Gastronomy and Wine Portal

Distinguished wine enthusiasts, we are delighted to announce the commencement of the highly anticipated voting stage for the 2023–2024 Wine Travel Awards. With 16 captivating categories covering the full spectrum of wine tourism excellence, this is your opportunity to actively participate and elevate outstanding professionals in our industry. 

Public Voting Is Open!

Public voting is now open from March 1st through April 1st, 2024. During this period, we sincerely encourage you to visit the WTA website, thoroughly review the impressive nominee profiles, and cast your votes for those you deem most deserving of recognition.

The competition is sure to be fierce, so rally support from fellow wine lovers in your community and make your voices heard. Share why certain nominees inspire you and compel you to vote for their success.

Judging Excellence

Then from April 1st, our esteemed judging committee, consisting of 12 highly qualified professionals, will undertake the honorable yet difficult task of selecting one supreme winner in each category. Winners will be announced in May and formally honored at the glamorous WTA ceremony in London this June.

Categories & Nominations

Below you can find the short descriptions for all WTA categories and nominations. We hope that it will make your choice easier!

The Visiting Card of the Country

Destinations, wineries, national brands, establishments with a wine program: hotels, local food restaurants, bars, museums of wines and specialties, tasting rooms. This category include the following nominations:

• Region of the year

This nomination presents consortiums, wine offices, and tourism programs worldwide. You can discover initiatives showcasing lesser-known wine-producing countries, highlighting their unique locations, renowned wines, historical sites, and cultural treasures.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

• Must Visit

Here you can explore individual objects or destinations located on tourist routes, and which are the enogastronomic attractions of the region.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

• Brand – the Visiting Card of the Country

This nomination is devoted to the brands (beverages and food) produced in the country of origin from 100% local raw materials. Brands are distinguished by a high level of quality, active marketing strategy, as well as national and international distribution.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

• Progressive Approach

Here you are welcome to look at the entities that have actual evidence of compliance with international principles of sustainable development, environmental friendliness and other features of progressive approaches.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

• Art & History Object

This nomination presents facilities that have a status of an art object or facilities that can confirm the fact that their architecture belongs to a sample of art or history.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

Ambassador

Ambassadors are persons representing wines, regions, enogastronomic routes, brands; associations, consortia, national wine bureaus, tourist offices, and tour operators. This category include the following nominations:

• Creative Strategy

This nomination is devoted to the entities who have the status of the ambassador of wine / a region / a road of wine and taste. Their activities are characterized by a special creative approach, creative solutions, and original views.

Visit the nomination  Choose the favorite and vote!

• Ambassador of the Year

Nominees in this category are ambassadors for wine, regions, or wine routes, showing dedication to enogastronomic associations. Recognized for over a year as promoters, their activities are confirmed by official sources, endorsements, and media. This category applauds entities with a distinctive and creative ambassadorial approach.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

Wine & Food Influencer

Journalists, professional media, bloggers, photographers and videographers. This category include the following nominations:

• The Brightest Journey

Here you can discover authors whose creative work includes a report from an enogastronomic tour or a report from a trip to an interesting region, a specific object of the wine road, etc.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

• Author of the Year

This nomination is dedicated to the authors of literary works (a guidebook, a reference book, etc.) or a series of publications in any mass media on enogastronomic topics.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

• Expert Opinion

Here you can take a look at the authors whose publications demonstrate in-depth knowledge in the field of enogastronomy and / or the peculiarities of a region.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

Education in Enotourism

Wine museums, wine institutes, tasting rooms, including those located on the premises of the wineries, academies of enogastronomy, wine schools participating in tourist projects, organizers of tours to exhibitions, etc. This category include the following nominations:

• Cultural Mission

The nomination aims to identify educational institutions and programs with a special cultural mission (revival of traditions, promotion of advanced technologies, etc.).

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

• Unique Program

This nomination involves an original educational or tour program, special tasting organizations and tours.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

Wine Guide

Guides, guides-representatives of wine regions, tour operators, etc. This category include the following nominations:

• Top Guide

This nomination presents individuals with three years of experience, outstanding professional achievements, and knowledge in the field of enogastronomy.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

• Travel Operator of the Year

Here you can find guides or travel companies that have independently developed enogastronomic tours along a unique route in their portfolio.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

Enogastronomic Events

Festivals, wine days and local products days, exhibitions, promotion programs. This category include the following nominations:

• Event of the Year

The nomination aims to identify important events (Days of wines, local products, festivals, gastronomic summits, online symposia), which took place during the year before the current year of the award.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

• Magnet of the Region

The nomination helps to support the organizers of professional events (enogastronomic festivals, exhibitions, tastings, and auctions) aimed at promoting local and international producers of craft drinks and local specialties.

Visit the nomination Choose the favorite and vote!

This is not merely a competition though. It is a celebration of the incredible passion, skill, and camaraderie found in wine tourism that we cherish being a part of. We thank you for engaging with WTA and for helping to shine a light on those elevating our industry. During voting and beyond, please stay connected with us by subscribing to WTA updates. Share your perspectives, discover new insights, and let’s revel in this magical world of wine together.

Now is the time. Scout talent, speak up through votes, and shape the future of wine tourism and the WTA. Join us on this exciting journey!

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Distinguished wine enthusiasts, we are delighted to announce the commencement of the highly anticipated voting stage for the 2023–2024 Wine Travel Awards. With 16 captivating categories covering the full spectrum of wine tourism excellence, this is your opportunity to actively participate and elevate outstanding professionals in our industry.  Public Voting Is Open! Public voting is now open from March […]

Every year, the Wine Travel Awards is replenished with more and more interesting nominees; our community is expanding geographically and professionally, and some nominees surprise us with completely unique products. This season, the nominee with such a unique production is Azienda Agricola Arrighi, whose owner – seignior Antonio Arrighi, is called Multitalented Wine Entrepreneur.

In 2019, the world heard about Nesos – “underwater wine”, the recipe of which dates back to ancient times and is almost 2.5 thousand years old: before aging the wine in amphorae, grapes are immersed for a certain time in sea water, and then laid out to wither on the sun. The first release of Nesos was just 40 bottles, and the excitement surrounding the presentation was so great that only half of the two hundred journalists could get to the press conference.

Today Nesos can be tasted at seignior Antonio Arrighi‘s wineries by pre-booked visit or at special events in which Azienda Agricola Arrighi participates.

On March 2 and 3, such an event will be the 22nd Eccellenza di Toscana exhibition, dedicated to the tasting of the best wines of Tuscany and organized by AIS Toscana. This will be held at Stazione Leopolda in Florence. The Nesos Azienda Agricola Arrighi tasting will take place on March 3. There is no doubt that at the Antonio Arrighi counter, as always, there is going to be a long line of people wishing to try the one-of-a-kind wine.

The presence of the grapes in salt water creates a marine note in the “nose” and the taste of ripe fruit in the “body”, and a large amount of mineral residues after maceration in clay vessels makes it less acidic.

Every year, the Wine Travel Awards is replenished with more and more interesting nominees; our community is expanding geographically and professionally, and some nominees surprise us with completely unique products. This season, the nominee with such a unique production is Azienda Agricola Arrighi, whose owner – seignior Antonio Arrighi, is called Multitalented Wine Entrepreneur. In […]

The Wine Travel Awards and the London Wine Fair, our exhibition partner and the winner of the WTA in the Event of the Year category, are continuing the wonderful collaboration in this upcoming season!

The London Wine Fair, the UK’s largest and most loved wine trade show, will take place on May 20-22, 2024 at the Olympia London, bringing together over 10,000 professionals of this industry. This year, the exhibition will offer a lot of new features and content, once again confirming and emphasizing its importance for industry professionals.

Organizers of the London Wine Fair have now announced the shortlist for the Wine Buyers Awards 2024, highlighting the largest ever list of the UK’s top professional wine buyers across all trades.

“We received hundreds of brilliant entries from across the UK, which presented our judges with the particularly challenging task of shortlisting the most outstanding wine buyers. We are delighted to announce the shortlist for the Wine Buyers Awards 2024,” comment the organizers of the event.

The winners of the Wine Buyers Awards 2024 will be announced on the central stage of the London Wine Fair on May 21 at 2 p.m.

To participate in the London Wine Fair, you can register here.

More information here.

Photos: The London Wine Fair

The Wine Travel Awards and the London Wine Fair, our exhibition partner and the winner of the WTA in the Event of the Year category, are continuing the wonderful collaboration in this upcoming season! The London Wine Fair, the UK’s largest and most loved wine trade show, will take place on May 20-22, 2024 at the Olympia […]

MUNDUS VINI Spring Tasting 2024 — the 34th Grand International Wine Award — has once again gathered more than 250 international experts, winemakers, journalists and influencers in order to evaluate the best wines from all around the globe. We are glad to acknowledge that there were four Ukrainian members of the Jury in both panels, three of them representing Drinks+ and Wine Travel Awards.

And we are even happier to congratulate Ukrainian winemakers who won awards in this prestigious international competition. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our medalists!

SHABO Family Winery (Odesa region), the WTA nominee and voting winner, is grounded on more than 2,000-year-old winemaking traditions. It was founded in 2003, evolving from the oldest Ukrainian wine factory located in the village of Shabo to one of the best Ukrainian wineries producing still and sparkling wines, as well as brandy and grape vodka. The company owns 1200 ha of exquisite vineyards, growing top-notch European and international varieties, as well as the unique indigenous grape Telti-Kuruk, of which they have the only self-rooted plots in Ukraine.

 MUNDUS VINI Spring Tasting 2024 awards for SHABO:

🌟SHABO Limited Edition Muscat Ottonel nat. semisweet 2021 — gold (91 points)

🌟SHABO Reserve Cabernet 2022 — gold (91 points)

🌟SHABO Grande Reserve Cabernet-Merlot 2022 gold (90 points)

🌟SHABO Limited Edition Cabernet-Merlot (Kakheti technology / aged in qvevri) 2022 — silver (89 points)

🌟2022 Shabo Grande Reserve Cabernet-Merlot 2022  —  Best of Show Ukraine.

The result is amazing, but not at all unexpected! Our sincere congratulations to the SHABO team!

Chateau Chizay (Zakarpattia), founded in 1995, stands at the spot where an old winery of the 17th century was once located, in the middle of a winemaking valley named Chizay. Chateau Chizay owns 272 hectares of the most beautiful and well-kept vineyards, as well as a modern wine making complex consisting of an up-to-date winery, a wine-tasting hall, a museum of wine history, a nice restaurant and a mini hotel. 

MUNDUS VINI Spring Tasting 2024 awards for CHATEAU CHIZAY:

🌟Troyanda Karpat 2021 white dessert wine, aged 24 months — gold (91 points)

🌟Troyanda Karpat red dessert wine (new release) — silver (88 points).

The legendary Troyanda Karpat is one of the signature wines for Chateau Chizay, and the medals are well-deserved, our compliments and congratulations to the Chizay team!

Odesos is a young winery located in the city of Odesa, the heart of the wine region of Ukraine, standing out as the country’s first urban winery. The winemakers of Odesos are experimenting with special technologies, such as alternative wine ageing. They work with European grape varieties — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Chardonnay. 

MUNDUS VINI Spring Tasting 2024 award for ODESOS WINERY:

🌟Odesos Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2021— gold (90 points).

Congratulations and the best wishes to the talented and inspired Odesos team!

The award-winning Ukrainian wineries will participate in ProWein 2024 in Dusseldorf, Germany on March 10-12, 2024.

If you wish to taste the amazing Ukrainian wines please visit the Wines of Ukraine national stand.

• March 10-12, 2024.
• Messe Düsseldorf, Stockumer Kirchstraße 61, 40474 Düsseldorf, Germany.
• Wines of Ukraine: 13H52

MUNDUS VINI Spring Tasting 2024 — the 34th Grand International Wine Award — has once again gathered more than 250 international experts, winemakers, journalists and influencers in order to evaluate the best wines from all around the globe. We are glad to acknowledge that there were four Ukrainian members of the Jury in both panels, […]

41,253 visitors from 137 countries, 4,070 exhibitors from 48 countries, and more than 100 events, seminars, tastings and conferences. These are the results achieved by the main Vinexposium exhibition, which reflects political and economic trends in the wine and spirits industry – Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris.

In 2024, Drinks+ & Wine Travel Awards continues fruitful and active cooperation with Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris. And we are glad to remind you once again that Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris has become a nominee of Wine Travel Awards in Enogastronomic Events / Event of the Year.

As part of the partnership between Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris and the Wine Travel Awards, the Wine Travel Awards Guide 2022-2023 was distributed at the exhibition, a unique printed and digital catalog that brings together members of the WTA community for the second award season. The guide will also be on the Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris website. The WTA Guide is a real navigator in the fascinating world of wine and wine tourism for professionals and wine lovers.

From February 12 to 14, 2024, Paris opened a window to the world of wines and spirits more widely than ever before – Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris reached new heights, exceeding all expectations of the organizers.

41,253 visitors from 137 countries, 4,070 exhibitors from 48 countries, and more than 100 events, seminars, tastings and conferences with the entire international wine and spirits industry.

On the first day of the event (February 12), the Vinexpo Challenge took place – a traditional blind tasting organized by the International Association of Sommeliers (ASI) and Vinexposium. Raimonds Tomsons (Latvia), the best sommelier of the world 2023 and Valeria Gamper (Argentina), the best sommelier of North and South America 2022, participated.

And the very next day – February 13, in contrast to the Vinexpo Challenge, where deep knowledge and skills were demonstrated live by the best sommeliers, artificial intelligence surprised visitors with its skills. AI is currently revolutionizing many industries – the bar and liquor industry is no exception. From developing new recipes to optimizing operations, marketing and customer engagement, the potential of AI can bring efficiency to every stage of the alcoholic beverage creation process. Through a selection of case studies, visitors had the opportunity to learn exactly how to incorporate these technological advances into their toolkit to design, create, develop, analyze, optimize and promote the bars, cocktails and spirits of the future.

La Nouvelle Vague – an exclusive platform designed for young producers in the wine industry with less than 5 years of experience – attracted huge interest from visitors. Exhibitors of La Nouvelle Vague were given individual space to present their debut wines in ideal conditions to an audience of qualified distributors. The aim of La Nouvelle Vague is to give young producers just starting their journey a decisive boost at Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris and allow them to develop their distribution network in France and abroad.

In an expanded format (1500 m2), with more than 140 alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, beer and cider exhibitors, Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris presented Be Spirits, a platform dedicated to spirits, beer, cider and mixology of the future. Innovative events and concepts were also presented, which will help decipher new market trends, discover products that destroy stereotypes and are able to unite producers, distributors, bartenders and experts, for the sake of building the business of the future.

Among the new Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris directions:

• NO/LOW – as a response to the rapid development of the non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks market. About twenty international brands were presented: non-alcoholic and low-alcohol beverages, including exquisite tinctures, functional beverages (non-alcoholic beverages containing minerals, vitamins, amino acids, probiotics, etc.), etc.;
• BEERS & CIDERS is the main novelty of this year’s exhibition, the zone of beer and cider, the consumption of which has grown rapidly in recent years.

INFINITE BAR impressed visitors with its scale – in the largest temporary cocktail bar in France (40 meters long) twenty world famous cocktail bars worked, including three guest bars from London, Barcelona and Madrid. Bartenders and mixologists collaborated for three days to offer visitors their first-class mixes.

CRAFT PAVILION offered a line of inspiring authentic brands from young talented makers.

The educational program of Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris deserves special attention. Speakeasy room became a place for lively reports, panel discussions and master classes conducted by international industry experts.

Since 2022, Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris, like all Vinexposium events, has committed to achieving an important and ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. In 2023, Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris became the first Vinexposium event to measure and take action to reduce carbon emissions based on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) performance indicators aimed at achieving carbon neutrality. A team of professionals has defined indicators that allow us to measure, adjust and track the consequences of our actions over time. Their monitoring is carried out using the Climeet resource developed by Green Evénements. Detailed indicators and results can be found here. After the event, exhibitors and visitors, service providers and partners were consulted to jointly carry out the first carbon audit of Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris.

More information on the website.

41,253 visitors from 137 countries, 4,070 exhibitors from 48 countries, and more than 100 events, seminars, tastings and conferences. These are the results achieved by the main Vinexposium exhibition, which reflects political and economic trends in the wine and spirits industry – Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris. In 2024, Drinks+ & Wine Travel Awards continues […]

On March 20-22, a session of different types of rosé wines will be held in the city of Split as part of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.

The rosé wine session is open to all types of rosé wines (still, sparkling, semi-sparkling and fortified). The purpose of the event is to satisfy market demands and the growing consumer interest in rosé wine. The competition provides award-winning producers with promotion and marketing tools from the moment the wine goes on sale.

The event will take place on March 20-22 in the city of Split (Croatia). The deadline for registration is February 26, 2024.

The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Rosé will feature more than 1,200 rosé wines from around the world. 60 experts from 22 countries will evaluate the presented samples. The results will be published on March 28, 2024.

Important dates:

• Closing date for registration 26/02/2024
• Deadline for sending samples 26/02/2024
• Competition dates from 20 to 22/03/2024
• Results 28/03/2024

IMPORTANT INFO: on the request of Wines of Ukraine, the CMB organizers are offering Ukrainian participants a 20% discount for submitting their samples, valid for all tasting sessions in 2024. For further details and promo code, please contact Wines of Ukraine team at info@ukr.wine.

On March 20-22, a session of different types of rosé wines will be held in the city of Split as part of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. The rosé wine session is open to all types of rosé wines (still, sparkling, semi-sparkling and fortified). The purpose of the event is to satisfy market demands and […]

The Regional Editor-in-Chief at the WTA Guide and Drinks+ Magazine, Brand Ambassador of Vinos de La Luz international group of companies Nataliia Burlachenko specifically for Drinks+, conducted an interview during her stay in Spain with the leaders of the most well-known association of winemakers – Mr. Enrique Pascual García, president of the regulatory council of Ribera del Duero DO, and Mr. Miguel Sanz Cabrejas, general director of Ribera del Duero DO. The conversation revolved around the successful experience that has enabled the Ribera del Duero brand to hold a worthy position in Spain’s top 100 brands ranking today.

How is it the situation at the moment with Ribera del Duero in general?

Enrique Pascual García: The situation is very good. We are currently growing, positioning ourselves not only in volume but also in terms of quality which is essencial. So at the moment we have obtained very interesting outcomes. All the DO is facing this moment of growth also because  its image and reputation of quality is changing. We are not just interested in growing the volume of our sales.

What are you doing that is making you grow like this?

E.P.G: In terms of quality measures, in viticulture but also at the wineries we are making sure that we are delivering that same quality. This system that is being implemented is helping us since the beginning with high principles. This is how we distinguish ourselves from the other because we have been focusing on that especifically. In this market, there are only two ways to distinguish yourself. Either by price or by quality. The wines and its production have been growing intensively on quality. I know the production almost since the beginning of it so I faced its evolution and lived very close to it. I can tell you that because of that, we have been given the possibility to growth our business. Nowadays we are the only ones to deliver this kind of quality in the region.

What do the producers that are out of the DO say about this?

E.P.G: All the people that are inside the region is part of the DO. There is only one project that is out of it but because of the kind of wine they produce. The ones from outside that want to be integrated can not do that.

Are you going to make any new changes in terms of law and legislation?

E.P.G: At the moment we are working on a project about new varietals that may be included into the region because of the climate changes, allowing us to keep producing the wines we currently make. They have to be varietals that will improve with time. Tempranillo will still be tempranillo but we have to consider these factors to protect us from the future changes. We are also trying to bring back some varietals that we can regulate. All of this is very complicated, especially if we wouldn’t have the association that is helping us developing the project.

It’s true that Malbec was very hard to work with because it used to be very sensitive to this kind of climate and region, very hard to achieve the intended colour etc. Do you work with the OIV? Because they produce and provide a lot of rules and recommendations about varietals and they study very deeply this topic.

E.P.G: For us the OIV is in the international contexto which, for us, is not that relevant. So all the recommendations they provide are more the matter of the national level organisations or the governmental ones.

How is the situation about Albillo? Do you tend to plant  more this white varietal? Why did you choose this grape? Is it to create a competition with Rueda?

E.P.G: What we intended to do was to create a different line. We see no advantage on competing with anyone. We are a team. Our goal is to define our viticulture heritage. The whites of Ribera del Duero have the goal to not be sold young, so they usually have barrel aging and they have similarities with wines from Burgundy. They are not so similar to the rest of whites from Spain in terms of style, more complex. The ideal is to position them in Europe with 5/8 years old. We have to learn, this is something new for us too. And now it has been planted more and more. Nowadays, to keep the profile of the Roses, they use Albillo. With the demand that we are facing, the viticultures are delivering by planting it more. Although it is in fact more expensive than Tempranillo. The Claret wine has always been a mix between white and red with no percentages, it was made naturally without that kind of control. There was no measure, we just mixed it until we reach our final goal. The result is very good. It has aromas of white wine but with the complexity of  red. All of the first red wines from Ribera del Duero had white grapes in it. From 1982 to 1990 the red and the white started being separated and the process finished in 1990. We have modified the conditions allowing to pour up to 25% of white in red.

We did it to be crossed with other varietals. Last year, 200.000 bottles were sold. When they are released, in less than one month they are sold out.

How was the impact of covid for the producersp Also how influences the war in Ukraine? Did you notice any sort of negative impact on sales?

E.P.G: Covid was not like we thought it would be for the business. It wasn’t very significant impact and we recovered from it very quickly. Overall, we didn’t face any problem regarding the war in Ukraine, Undirectly, it affects us on a level because of the world inflation. The energy increase was more impactful.

What about in terms of Enotourism? Is there negative effect that impacted you?

E.P.G: In terms of Wine tourism the effects were very strong but we are recovering very well and we faced a growth in terms of quality tourism which is something that we are looking for.

And the quality that you are achieveing is not only in terms of wine but also in terms of services, Hospitality, Location of the route because it is a very strategic point from Madrid, France. There are a lot of things to see and taste and a lot of diversity in general.

E.P.G: The business of wine is now positioned together with tourism and finally it is open. Logically it is very hard to fight against the coastal tourism and rural tourism, which is our scope but weare  developing and offering quality and well directed to succeed. The wine tourism has an advantage. It was born because people fell in love with a certain wine and they want to see how it is made and what’s the story behind it. And that’s what we are transmitting to people and it’s our main factor of attraction and allow us to grow, especially in consumers who are willing to pay more and more. Our signature is: If we are capable to offer a wine with such quality, the service has to deliver that same quality because that’s what people will be hoping for.

Which are the duties of the board? To regulate or to develop the DO?

Miguel Sanz Cabrejas: It has 2 roles. At the moment we are certifying and we also make the legislation because we need to make sure the quality is being delivered. We are present in 11 markets which represent 76% of Ribera del Duero exports. The goal is to reach these 3 things: • The wineries export increase • Increase the price of the product, generating value • Generate brand awareness.Most of the wineries in Ribera del Duero are very small and without many resources. We never use generic wines to represent us. The wine is worth more because it is better. Everything is connected to the quality. Personally I don’t come from the wine world. I am the first director of a DO that never had experience in wine, only in the food industry in the enterprise level. This is the philosophy here too. We have our goals to reach and negotiate our  plans. We created one international comission of promotion in which 6 wineries are participating and these ones are the ones that export to the 11 markets. So, when we plan a market strategy, they know that same market and they can cooperate between each other.

The producers and vine growers are part of it?

M.S.C: The administration includes 5 vine growers and 5 wineries. And they all have the same power. We do study the market properly and then discuss and take the necessary measures to apply to all. If you have the perfect product but you don’t know how to sell it there is no point.

The producers and vine growers are happy about all the work that has been developed?

M.S.C: All the decisions that are made are common to all, there are no votes. They are all very happy. We exist to recommend not to create different opinions.

How’s the reputation of Ribera del Duero inside the country?

M.S.C: It is excellent. At the moment it is considered a top wine in Spain with quality. In 2021, there was a list of 100 spanish brands that deliver trust the consumer. There were only 2 wine regions: Rioja and Ribera del Duero (out of 101 in all Spain) and Vega Sicilia that is Ribera del Duero is also in this list. In terms of notority, you could see that in covid period because the market was closed and when the sales increased online, the consumer understood that Ribera del Duero had a higher price but it was better at satisfying its needs because while the sector was falling, we had better sales because of the brand awareness created. The young generations had a very good perception of what we did and target that we reached. They understood our essence. They are looking for a different profiles which we offer. The kind of style that still has the quality and the fruityness.

Why is Ribera evolving much faster than Rioja?

E.P.G: Ribera del Duero had so much success in Spain already that you didn’t need to export it. From the 310 wineries we have, 120 export regularly. 40 are in charge of almost 80% of the total exports. So, after covid everything changed. The national market was closed, we had to open globaly in order to save the business. There were few wineries that were selling only in hotels. And now they are in the international context. Another very important element is that, 8 years ago when I first joined DO I went to US for a business trip and I asked the local businesses why do you only have few Ribera wines? And they would answer like “ why would we if they all taste the same? ”. After that, there was a revolution on the wineries level individually because they understood what the market wanted and started to make different wines and giving it a different profile. So now, that diversity is what made the region grow. Now, in the US, if they want to show the diversity of Ribera they need to have 5 or more wines to really represent it. Also, not all the world has the monetary capacity to export outside Spain. Ribera is a very recent region that exists now for 40 years so also there was still no capacity to look to the outside market as the main goal. The way that one winery creates to open the market, facilitates to the other ones and that is the kind of cooperation we are looking for. The big ones help the small ones and the small ones reinforce the big ones. Nowadays the buyer knows what he is looking for when we are selling Ribera del Duero, we do not really need to prove its reputation.

The Regional Editor-in-Chief at the WTA Guide and Drinks+ Magazine, Brand Ambassador of Vinos de La Luz international group of companies Nataliia Burlachenko specifically for Drinks+, conducted an interview during her stay in Spain with the leaders of the most well-known association of winemakers – Mr. Enrique Pascual García, president of the regulatory council of […]

In 2024, the renowned ProWein trade fair for wine and spirits will once again welcome thousands of global wine professionals to Dusseldorf from March 10 to 12.

The collaborative partnership between the Wine Travel Awards, an innovative annual global project in the field of wine tourism initiated by Communication Media Group Drinks+, and one of the primary exhibitions, persists with continued success.

This year in collaboration with ProWein the Wine Travel Awards Team will gather the professionals in the global wine and spirits market to take place at the ProWein forum event: The Wine Travel Awards Tasting Around the Sustainable World.

• FORUM is located in hall 13, booth F100.
• Date: Tuesday, 12.03.2024
• 14.00 — 15.00

In the framework of the event Wine Travel Awards presents the Wine Tasting showcasing six Community Members of the project. These producers, hailing from various countries worldwide, embody established models of business and production.

In addition, attendees of the event will have the opportunity to savor the results of progressive practices, and the theoretical “aperitif” of the tasting will be a brilliant performance of Prof. Dr. Gergely Szolnoki* from Geisenheim University, the WTA jury for the third year in a row, who will address: where does sustainable wine tourism start and where does it end; which concrete measures contribute most effectively to the sustainable development of the wine tourism sector; and what are the main drivers and barriers to the implementation of sustainable wine tourism. The conclusions and specific recommendations, set out in the presentation, are based on study the guidelines and best practice of more than 1,500 wineries in 42 countries – the main drivers of sustainable wine tourism.

Moreover, at the ProWein international trade press stand, the Wine Travel Awards (WTA) Guide 2022—2023* — the final catalogue of the WTA community members of the second WTA season, a unique print and digital edition is going to be presented and distributed.

The WTA Guide aims to showcase the most dynamic and inventive wine and spirit businesses, brands, personalities, and projects participating in the second edition of the Wine Travel Awards. Beyond the printed version, the WTA Guide will be featured on the Digital Trade Press Stand — an online platform by Messe Düsseldorf, enhancing its visibility through integration with the ProWein Web Portal.

For more details, contact us via partnership@winetravelawards.com

*Communication Media Group Drinks+ has been operating within the Eastern and Southern Europe markets since 1993, and have been successfully working as a media partner with the ProWine exhibition for 15 years.

*Gergely Szolnoki, Professor of Market Research at Geisenheim University (Germany) and honorary professor of Wine and Beverage Management & Marketing at the University of West Attica (Athens/Greece). His research fields cover consumer behaviour, communication and social media, organic wines, market analysis and wine tourism. In addition to his scientific activities, Gergely is a delegated expert in the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) in the fields of wine economics and statistics.

In 2024, the renowned ProWein trade fair for wine and spirits will once again welcome thousands of global wine professionals to Dusseldorf from March 10 to 12. The collaborative partnership between the Wine Travel Awards, an innovative annual global project in the field of wine tourism initiated by Communication Media Group Drinks+, and one of the […]

In its 13th edition, the Balkans International Wine Competition opens new avenues by expanding into two countries with deep wine traditions – Bulgaria and Turkey.

This developement not only reveals the growing international significance of the competition but also emphasizes the ambition to further recognize the diversity and quality of wines from the region. The competition will take place on June 4-8, 2024.

There are two prominent players in this year`s edition – Tsvetelina Nikolova from Katarzyna Estate and Zeynep Arca Şalliel from Arcadia Vineyards. Their efforts and vision for the sustainable development of their wineries over the years serve as an inspiration for the entire industry.

• Tsvetelina Nikolova, behind the successes of Katarzyna Estate, is renowned for her commitment to producing wines that reflect the uniqueness and richness of Bulgarian wine regions. Her work highlights the importance of innovation and the pursuit of creating world-class products.
• Zeynep Arca Şalliel, managing Arcadia Vineyards, pioneers the application of sustainable methods in Turkish winemaking, thereby contributing to environmental protection and creating wines with a distinct character.

Galina Niforou, Chairwoman of the Bulgarian Association of Wine Exporters and Founder of the Competition, shares her vision: “This year’s edition of the Balkans International Wine Competition, spanning across Bulgaria and Turkey, marks a milestone in our journey to illuminate the diverse and rich wine culture of the Balkans. By showcasing the exceptional leadership and sustainable practices of figures like Tsvetelina Nikolova and Zeynep Arca Şalliel, we celebrate not only the excellence of Balkan wines but also the pioneering spirit of female entrepreneurs in our industry. This expansion reflects our dedication to fostering new trade relationships and promoting our unique wine heritage on an international scale.”

The Balkans International Wine Competition & Festival gives diferent wine businessmen – producers, distributors, importers – a chance to start new trade relationships. Each year, the competition is held in a different Balkan country, aiding in the promotion of the host nation. The expansion of the competition into two countries is a clear sign of the diversity and rich wine culture of the Balkans, while simultaneously opening up new opportunities for development and collaboration.

More info in depth is available on the website.

In its 13th edition, the Balkans International Wine Competition opens new avenues by expanding into two countries with deep wine traditions – Bulgaria and Turkey. This developement not only reveals the growing international significance of the competition but also emphasizes the ambition to further recognize the diversity and quality of wines from the region. The […]

Wine&Spirits Trade Show is a new project from the organizers of the international wine, spirits and beer expo, Wine&Spirits Ukraine. For six years in a row, this expo has been one of Ukraine‘s most important business networking platforms for retail buyers and HoReCa representatives, a place where importers and distributors find suppliers of quality alcoholic beverages, and manufacturers gain reliable distribution partners. 

This year, the organizers decided to expand the project and are planning to hold two large-scale events. In autumn, Kyiv will host the traditional Wine&Spirits Expo, which will once again attract buyers from all over Ukraine, as well as foreign importers. Sooner this spring, the Wine&Spirits Trade Show will be held in Kyiv, focusing primarily on the HoReCa segment and wine / alcohol buying for the hotel and restaurant sector. 

An intense program consisting of conferences, seminars and master classes, numerous business contacts, and the largest exhibition of wine and spirits producers in Ukraine — this is what awaits the participants and guests of the Wine&Spirits Trade Show on April 26-27. “The development of the Ukrainian market of wine and quality alcoholic beverages, as well as promoting the culture of wine and spirits consumption, is a priority for us,” says Victoria Agromakova, founder and owner of Wine&Spirits Ukraine and Wine&Spirits Trade Show. — We set ourselves the goal of creating a Ukrainian wine list in every venue of the country! The goal is ambitious, but we have all the opportunities and resources for it.” 

Program 

One of the main issues to be discussed at the Wine&Spirits Conference will be the development and achievements of Ukrainian winemaking and the production of spirits. Experienced experts will explain what fine quality products the domestic market offers, how to create a unique wine and spirits list based on Ukrainian products, as well as how to make the Ukrainian consumers fall in love with them. Event participants will be able not only to taste Ukrainian wines and beverages, but also to learn more about their production during presentations from producers. 

The Trade Show will also host a series of training workshops for HoReCa representatives at the Wine&Spirits Academy. This is an excellent opportunity to improve the qualifications of the staff in the restaurant and hotel segment. The organizers have also prepared a special program for sommeliers. Well-known international and Ukrainian experts will share their experience during lectures and master classes. Also, Ukrainian sommeliers will be able to attend tastings of wines and alcoholic beverages, which are currently not available in Ukraine. 

An important event of the spring show will be another Ukraine Wine&Spirits Awards tasting competition. The best sommeliers and experts from Ukraine and abroad will taste and evaluate the new Ukrainian and international releases. The detailed program of master classes, presentations and educational events will soon be available on Wine&Spirits Ukraine‘s pages in Social Media and on the ws.events website.

Location 

Wine&Spirits Trade Show will be held in one of the most picturesque corners of the Ukrainian capital — Natalka Park. Guests and participants of the show will have a wonderful opportunity to combine business and pleasure, enjoying the warm April weather, the green park and even… a game of golf! Obolon Event Hall Hosting the show is a new hot spot located in the Natalka Park Golf Center. Wine & Golf is a great combination not to be missed. More details coming soon! 

Address 

Obolon Event Hall | Kyiv Golf Center 
20A Obolonska naberezhna, Kyiv.

Wine&Spirits Trade Show is a new project from the organizers of the international wine, spirits and beer expo, Wine&Spirits Ukraine. For six years in a row, this expo has been one of Ukraine‘s most important business networking platforms for retail buyers and HoReCa representatives, a place where importers and distributors find suppliers of quality alcoholic […]