place Austria at the forefront of the wine industry!

Photo: facebook.com/austrianwine

This dynamic digital wine atlas has been created in partnership with the University of Vienna. Wine Travel Awards is proud to partner with Austrian Wine, a marketing board dedicated to promoting the exquisite wines of Austria. In the public voting of the Wine and Travel Awards, Austria emerged triumphant in The Visiting Card of the […]

On July 6, the Wine Travel Awards (WTA)  team gathered the award and voting winners, the jury representatives as well as the most active nominees, in a webinar led by Romané Basset, Co-Founding Trustee of the Gérard Basset Foundation, set up to honour the legacy and memory of Gérard Basset.

Mr Basset was one of the most experienced and award-winning wine experts in the world, and a holder of the titles of Master Sommelier, Master of Wine, Master Sommelier, as well as Wine MBA and the ASI World Champion. Gérard Basset was a founding partner of the hugely successful Hotel du Vin Group. He also mentored and trained a generation of young sommeliers who sought out his expertise and guidance to launch their own careers. Gérard Basset Foundation was created to address the wine, spirits and hospitality industries’ most pressing issues through education, training and mentorship.

Gérard Basset Foundation is one of WTA’s most active and valuable partners. Due to the personal consent of Monsieur Basset’s family – Mme Nina Basset, the WTA judge, and her son, Mr Romané Basset, starting from this year a special prize from Gérard Basset Foundation is awarded to the voting and jury-selected winner of the Ambassador of the year category (this year‘s winner is Artyom Mkrtchyan, a young and talented sommelier from Armenia).

The aim of the webinar was to help the WTA community members gain valuable insights into the incredible work of the Gérard Basset Foundation as well as the opportunities it offers in the wine market. It was a privilege granted to the core of the WTA community, giving them new opportunities for collaboration with one of the most significant grant organizations at the international wine stage, that were discussed directly with one of the Foundation‘s key people, Romané Basset.

In his opening speech Mr Basset told the participants about the main principles of the Foundation and its activities, focusing strongly on diversity, inclusivity and equal opportunities for those aspiring wine professionals whose physical, financial and other conditions prevent them from pursuing education and career goals in the wine industry. Gérard Basset Foundation has special education and professional training programs for such talented individuals, helping them make their dreams of doing a career in wine business come true.

The webinar for the WTA community members was held in a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere which stimulated communication and exchange of ideas. Romané Basset was also open to answering questions from the audience. In order to fully convey the details and atmosphere of the meeting, we present it in a format close to the transcript.

Salome Lomsadze, Commercial project manager of Shumi Winery, Georgia (note from the editors: Shumi Winery is the 2022-2023 WTA award and voting winner in nine categories, which, in our opinion, is phenomenal!)

“I represent the management of Shumi Winery from Georgia, and my question is, what could be your advice to us regarding raising awareness of Georgian wines in the world?

I’ll tell you a little more about what we do, besides producing wine, of course. For example, we have an ampelographic collection of more than 2,000 grape varieties from around the world, including more than 400 indigenous Georgian ones. The idea of such a collection was born in the 90s, it belonged to my father, who really wanted to bring Georgia, our heritage and culture, to a new level after the period of withdrawal from the USSR. At that time, many of the local varieties of grapes had died out, they were practically impossible to find in Georgia, because they did not give enough volume to the economy. As a result of many years of efforts of my family, the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization assigned us a number – G036. I believe that this is one of the pieces of evidence that today we have a unique object that needs to be taken care of and told about. Our current situation is different from Georgia in the 90s, when people did not even have enough food, not to mention decent wine, but we are still facing many problems, maybe not as much financial ones, but some white spots remain, including education. At Shumi we have ampelographic collections, an interesting tourist complex – with an active marani cellar with qvevri, we have a wine museum with real unique artifacts, we popularize the history of Georgian culture, which is already 8000 years old. But… Today, many have learned that winemaking originates from Georgia, but not everyone even knows where it is. Sometimes when I say that I’m from Georgia, it’s not that they don’t ask me questions about how I’m related to wine – sometimes they even ask, “Where is Georgia?” Not everybody is even familiar with such a country. So how can I be useful in this? I have a hospitality background, and I would like to use my effort efficiently, to make Georgia more interesting, and to tell about our culture and our winemaking traditions”.

Romané Basset: “Thank you for your question and for explaining the context. From my point of view, Georgia deserves more attention and I am also trying to help raise the flag of Georgian wines. I confess, I am a big fan of Georgian wines, even at my university I organized a tasting of these wines, which, I must state, was a success. We presented eight wines – three red and five orange ones, so it was indeed a successful selection… And I believe that now is the moment when you can take significant steps to promote Georgian wine and Georgia as a whole. Besides, you are already on the right track. And I am pleased to be able to speak on this matter. After all, the key point here is to enlighten the world about your country. When I talk about education, I mean two aspects. First, the process requires studying special literature, teaching people about the technical aspects of Georgian wine – explaining what makes it unique, telling the story, providing academic data, which can be included, for example, in the WSET textbook. And the second thing you mentioned is the tourist aspect. I am sure it is one of the most important tools. I will give an example – in February I had to observe one experiment. Several people from the wine world were discussing sales. Among them was the Spanish sommelier Ferran Centelles, and his task was to sell a bottle of Dom Perignon to the guests. The study participants were connected to a brain scanner. And Ferran was selling the wine in two ways. The first, a very classic sales pitch – like “hello, I’m Ferran Centelles, I’ll be your sommelier today…”. He then gave another presentation that was much more personal, with details. He talked about his visits to the Perignon House and a tour of the vineyard. And it is surprising: in the vast majority of participants of the second presentation, when the sommelier accompanied the story with personal impressions from visits to the House, it caused pleasure, which affected the brain much more than in the first case. So if you invite people to Georgia and show them how you make wine, tell them about the traditions and culture, you will get more results.

I have never been to Georgia, but my father worked a lot with your winemakers. And I definitely know of one of our fellows from Georgia who just graduated and has now become a great advocate of Georgian wine. So I think that another important perspective for you is to educate people and turn them into ambassadors. I also believe that it is necessary to invite professionals from the world of wine: invite the sommeliers to visit the winery, taste the wines, see what you are doing. Then they return to their restaurants, add Georgian wines to their wine lists and share their personal impressions of the visit with their guests. And all this information accumulates, concentrates. I think then it will make Georgian wine more famous on the world stage… I don’t know if this is exactly what you are looking for, but that’s how I see it.”

Begoña Fernández Benítez, education coordinator of the wine tourism School of Catalonia in Vilafranca del Penedès, located in Barcelona, Spain:

“Some of you probably know me because this is the second year we have worked together with Wine Travel Awards. By the way, our school currently has three students from Georgia, and eight more Georgian applicants have submitted their documents for the new year. We have a formal training course that lasts two years: a theoretical one, based on wine tourism, and the second one is a contracted and paid winery training. We believe that this is the perfect educational balance. Also, in addition to the basic course, we are developing separate courses with a shorter training period. Can we create some synergy with the Foundation?”

Romané Basset: “My Godfather, Franck Massard, makes wine in Catalonia. So I’ve had the good fortune to visit him a couple of times and experience some wine tourism in Catalonia. I think you’re doing a very good job! In terms of collaboration, this is what we could do. I mentioned the grantees whereby we work with groups who are local to an area and we give them something to their projects. At the end of this month we’re going to be opening applications for funding for this year. When we do this, we ask the groups who apply to explain a bit about what they do, whether they’ve worked in any capacity with the ideas of diversity and inclusion before. And then if they have, what projects have they done, if they haven’t – what are they hoping to do. As an applicant you have to suggest an idea for a collaboration. I’ll give you an example. We do a project in France in wine school whereby we found two projects. One of them is a week’s introduction to sommelliery for people who can’t afford wine education but want to work with wine. Another course is for people with difficult economic circumstances to do a six week training, this is an intermediate level. So you see that there’s the educational component that’s essential. And there also has to be an aspect of diversity and inclusion for people who, as I said earlier have circumstances which stop them from trying. You are welcome to apply, and so are other groups who would be interested in doing a project with us. We are open to applications from the end of July, closing in September, so you have plenty of time.”

Nataliia Burlachenko, ambassador of Vinos de la Luz, CEO Big Wines:

“We are a young project in Ukraine, we’ve had our first Ukrainian release in 2023, however our premiere wine has already won a few medals from prestigious international competitions. We would be more than happy to suggest our wine as a lot for the future events held by the Foundation. For us it will be an honor to support the project. Our wine has a story behind it, and we’d be really delighted to be part of the inspiring projects of Gérard Basset Foundation.

Romané Basset: “Thank you very much for that kind offer, Natalia. And also thank you very much for thinking of wanting to help us when you’ve got everything going on in your country at the moment. The fact that you’re willing to think of helping us despite the challenges of war means a lot, so thank you very much! I can get in touch with you and explain how it works with the auction and we can look at ways on maybe incorporating your wine, because that would be very special, so thank you. I’ve recently seen that Ukrainian wine is getting more prominent in the UK. For example, I have a good friend living in the UK, actually, she’s a Ukrainian sommelier. And now she’s actually got a section of the wine list in the restaurant she works in, where she shows Ukrainian wines. And I know at the London Wine Fair this year the Ukrainian wine stand got lots of visitors, so we are becoming more aware of it here, which I think it’s very good. So we are open for collaborations, and I will get back to you about that.”

Victoria Makarova, WTA discovery editor:

“My question also relates to have  Ukrainian wines. Wines of Ukraine have been doing quite a lot at the international stage recently. We’ve been participating in ProWine fair, in London Wine fair, various other International events. And representatives of Ukraine have been doing a lot of wine tastings for experts, professionals and wine lovers in Europe, as well as in the UK. But I understand that we have a big need for recruiting more ambassadors at the international stage, and this is exactly what Wine Travel Awards are working on. Do you think Gérard Basset Foundation might in any way help us engage such people?”

Romané Basset: “We are a registered charity under UK law, and the regulations governing charities in the UK are very strict. As such, our mandate is crystal clear: to promote diversity and inclusion in the wine and hospitality industry through education and training. Consequently, we must be very specific about the projects we can financially support. Regarding the educational aspect of introducing Ukrainian wines to the world, I believe there is an optimal approach we can take. We should consider funding opportunities for ambassadors of Ukrainian wine, enabling them to gain valuable experience and knowledge. This, in turn, would allow them to effectively promote Ukrainian wines by utilizing their acquired skills. For example, we could explore the possibility of contributing to their training expenses.

I am confident that the awareness of Ukrainian wines among the people in the UK has increased significantly and will continue to grow. Ukraine presents a remarkable opportunity for promotion due to its winemakers’ proficiency in both Western winemaking techniques, akin to the French classics, and an oriental style reminiscent of Georgian wines. This unique combination can truly capture people’s interest.”

As a conclusion, Mr Basset expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the organizers of the meeting with the Wine Travel Awards community. “It has been an enlightening and inspiring experience,” he said.

In the meantime, the WTA team is immensely grateful to Romané Basset for sharing a couple of hours with our community and for inspiring us to explore the opportunities provided by Gérard Basset Foundation. To be continued!

On July 6, the Wine Travel Awards (WTA)  team gathered the award and voting winners, the jury representatives as well as the most active nominees, in a webinar led by Romané Basset, Co-Founding Trustee of the Gérard Basset Foundation, set up to honour the legacy and memory of Gérard Basset. Mr Basset was one of […]

Throughout its 20-year journey, Askaneli has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a humble family enterprise into a thriving and triumphant wine trading company in Georgia.

As we raise our glasses to toast the finest offerings from the world of wine, there’s one name that has stood out magnificently amidst the sea of contenders and managed to win hearts on the international stage – Askaneli Winery & Distillery, a WTA nominee and public voting winner in The Visiting Card of the Country/Progressive Approach category and The Visiting Card of the Country/Brand – the visiting card of the country – Gocha’s Collection – Askaneli Winery & Distillery.

Throughout its 20-year journey, Askaneli has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a humble family enterprise into a thriving and triumphant wine trading company in Georgia. Presently, AWD stands tall with three robust factories strategically located across various regions of the country. This June has proven to be particularly momentous for the Georgian winery, as it embarked on a journey filled with achievements that strengthened its presence on the global wine market.

Starting the eventful month, Askaneli participated as a guest at the 15th International Wine and Spirits Exhibition held between June 2nd and 4th. Adding further to its impressive run, Askaneli was featured at the Merano Wine Festival Georgia 2023 on June 11th, showcasing its premium wines and connecting with industry experts and wine enthusiasts alike.

However, the pinnacle of Askaneli’s triumphs was at the Seoul International Wines and Spirits Expo 2023 from June 22nd to 24th – an exhibition that takes place in South Korea since 1992 and attracts more than 35 000 visitors annually. There, Askaneli had the opportunity to introduce the world to the vibrant and captivating wine traditions and cultural heritage of Georgia. Among the attendees were wine experts and journalists from various corners of the globe, allowing Askanel wines to captivate their palates and establish its presence on an international scale.

As if these achievements weren’t enough to make Askaneli’s June truly remarkable, the winery received exceptional ratings from the renowned James Suckling – one of the world’s most influential wine critics, whose ratings are exclusively by invitation. Scoring an impressive 90 and above rating for multiple of their wines, including the ones from Gocha’s Collection (a WTA nominee and, yet again, a public vote winner in Brand – the Visiting Card of the Country category) is a testament to Askaneli’s unwavering dedication to crafting wines of the highest calibre, and it further cements their position as a true connoisseur’s choice.

Askaneli Winery & Distillery’s journey in June has been one of recognition and success. As they continue to share their passion for Georgian wine with the world, their presence on the global stage is ever-growing. Through their commitment to preserving and promoting Georgian winemaking’s rich traditions and culture, Askaneli has undoubtedly earned its place as a true ambassador for the country’s vinicultural legacy!

Throughout its 20-year journey, Askaneli has undergone a remarkable transformation, evolving from a humble family enterprise into a thriving and triumphant wine trading company in Georgia. As we raise our glasses to toast the finest offerings from the world of wine, there’s one name that has stood out magnificently amidst the sea of contenders and […]

Daniel and Florence Cathiard arrived in Rioja for an exciting announcement: the unveiling of the top 50 World Best Vineyard 2023.

Recently, Daniel and Florence Cathiard, the owners of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, the Wine Travel Awards prize fund sponsor and nominee in The Visiting Card of the Country / Art & History Object category, arrived in Rioja for an exciting announcement: the unveiling of the top 50 World Best Vineyard 2023, a prestigious annual listing that celebrates the finest winery destinations across five continents, showcasing exceptional vineyard experiences from around the globe.

For the Cathiards, this recognition comes as no surprise. Château Smith Haut Lafitte has consistently held its position on this distinguished ranking for four consecutive years, and this year, it attained a remarkable milestone by securing a coveted spot in the top 5. Furthermore, it is the first French winery to achieve this remarkable feat.

Rooted in history that traces back to the fourteenth century, Château Smith Haut Lafitte has flourished under the stewardship of former French Olympic skier Daniel Cathiard and his wife Florence. Their transformative vision, spanning the past three decades, has etched an indelible mark on this quintessential Bordeaux winery, elevating it to a luxurious destination.

The Cathiards’ commitment to biodynamic farming has been central to their success, cultivating vineyards where shire horses gracefully plough the land, surrounded by verdant woodlands, lush orchards, and bustling beehives. This harmonious ecosystem enhances biodiversity, enriching not only the wines’ complexity but also ensuring the estate’s sustainability and minimising its carbon footprint.

The Cathiards have been joined in the business by their daughters. Mathilde, with the estate’s grape seeds and vine cuttings, established the internationally acclaimed beauty brand, Caudalie. Meanwhile, Alice manages the estate, including the five-star hotel Les Sources de Caudalie nestled amidst the vineyards and the two-Michelin-starred restaurant, La Grande’Vigne. The spa, featuring Caudalie Vinothérapie, provides a pampering experience, while a shop, wine bar, pool, gym, sauna, tennis court, and more offer a plethora of activities that can easily extend a visitor’s stay.

For day visitors, the tasting room in the orangery is an absolute must-visit. As you step onto the floorboards, a secret spot-lit stairway unveils itself, leading to the estate’s most treasured collection of bottles dating back to the nineteenth century.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte crafts red and white blends using the seven Bordeaux grape varieties, adhering to biodynamic principles and adopting some technological assistance. Satellite imagery diligently monitors the grapes, guiding the team to determine the precise moment for hand-harvesting.

On their way to the winery, the grapes are lovingly shielded by ergonomic hoods, designed by Daniel himself, ensuring protection from the weather. The estate’s own cooperage empowers the team to masterfully control the oak impact on the wine down to the minutest detail.

In the wake of their latest triumph, we extend heartfelt congratulations to the Cathiard family and the exceptional team at Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Their unwavering dedication to winemaking excellence and their commitment to sustainability stands as a true testament to the remarkable spirit of French winemaking.

Daniel and Florence Cathiard arrived in Rioja for an exciting announcement: the unveiling of the top 50 World Best Vineyard 2023. Recently, Daniel and Florence Cathiard, the owners of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, the Wine Travel Awards prize fund sponsor and nominee in The Visiting Card of the Country / Art & History Object category, […]

This year, the London Wine Fair, the official exhibition partner of Drinks+ and the Wine Travel Awards, brought together more than 400 exhibitors and more than 10,000 visitors. The London Wine Fair’s Net Promoter Score was an exceptional 23.7, which certainly speaks to the success of the event. Top UK agents have already confirmed their return next year. Organizers have announced the next dates, the London Wine Fair 2024 will take place from May 20 to 22 next year.

As the largest beverage trade exhibition in Great Britain, the London Wine Fair has been attracting tens of thousands of buyers from numerous bars, restaurants, supermarkets, independent traders, etc. for more than 40 years. This year, the London Wine Fair was visited by more than 10,000 people and more than 400 exhibitors became its participants. At the London Wine Fair 2023, the awarding ceremony of the WTA winners took place for the second time.

The London Wine Fair’s Net Promoter Score – the metric used by organizations to measure customer loyalty to their brand, product or service – was an exceptional 23.7 compared to the industry average of four. This score, which is 22 points higher than in 2022, speaks for itself about the success of the 2023 event. In response to such a triumph, key industry players have already announced their return to the 2024 event.

Leading UK agents including Hatch Mansfield, Enotria&Coe, ABS Wine Agencies, Felix Solis, Richmond Wine Agencies, Ellis Wines, Friarwood Fine Wine and EWGA have already confirmed they will be back next year. Mentzendorff announced its participation, with other major suppliers preparing to sign up in the coming weeks.

As for “far abroad”, after the effect that the New Zealand Wines pop-up tasting had on the attendees, they confirmed their intention to attend the 2024 event. A large Chinese wine stand will also be present in 2024.

Ronan Sayburn MS, CEO of The Court of Master Sommeliers Europe, will organize and host The Judgment of London at the London Wine Fair 2024. “This will be a reconstruction of the Judgment of Paris of 1976”, when the producers of Bordeaux and California competed with each other. And, as it is known, according to the result of the blind tasting, the wines of California won. The Judgment of Paris was organized by Steven Spurrier, a British wine expert, writer, educator, winemaker and trader. In 2019, Drinks+ editor-in-chief Olga Pinevich-Todoriuk was lucky enough to have had an exclusive interview with this legendary man.

At The Judgment of London, the best Bordeaux and New World estates will compete in blind tastings.

Photo: londonwinefair.com, facebook.com/londonwinefair

This year, the London Wine Fair, the official exhibition partner of Drinks+ and the Wine Travel Awards, brought together more than 400 exhibitors and more than 10,000 visitors. The London Wine Fair’s Net Promoter Score was an exceptional 23.7, which certainly speaks to the success of the event. Top UK agents have already confirmed their […]

Britt and Per Karlsson, nominees and winners in various categories of the Wine Travel Awards and a renowned couple in the world of wine tourism, have recently embarked on a project focused on wine tourism in Ukraine. 

Impressed by the dedication of Ukrainian winemakers to their craft and the emerging interest in wine tourism, Britt and Per Karlson felt delighted and honoured when asked to deliver a series of presentations on developing wine tourism and establishing effective collaborations within the industry. 

Having dedicated over two decades to organizing wine tours professionally, the Karlssons have amassed a wealth of experience. Their journey began in 1986 with a wine tour to Bordeaux, initially undertaken with friends. Reflecting on their early encounters with renowned estates like Chateau Pétrus and Chateau d’Yquem, they acknowledged that times have changed. Today, the key element in wine tourism, they believe, lies in connecting with the right individuals at the wineries visited. This personalized touch has become one of the primary reasons people choose to travel with them.

Returning to their recent engagement in Ukraine, Britt and Per Karlsson conducted a four-session series of seminars covering a wide range of topics encompassing “everything about wine tourism.” The discussions included exploring the economic impact of wine tourism, motivations for wineries to engage in it, the various types of wine tourism, and the different profiles of wine tourists. They also delved into strategies for wineries to enhance the visitor experience and shared insights on marketing, collaboration, and overall development in both wine tourism and the wine business.

Their involvement in the project was part of a broader initiative supported by the United Nations and organized by the International Trade Centre, which has ties to the World Trade Organization. Additionally, the Swedish government provided partial financial backing.

Anticipating the day when they, along with wine enthusiasts worldwide, can discover the wines and wine regions of Ukraine firsthand, Britt and Per Karlsson invite others to join them on a potential future wine tour to Ukraine. Until then, they encouraged individuals to support Ukraine by enjoying Ukrainian wines – a simple yet meaningful gesture that can make a difference.

Britt and Per Karlsson, nominees and winners in various categories of the Wine Travel Awards and a renowned couple in the world of wine tourism, have recently embarked on a project focused on wine tourism in Ukraine.  Impressed by the dedication of Ukrainian winemakers to their craft and the emerging interest in wine tourism, Britt […]