Gastronomy and Wine Portal

At the most prestigious wine competition Decanter-2024 and at one of the most significant and influential “traveler” wine competitions in the world, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles-2024, wines from the Greek winery Semeli Estate received gold medals.

Founded in 1979, with deep roots in age-old winemaking traditions and an eye to the future, Wine Travel Awards nominee Semeli Estate produces wines of exceptional quality. In order to ensure the best possible quality of grapes, Semeli winegrowers are currently in the process of transitioning from traditional to regenerative viticulture.

Hard work and love for one’s work usually bear fruit – currently, one of Semeli Estate’s excellent wines – Semeli Estate Mantinia 2023 was awarded gold medals at the Decanter-2024 and at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles-2024 competitions.

Semeli Estate Mantinia 2023 is a wine with a complex nose with typical Moschofilero aromas of nutmeg, zest, rose, papaya, mango, peach, pear. The taste is full, balanced, with good acidity and a sense of citrus aftertaste. The wine is recommended to be served with risotto, pasta with white sauce, dishes with lemon sauce, roasted pork with greens.

Also, at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles-2024, the winery received gold for Semeli Nemea Grande Reserve 2019 and Semeli Spondee 2021, as well as silver for Semeli Nemea Reserve 2021 and Semeli Thea Mantinia 2022.

“We are very happy and immensely proud of this prestigious recognition, we celebrate the outstanding quality of our wine!” – the winemakers comment on their victory.

Semeli offers its guests a variety of options for wine tasting, production tours, and grape picking. Wine tourism programs are available each day from Monday to Sunday, except Tuesday.

We congratulate the team of winemakers on such a well-deserved victory and wish them many more prestigious awards to add to the treasury of their success.

Photo: concoursmondial.com

At the most prestigious wine competition Decanter-2024 and at one of the most significant and influential “traveler” wine competitions in the world, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles-2024, wines from the Greek winery Semeli Estate received gold medals. Founded in 1979, with deep roots in age-old winemaking traditions and an eye to the future, Wine Travel Awards […]

A highlight in the international wine calendar was the tasting held in honor of the Wine Travel Awards Ceremony at the prestigious London Wine Fair. The event attracted distinguished guests, including sommeliers, distributors, association heads, MWs, and wine tourism operators from the USA, China, New Zealand, Great Britain, and other European countries.

Wines from six countries were featured in the celebratory tasting, including star locations of wine tourism in Georgia, the castles of Moldova and Romania, a model winery in Great Britain, and one of the leaders in winemaking from New Zealand. The youngest participant was the Italian winery Tenuta Manoylo from the Marche region, which debuted on the world stage this year. It has already earned the nickname “star of the region” by winning top awards at the prestigious international competition Mundus Vini and, just a few days ago, securing a gold medal at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Mexico.

To analyze this young brand, D+ reviewers requested the main speaker of our event, Robert Joseph, to comment on the wines of Tenuta Manoylo, the winner of this Wine Travel Awards 2023-2024 edition in the Progressive Approach category.

Despite the impromptu nature of the discussion, Robert Joseph examined the style and quality of the three wines presented at the Wine Travel Awards with his characteristic professional meticulousness.

2021 Tenuta Manoylo, Passo del Borgo, Marche IGT Passerina (€81- 6 bottles)

• Appearance:  Straw, with hints of green.
• Nose: Lovely fresh nose with lemon, lime, grapefruit and angelica root as well as a hint of wild thyme and sage.
• Palate: the citric promise carries through, though with lime coming to the fore. The herbs are there too, with some very attractive stony, salty character.  Medium-bodied and bone dry, but the acidity is wrapped in attractive rich texture and a very long finish. Very attractive food wine.

2021 Tenuta Manoylo, Passo del Borgo, Marche DOC Falerio (€113 – 6 bottles)

• Appearance: Straw –slightly deeper in hue than the Passerina. But still hints of green.
• Nose: Ripe lemon and lemon curd /preserved lemons on the nose plus some floral notes and peach and saline character.
• Palate: Lemony and bright but with some green olive fleshiness and definite mineral notes. This is richer and rounder than the Passerina and tastes as though it has seen some wood. The finish is rich and long and, again evocative of those preserved lemons.

2021 Tenuta Manoylo, Passo del Borgo, Marche IGT Sangiovese (€170 – 6 bottles)

• Appearance: Mid red colour with rim showing the beginning of maturity.
• Nose: Attractive nose of plum and cherry, ripe strawberry, with some sandalwood and vanilla.
• Palate: Τhe same fruits are there, with the ripe strawberry very apparent along with pepper and herbs – oregano – and some well-integrated oak. The tannins are ripe and with characteristic Sangiovese dryness.   I am curious to see how this will age and how the fruit and alcohol will hang together.

General impression

I was especially impressed by both whites and, in particular, the Passerina which is a very well made, characterful wine which deserves to do well in restaurants everywhere, but especially those specialising in fish and seafood.

The Pecorino is also very good. I was interested to see that it is aged in tonneau. I thought I detected a hint of newer oak and would not have minded a very slight bit more.

Based on the website prices, I thought the Passerina very fairly priced – at a premium level.

This is a business and brand that appears to be going / has gone through some changes. The shaped ‘front’ label design is clever and stylish.

To summarize Robert Joseph’s comments, Tenuta Manoylo has successfully passed another authoritative quality test. Receiving a high rating from a specialist of this level is another road sign for professional clients and wine lovers.

A highlight in the international wine calendar was the tasting held in honor of the Wine Travel Awards Ceremony at the prestigious London Wine Fair. The event attracted distinguished guests, including sommeliers, distributors, association heads, MWs, and wine tourism operators from the USA, China, New Zealand, Great Britain, and other European countries. Wines from six […]

The 31^st edition of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, one of the world’s most significant and influential wine competitions, marked a historic milestone as it was the first time the event was organized on the American continent in the city of Leon, in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico. Drinks+ has been in the thick of it and is eager to share all the details.

Competition Highlights and Results

During the 3 days of June 7,8 9 under the leadership of CMB ambassador to Mexico, Carlos Borboa, the city of León hosted the 31st edition of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB). The event was held behind closed doors at the expansive Poliforum de León. During the event, around 7,500 red and white wines from 42 countries were blind-tasted by 350 professional tasters from 45 different nationalities. Among the entries, approximately 620 Mexican wines were registered for this edition. The samples, collected at the competition’s headquarters in Brussels, were transported to Mexico by two planes from Europe.

So why Mexico was chosen for the First American Edition of CMB? Since 2017, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles has hosted the México Selection by CMB, a national competition dedicated to wines and spirits, which has grown in popularity each year. Additionally, the CMB Experience was introduced in Mexico City, featuring the first Wine Bar by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and the Wine Corner by CMB at Mexico City International Airport, both showcasing medal-winning products.

The 31st Concours Mondial de Bruxelles took place during the Semana del Vino (June 4-9). Baudouin Havaux, president of the CMB, in his first day speech to the audience expressed pride in choosing Mexico, noting the country’s evolving wine scene, diverse grape varieties, and quality producers. He emphasized that Mexican wines deserve global attention and that the competition’s 350 international judges will become ambassadors for the region’s wine tourism.

Carlos Borboa Suárez, director for Latin America & North America of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, added, “Coordinating one of the world’s most important wine competitions in Mexico is a great achievement for Guanajuato and the entire country, reaffirming their place in the global wine industry.”

The competition was organized flawlessly, and the wine presentations were impeccable. Tastings were conducted blindly to ensure complete anonymity, with the only provided indicator being the vintage. For some samples, it was noted that the wine had not yet been bottled. Mixed commissions consisting of five to six jury members were evaluated. Each day began with a calibration sample for all jury members. Who are the judges? These are the respectful and very professional wine experts: buyers, journalists, wine merchants, Masters of Wine, Wine Akademikers, oenologists, etc. carefully selected by the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, representing 45 nationalities. What is also important to add that of all the wines presented, only 30% will take home a medal. This is quite a serious approach, sometimes it looks like a tough approach and really does not guarantee victory, but it is one of the highest global ratings that a wine producer will receive.

Moreover, this time the international jury was asked not only to evaluate each wine but also to provide personal tasting notes for each sample in the specific comment box. These opinions are later analyzed using artificial intelligence Wine Space, the French startup to create a quality profile for each wine. This innovative approach is the first of its kind to be used on such a large scale. According to CMB organizers, the decision to change the judging method aims to “revolutionize” traditional wine evaluation and enhance the competition’s credibility among both consumers and producers. So this year wine producers will receive thorough feedback based on the results of this competition using a truly revolutionary system from leading experts from various industries. With the use of artificial intelligence, this is a generalized and very useful profile in my opinion.

As for my commission, in our very concentrated and coordinated team we had representatives from Romania, France, Greece and Mexico tasting approximately 130 wines from France, Italy, Croatia, China, Armenia, South Africa and Spain.

The results themselves are truly intriguing, with the host country, Mexico, breaking into the top 5 in terms of medals won. China is also making impressive strides, while South Africa continues its upward trajectory.

Uruguay and Romania have emerged as major international revelations with a standout red wine and white wine, respectively. The winners represent wines from all five continents, including both historic wine-producing countries and some surprising origins like Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, and Peru.

The highest-scoring white wine of this year’s competition hails from Romania, while the top-rated red wine comes from Uruguay. A notable addition to the 2024 edition is the Revelations category for the best no-low wines. Italy claimed the highest-scoring aged wine, and Spain earned the highest rating for an organic wine. Both China and Mexico made significant impressions, and South Africa continued to progress.

We are also very happy to congratulate our Wine Travel Awards Community members with the Awarding medals. Among the medalists where Moldova – a large part of our nominees – with 20 gold medals. This year, the young winery Tenuta Manoylo entered the international scene and, following triumphs at spring competitions, won another gold in Mexico. Also, the stunning Jidvei Srl winery won gold and silver medals. More details here.

Next year, the CMB will take place in Yinchuan, Ningxia, China.

CMB: More Than a Wine Competition, but a Cultural Hub

It is important to add in our article that CMB is not just about wine; it’s a cultural hub where activities and cultural understanding are fostered. Through various events, tastings, and collaborations, CMB provides a platform for deeper appreciation and connection with diverse wine cultures from around the world.

This visit to Mexico was truly exceptional, filled with enriching evening programs that offered opportunities to explore its vibrant culture and delicious gastronomy and wine.

The inaugural day of the CMB was truly remarkable, beginning with a captivating conference titled “Wines from Mexico.” Esteemed speakers Manuel Negrete (ES), ASM Master and Director of the Wine Bar by CMB, along with Ramón Vélez (ES), Secretary of Guanajuato’s Grape and Wine Association, provided a comprehensive overview of Mexico’s rich wine heritage and the story of Guanajuato as the Land of Wines. Our editorial is in the process of organizing the interview on the Mexican wines and market features with these professionals and of course our readers is going to be informed immediately to immerse yourself in this interesting market. Here are some fascinating insights into Mexico’s vibrant wine scene:

• 500 years of wine history
• 8,633 hectares of vineyards
• Approximate market value of 2,468 million USD
• 350 wine labels
• 17 productive states, with Guanajuato ranked #4
• Every 10 bottles of wine consumed in the country
• 1.2 liters of wine consumption per capita
• 80,607 tons of wine grapes produced
• Over 400 wineries across the country
• 463 medals earned at CMB

Despite some jetlag )), our day continued with enriching winery tours, where all 350 jury members were divided into smaller groups to explore the renowned Guanajuato wine region.

They were treated to warm Mexican hospitality, accompanied by delicious food and wine, highlighting the essence of the region. Our standout visit included the esteemed Dos Búhos that offers a warm and inviting hospitality experience that complements its exceptional wines and picturesque surroundings in central Mexico’s El Bajío region with the wine tour by the owner Eric Maycotte.

The winery stands out for its innovative approach to winemaking, particularly with its Pet Nat and Orange wines that was impressive. But moreover, crafting wines from a variety of grape types suited to the high-altitude and cool climate conditions the key grape varieties include: Tempranillo, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.

The winery also hosts special events, from small gatherings to larger celebrations, providing a charming setting amidst vine-covered hills and sweeping views. It is also can be added to the grapes list of Mexican winemaking Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot,  Grenache, Zinfandel, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay etc.

While Mexico is renowned for its wines made from international grape varieties, it also cultivates some indigenous (autochthonous) grapes, though these are less prominent. Here are a few notable indigenous grape varieties used in Mexican winemaking are Mission (Misión or Criolla), Plavac Mali, Lenoir (Black Spanish).

In its exclusive interview to D+ Eric Maycotte describes Mexican wines from El Bajío, as distinguished by their high-altitude origins, resulting in lower alcohol levels akin to “old world” wines. Dos Búhos wines are notably characterized by their high acidity, thanks to a cool and extended maturation season. The culture of wine consumption is rapidly expanding in Mexico, drawing enthusiastic visitors to the winery who are eager to explore wines from this region.

“Throughout the week, we welcome mainly international guests, while weekends typically see a mix of visitors from Mexico City, Leon, Querétaro, and local areas. I believe the wine culture in Mexico is undergoing a significant transformation, with more people discovering and embracing the world of wine.

Mexican consumers are increasingly drawn to the history and diverse range of wines available globally. Our wines, priced between $15 and $45, vary depending on the vintage and whether they are young or reserve wines. We have established distribution channels across Mexico, particularly in coastal regions where our white wines and sparkling rosé are popular. Additionally, we have started exporting to the US and more recently Japan, expanding the reach of Dos Búhos wines internationally”, he added.

Enchanting evening and more…

It must be said that the dinners and evenings were truly unforgettable. The combination of exquisite dining experiences and captivating performances created moments of lasting enjoyment and cherished memories for all who attended.

The first evening culminated in an unforgettable Welcome Dinner, marking a perfect conclusion to an impressive first day at Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. And it was not only one wonderful evenings that CMB Mexico team proposed to us. We experienced traditional food and spirits tasting at Jalpa de Cánovas, the Magical Town Experience as well as had an unforgettable evening in Guanajuato (the state) with the dinner at Esplanade of Alhóndiga de Granaditas hosted by Governor of Guanajuato with the unforgettable theatrical action that tells about the history of Mexico and its struggle for independence. As well as the final day of a loud and super positive concert “The glass of wine” by Filippa Giordano and Daniel Boaventura.

So, the visit to Guanajuato were thoroughly enjoyed, where the rich cultural heritage and vibrant colors left a lasting impression. The unique architecture, winding alleyways, and lively plazas filled with music and laughter were particularly captivating.

The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Team’s professionalism, warmth, and hospitality made my stay truly unforgettable. Participating in the CMB Red & White Session in Mexico, Leon was an enriching experience that deepened knowledge of Mexican wines, their origins, and production methods. Interacting with wine professionals from around the world and blind tasting wines from different countries expanded tasting skills and broadened my understanding of global wine trends.

Viva la Mexico!

Фото Drinks+ та CMB

The 31st edition of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, one of the world’s most significant and influential wine competitions, marked a historic milestone as it was the first time the event was organized on the American continent in the city of Leon, in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico. Drinks+ has been in the thick of it […]

On June 29, the Vivanco Museum, one of the biggest icons of wine culture in the world, will celebrate its anniversary. Everyone is invited to join the celebration.

Vivanco Museum, a nominee and winner of the Wine Travel Awards public vote, is celebrating its anniversary and offers a unique opportunity to discover the winery and the museum, considered by UNESCO to be the best in the world, for free.

This place was created to educate, educate, share and interact with wine as an element of civilization. And for 20 years now, the wine museum in Briones has been opening a universe of wine sensations to visitors through the winery, the museum, the tasting courses and the restaurant, in a privileged setting, surrounded by vineyards.

“I wanted to create a space that everyone could visit and understand the close and special relationship between wine and man,” says Sen. Santiago Vivanco, author and founder of Vivanco.

Santiago Vivanco says that his passion for wine passed to him from his father, who was an oenologist and also collected everything related to wine. “For me, wine has always been about more than just aroma, taste and texture. Much more than vineyards and lands. I’ve always been interested in the human side of wine and the 8,000-year history it shares with man.”

The museum occupies an area of 4000 m2, including 5 permanent exhibition halls and a hall for temporary exhibitions. In addition to the demonstration of the tools of the trade and the description of the history of winemaking, Vivanco also presents works of art that illustrate the inspiration of artists by wine, it houses works by Pablo Picasso, Joaquín Sorolla, Joan Miró, Juan Gris. It is difficult to find a better example where winemaking and art go hand in hand so harmoniously.

At Vivanco, you can learn about the origin of wine, about grape soils in every part of the world, about the origin and development of Rioja, what phylloxera is, how vineyards are cultivated and much more. In the Garden of Bacchus you will find more than 220 varieties of grapes from all over the world. After a spiritual meal, visitors can discover the gastronomy of La Rioja in the panoramic restaurant of fine cuisine.

So June 29, Briones, Nacional 232.

Come to a free open day.

Vivanco Museum is 20 years old!

On June 29, the Vivanco Museum, one of the biggest icons of wine culture in the world, will celebrate its anniversary. Everyone is invited to join the celebration. Vivanco Museum, a nominee and winner of the Wine Travel Awards public vote, is celebrating its anniversary and offers a unique opportunity to discover the winery and […]

Camus Cognac, a well-known producer managed by the Camus family since its inception and for six generations, is collaborating with Liquid Icons and the Gérard Basset Foundation, a partner of the Wine Travel Awards, for the second year in a row.

The goal of the collaboration with the famous Maison de Congac is to identify worthy applicants among industry operators and award The Alexa Camus Golden Vines® Scholarships in Spirits.

On June 12, the selection was over, with 5 students having received funding to complete the WSET certification for the Level 3 Award in Spirits qualification. And Maison Camus invited them to a 5-day intensive training on the basis of this world-famous enterprise. Drinks+ columnist and Member of the Wine Travel Awards Advisory’s Board Kateryna Yushchenko was among the five winners. Her article about complete immersion in cognacs will be published shortly.

The Gérard Basset Foundation fellows, who will arrive in the French province of Cognac in the forthcoming days, are expected to not only gain theoretical knowledge about premium cognacs, but also obtain practical experience in the various departments of Maison Camus, including the distillery, vineyards, cellars and production. This will allow fellows to meet and learn from Camus department heads, to understand first-hand what it takes to produce world-class cognac.

The training will be held by Alexa Camus, Vice-President of the board of Camus Wines& Spirits. This would allow fellows to develop their knowledge and competencies necessary for the success of their own business in the spirits sector.

We must remind that the expert commission that chose the five winners, included, besides Alexa Camus, James Nisbet, General Manager of the Luxury Division of Camus Wines & Spirits, Ian Harris, MBEDipWSET, Trustee of the Gerard Basset Foundation and CEO of WSET 2002-2022, and Romane Basset, Co-Founder of the Gerard Basset Foundation.

Commenting on the launch of this new initiative, Ms. Alexa Camus noted: “It is a great honor for me to support five selected students who will study the world of spirits with the help of our scholarship. On my own path, each diploma and certificate was a stepping stone that confirms that education is not just about acquiring knowledge — it is the key that unlocks potential, forms leaders and turns dreams into reality. In the world of wine and spirits, a WSET diploma is more than a diploma. It is a symbol of experience and passion. We were delighted to offer scholarships to support this endeavour.”

D+ Dossier

• Maison de Cognac Camus

Founded in 1863, the House of Camus is the 5th largest Cognac producer and the biggest one, still owned and managed by the founding family. With six generations of dedication to producing only the highest quality Cognac, Camus boasts a distribution network covering more than 110 countries, selling a bottle of premium Cognac every 13 seconds to connoisseurs worldwide. Cognac House specialize in the premium segment for demanding clients, producing the most aromatic Cognac among the major Cognac houses, a distinctive hallmark of Camus.

• Camus-Yuanliu

Camus‘ fully-owned Chinese subsidiary, Camus-Yuanliu, is one of the top five largest importers of premium spirits in China. Representing more than 20 international brands from the world’s leading distillers and wine-growers, Camus-Yuanliu offers over 200 products across all major categories.

• Camus Holding Group

The Camus Holding Group consists of six companies, including the Irish whiskey brand Lambay and e-commerce distribution in Europe and China. Additionally, Camus is the largest distributor worldwide of Moutai, a premium Chinese Baijiu. In 2023, Camus entered a joint venture with Chinese spirit Gujinggong (6.1 billion CNY revenue) to establish a world-class whisky distillery in Bozhou, China, combining global expertise with unique Chinese characteristics.

Camus Cognac, a well-known producer managed by the Camus family since its inception and for six generations, is collaborating with Liquid Icons and the Gérard Basset Foundation, a partner of the Wine Travel Awards, for the second year in a row. The goal of the collaboration with the famous Maison de Congac is to identify […]

Giancarlo Guidolin, president of Cantina Viticoltori Ponte and member of the Consortium’s board since its inception, will lead the Prosecco DOC Consortium for the next three years.

The consortium released a statement announcing Giancarlo Guidolin as its new president. Senior Guidolin was appointed by unanimous decision. He will be supported in his responsible position by three vice-presidents: Alessandro Botter, Giangiacomo Gallarati Scotti Bonaldi and Mattia Mattiuzzo.

The key objectives of the Prosecco DOC Consortium are to ensure product quality, protect consumers and increase production by promoting and protecting the Prosecco appellation in Italy and worldwide. Today, Prosecco DOC is the best-selling sparkling wine in the world. In 2023, 616 million bottles of Prosecco were produced. Of them, 18.8% were consumed in Italy, and 81.2% were exported; the main sales markets are the USA, Great Britain, Germany and France.

“The main goal is to consolidate the results that have been achieved so far,” said Prosecco DOC president Giancarlo Guidolin.

Also, in his solemn speech, the new president expressed his gratitude to Stefano Zanette, his predecessor, stressing that today’s successes are the result of joint hard work: “We have shared the path that has led us to this day.  It’s all about hard work!″

Source: thedrinksbusiness.com, glassofbubbly.com
Photo: thedrinksbusiness.com

Giancarlo Guidolin, president of Cantina Viticoltori Ponte and member of the Consortium’s board since its inception, will lead the Prosecco DOC Consortium for the next three years. The consortium released a statement announcing Giancarlo Guidolin as its new president. Senior Guidolin was appointed by unanimous decision. He will be supported in his responsible position by […]

The Wines of Ukraine team invites Ukrainian wine producers to participate in the “TOP 24 BEST WINES OF UKRAINE” project — a professional wine tasting by Masters of Wine from Great Britain, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland. 

The tasting event will be held in Warsaw on July 28-29. Influential international experts — Masters of Wine — will evaluate the best Ukrainian wines and discuss the prospects of their promotion on the international markets. 

Why is this project extremely rich for Ukrainian winemaking? 

The purpose of the project is to change the global perception of Ukrainian wine, increase awareness of the Wines of Ukraine brand, and promote export development for Ukrainian winemakers. “We have invited recognized Masters of Wine from key European markets, which are extremely interesting for our exports, to participate in this tasting. The invited experts will conduct a blind tasting of about 100 Ukrainian wines, after which the TOP 24 (and the shortlist of the TOP 12) of the best Ukrainian wines of the season 2024 will be announced. This objective list, confirmed by the world’s most professional wine experts, will become an reputable benchmark for the quality of Ukrainian wines throughout the year,” comments Svitlana Tsybak, representative of Wines of Ukraine, the Main Association of Craft Winemakers of Ukraine and CEO of Beykush Winery. 

Who are Masters of Wine? 

Currently, there are only 416 people in the world who have reached the highest level of expertise in the field of wine and received the title of Master of Wine. These experts are rigorously trained and tested to earn the prestigious title, demonstrate solid knowledge and ability to decode a wide range of wines and regions. They are probably the most influential figures in the world‘s wine industry. Their evaluations and recommendations are of considerable interest to consumers, wine professionals and the media. Masters influence perceptions of wines, regions and styles, set trends and drive buyers‘ decisions, developing an important role in shaping the global wine market. 

Which Masters of Wine have already joined the “TOP 24 BEST WINES OF UKRAINE” project?

Sarah Abbott MW, United Kingdom

Sarah Abbott became a Master of Wine in 2008, after ten years of working in sales, sourcing, education and marketing roles for specialist fine wine importers of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Italian wines. Sarah writes about wine for diverse publications including timatkin.com, the World of Fine Wine, and Swirl’s company blog. She is a twice-listed finalist in the Roederer wine-writing awards and oversees the content strategy and creation for all client campaigns.

Richard Bampfield MW, United Kingdom

Richard Bampfield passed the Master of Wine Exam in 1990. He regularly guides groups of students and press on visits to Bordeaux and Burgundy, and has been actively involved in the promotion of English wines. He is now probably best known for his work writing tasting notes and evaluating wines for Lidl and is a regular presenter on 67 Pall Mall’s TV channel. Richard is a past Chairman of the Association of Wine Educators and was the European Champagne Ambassador 2009.

Wojciech Bonkowski MW, Poland

Wojciech Bońkowski is a wine writer from Poland. Simultaneously he developed a career in wine, working in London before returning to Poland where he published eight books and founded the country’s leading wine website, Winicjatywa (2012), and wine magazine, Ferment (2017). The Ferment media group now also includes a wine events agency, wine school, and publishing house. He was President of the Polish Wine Trade Association (2015–22) and is a member of the Académie Internationale du Vin. He currently focuses on the wines of Italy, Greece, Austria, Central and Eastern Europe.

Cees van Casteren MW, Netherlands 

Cees spent 14 years in fine chemicals and oenological specialties. Cees started writing about wine in 2004. Since then he has written twelve books and some 600 articles on wine and food. His most recent book is Anyone Can Taste Wine. Cees is a judge at international wine competitions, and WSET Educator. He also runs his own independent wine consultancy and training business. Cees has twice been named Dutch Vinologist of the Year. He currently is Chairman of the United Vinologists, the main association of wine professionals in The Netherlands.

Caro Maurer MW, Germany

Caro Maurer is a journalist who writes to the General-Anzeiger, the daily newspaper in Bonn, responsible for the food and wine section, Germany’s leading food and wine magazine Der Feinschmecker (The Gourmet) and as a writer for Decanter. Caro also works as a wine educator for WSET Diploma in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Tuscany, Bordeaux, Paris and Norway. She is hosting educational seminars and tastings for numerous generic wine associations such as Wine Australia, Wines of New Zealand or VDP. She is judging in international wine competitions, at Decanter WWA in London she is a panel chair, at 5STARWines in Verona she is a General Chair.

Heidi Mäkinen MW, Finland

Heidi is Portfolio Manager and Partner of a Finnish wine importing company Viinitie. She became the Best Sommelier of Finland and the second in Chaîne des Rôtisseur’s Jeunes Sommeliers of the World in 2015, and the eight Best Sommelier of the World in 2016. She was selected as one of The Future 50 by WSET and IWSC in 2019. She is also currently the President of the Finnish Sommelier Association and a member of ASI Sommeliers Contests Committee. In addition to her daily job, Heidi teaches WSET at all levels, judges in various international wine competitions, offers consultation, and gives presentations on wine both in Finland and around the world.

“I met many of the Masters of Wine last year, when I gave a speech about the situation in Ukrainian winemaking at the Masters of Wine symposium in Wiesbaden,” recalls Svitlana Tsybak. “The idea of ​​doing a tasting engaging Masters of Wine came from Wojciech Bonkowski during his visit to Transcarpathia as part of an event organized by our team. We liked the idea, we contacted MV from different countries, which are interesting markets for Ukrainian wines. And literally everyone to whom we wrote volunteered to participate in the tasting and do for free. This really touched me as it is usually a high paying job. It was even more pleasing that most of them are sincerely promoting Ukrainian wines in their countries. And two of the Masters even decided to stay after the competition to discuss the development of distribution in their markets. It is incredible.»

So, how will the project develop in the future and what are the prospects for the winning wines? 

Here are 3 immediate steps:

• in the SILPO supermarket chain, branded shelves “TOP 24 BEST WINES OF UKRAINE” will be installed, on which wines selected by the experts will be presented; 
• a page on the Wines of Ukraine website (ukr.wine) with information about these wines will be created;
• over the next few months, the Wines of Ukraine team plans to hold at least 6 Road Shows with selected wines in Europe and in Ukraine. 

“This is a dream project for Ukrainian winemaking and a wow-project for our team,” says Yevgenia Nikolaichuk, Wines of Ukraine ambassador and project leader for the Silpo network. — “Cooperation with the European Masters of Wine, who will choose the TOP 24 BEST WINES OF UKRAINE for the 2024 season, is an incredible and unique opportunity for Ukrainian winemakers to receive a professional and detailed assessment of the export potential of their wines from well-known experts. In addition, special corners with winning wines that will appear in Silpo will solve the question — where can one buy these wines? All 24 TOP-wines will be collected together on a special shelf!”

TOP 24 BEST WINES is a marketing project intended to influence the image of Ukrainian wine on the domestic and foreign markets through the validation of such a selection by expert international professionals. 

Why do we need to improve the image of our wines? “In order to increase sales and competitiveness in Ukraine and beyond,” Yevgenia comments. — “We’ve are willing to expand the market for Ukrainian wines, to increase their export potential and international sales, which is good for the economy of Ukraine.”

All wineries meeting certain criteria are invited to participate in the project. It refers exclusively to licensed wineries that already export their wines or intend to do so in the near future. 

Please find more details about the terms of participation and the registration form on the Wines of Ukraine website.

Photo: Oleg Savka

The Wines of Ukraine team invites Ukrainian wine producers to participate in the “TOP 24 BEST WINES OF UKRAINE” project — a professional wine tasting by Masters of Wine from Great Britain, Finland, the Netherlands, Germany and Poland.  The tasting event will be held in Warsaw on July 28-29. Influential international experts — Masters of […]

The spring edition of the RO-WINE festival, held from May 24-26, 2024, at Fratelli Studios, attracted thousands of wine lovers from across the country and abroad. The event offered a unique and memorable experience, featuring over 10,000 bottles of wine, more than 2,000 pizzas with carefully selected ingredients, and over 2,000 specialty coffees from Constantin Coffee.

In the three themed zones, visitors could explore over 1,500 wine labels, some newly launched, from well-established local wineries and international wineries making their debut in Romania, including producers from Greece, Argentina, and Champagne.

Studio 1 — brought together renowned wine producers alongside young wineries from Romania and Moldova. Visitors had the opportunity to choose wines that matched their taste, from the latest vintages—2023 for whites and rosés, 2022 for reds—to precious labels that have made history over the past decade or more.

Studio 2 — Taste of Italy Salon, organized in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency (ICE), featured the Italian Ambassador to Romania, Alfredo Mangoni, who socialized with visitors and enjoyed his third participation in the RO-WINE festival.

Studio 3 — dedicated to importers, was buzzing with sparkling wines like Prosecco, Franciacorta, Cava, and Champagne, as well as excellent selections of still wines from the most appreciated companies.

The Italian Trade Agency (ICE) organized a masterclass on olive oil, led by Edoardo Nati from UNAPROL, giving participants the chance to differentiate and appreciate the attributes of authentic, high-quality olive oil.

Wine enthusiasts were eager to participate in the exclusive tastings proposed by the festival organizers, resulting in two of the most anticipated tastings being sold out within minutes of the announcements.

The masterclass area hosted guided tasting sessions by renowned experts, revealing the secrets of wine. Participants enjoyed unique experiences, including exclusive Champagne tastings (featuring wines from private reserves), 100-point Parker Bordeaux wines, and masterclasses conducted by international experts specially invited for the occasion.

Chef Ovidiu Malișevschi prepared several snacks to pair perfectly with the wines presented, such as Risotto al Nero d’Avola, a high-quality culinary delight appreciated by all participants.

Festival partner Macromex prepared exceptional gourmet delights for the weekend, presented at five exhibition stands. Participants enjoyed a generous area where they could taste the goodies prepared by Macromex and its brands, Food and Glory, Philadelphia Romania, La Lorraine Romania, and Dr. Oetker Professional. Additionally, they organized a raffle where visitors won delicious prizes.

The gourmet selection was completed by specialty coffee from Constantin Coffee, offering participants a comprehensive enogastronomic journey. As always, the coffee was highly appreciated and in great demand throughout the festival.

The Spring Edition of RO-Wine Bucharest was full of surprises, new labels, and gourmet delights perfectly paired with the premium wines at each stand.

The Spring Edition of the RO-Wine wine festival in Bucharest was a real success. We are pleased to announce the remarkable presence of HoReCa representatives, facilitating valuable connections between them and the producers present at the fair. The event attracted an impressive number of young wine enthusiasts, and the launch of new labels brought a fresh breath to the industry. Many new producers showcased their products, contributing to the diversity and quality of the experience offered to participants! — said the festival organizers, Marinela Ardelean and Liviu and Mihai Popescu.

Press Contact: Antonia Văideanu

E-mail: info@romaniawinefestival.com

Phone: 0763409052

The spring edition of the RO-WINE festival, held from May 24-26, 2024, at Fratelli Studios, attracted thousands of wine lovers from across the country and abroad. The event offered a unique and memorable experience, featuring over 10,000 bottles of wine, more than 2,000 pizzas with carefully selected ingredients, and over 2,000 specialty coffees from Constantin […]

The London Wine Fair 2024, which took place at Olympia from 20th to 22nd May, has attracted over 9,200 visitors, with 31% from the on-trade and 22% from off-trade.

Although the number of visitors was slightly down compared to 2023, the quality was most definitely up, which was confirmed both by the organizers and participants. In total, there were 401 exhibitors at this year’s Fair, coming to London from all around the world. Apart from major international producers, such as Hatch Mansfield, Felix Solis, ABS and Mentzendorff, which returned after an absence of 12 years, there were national pavilions which showcased producers from the key winemaking regions of the New and the Old World. Among others, Japan was present for the first time, with a national pavilion focusing on sake.

Second time in a row, Wines of Ukraine participated in the London Wine Fair with our national pavilion too, showcasing 15 wine and spirit producers from various regions of Ukraine, including two UK-based businesses owned by Ukrainians. The Ukrainian stand was attended by a significant number of visitors, among them — journalists, bloggers, international buyers, sommeliers and HoReCa representatives, as well as opinion leaders and wine celebrities, who were thoroughly impressed by a wide range of wines from still to sparkling and naturally sweet, as well as original Ukrainian spirits.

Anatoly Pavlovsky, Brand ambassador for UA Wines UK, who was presenting Ukrainian wines at the national stand, shares his impressions of this year‘s event: 

“By our estimate, throughout the three days of the fair we had the opportunity to communicate with approximately 800-900 visitors. The organizers reported that the exhibition was visited by more than 9,000 people — therefore, we can say that every tenth participant of the exhibition took a special interest in Ukrainian wine.” According to Anatoly, this year Ukrainian stand was visited by fewer buyers from large retail chains looking for cheaper, mass-market wines, but interest from the HoReCa segment and wine boutiques, as well as from smaller retailers, has increased significantly, especially considering that many of the wines presented in the national pavillion are now available to order in the UK. “As always, Odessa Black and Telti-Kuruk were favorites among visitors, getting many compliments. However, our other local varieties — Sukholymansky and Citron of Magarach — also received lots of favorable reviews. Interest in unusual, local and indigenous varieties is growing every year,” comments Pavlovsky.

Discover the Taste of Ukraine, a master-class and commented tasting, which took place at the LWF on May 22 and was hosted by Richard Bampfield, Master of Wine from the UK, and Svitlana Tsybak, Wines of Ukraine representative and CEO Beykush winery, was a tremendous success. The speakers presented 6 Ukrainian wineries and 6 wines from different regions and unique terroirs:

• Carpathian Sekt Rose Brut Blaufrankisch by Château Chizay (Zakarpattia)
• Duo Select by Bolgrad (Odesa region)
• Telti-Kuruk by Beykush (Mykolaiv region)
• Odesa Black Premium by Villa Tinta (Odesa region)
• Haut de Gamme by Kolonist (Odesa region)
• Cabernet Sauvignon Iukuridze Family Wine Heritage by SHABO (Odesa region).

“The educational zone where the master class and tasting took place was full, the guests were impressed and rather enthusiastic, asking a lot of questions. Every event of this scale is a wonderful opportunity to reach international wine professionals and continue spreading the word about Ukrainian winemaking around the world. We do hope that all the compliments gathered by our wines will convert into new export contracts,” says Svitlana Tsybak.

“It was an honour for me to co-present with Svitlana at the recent London Wine Fair and to get to know many of the producers on the Wines of Ukraine stand, which was, happily, highly popular throughout the 3 days. It is obvious that we can support Ukraine’s economy by buying the country’s wines. And make no mistake, the wines merit their place on wine lists on quality grounds — not just as a gesture of solidarity. As a result of the efforts of Svitlana and her brilliant team the wines of many of the top Ukrainian producers are available in the United Kingdom and in many export markets,” comments Richard Bampfield, MW.

Ukrainian wines have gained international acknowledgement, and professional interest and awareness are growing, due to the efforts of the Wines of Ukraine team, as well as daily work, talent and passion of Ukrainian winemakers. 

Wines of Ukraine’s participation in the London Wine Fair was supported by the international cooperation program ReACT4UA (Application and implementation of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine in the sphere of trade) funded by the German government. The strategic implementor of the program is the German federal company Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. The program is aimed at supporting the economic stability, recovery and growth of Ukraine, creating better conditions for the development of Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), especially with regard to accession to the EU.

The London Wine Fair 2024, which took place at Olympia from 20th to 22nd May, has attracted over 9,200 visitors, with 31% from the on-trade and 22% from off-trade. Although the number of visitors was slightly down compared to 2023, the quality was most definitely up, which was confirmed both by the organizers and participants. […]

VieVinum 2024, the international wine fair, which took place in the Austrian capital on May 25-27, has come to an end.

For three days, 500 Austrian wineries presented their wines in the luxurious Hofburg Palace in Vienna (former royal residence). This year’s expo was attended by 1,200 wine experts, media representatives and international buyers from 58 countries, and this is a real record: “We are delighted with how many international trade visitors have accepted our invitation to Vienna,” comments Chris York, CEO of the Austrian Council of wine marketing (Austrian Wine). 

“This is of crucial importance for our wineries, because the economic situation is not easy for them now. It also shows how popular our wines have become all over the world.” Among the guests were the elite of the international wine industry — the World‘s Best Sommelier of 2023 Raymonds Thomsons, six Master Sommeliers and twenty one Masters of Wine —  these are experts who have two of the most prestigious wine qualifications in the world. “International dialogue is key to raising the profile of our winemakers and increasing demand for their wines around the world,” explains Mr York. 

VieVinum, organized by M.A.C. Hoffmann, has been the central platform for the success of Austrian wine exports since 1998. Over the past 25 years, the value of Austria’s exports has increased more than sevenfold, reaching 238 million euros in 2023. 

It was a significant event not only for Austrian wines, but also for Ukrainian winemaking. Over three days, the Wines of Ukraine stand, which presented 10 wineries from various regions of the country, was visited by hundreds of guests. The team, consisting of representatives of Wines of Ukraine and wineries, actively communicated with international experts, retailers, HoReCa representatives, international buyers, sommeliers, Masters of Wine, journalists, bloggers and wine lovers not only from Austria, but literally from all over the world, from New Zealand to Denmark, from the Netherlands to Great Britain and the USA. All visitors expressed their admiration for Ukrainian wines and the persistent and inspired work of Ukrainian winemakers. It was a very useful, meaningful and interesting communication. Such contacts are extremely important for the development of exports and for marketing of Ukrainian wines. 

The Wines of Ukraine stand was also visited by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Austria, Vasyl Khymynets. The ambassador thanked the Ukrainian team for the contribution that “guilty diplomacy” makes to the promotion of Ukrainian identity and values ​​abroad. 

What was the reaction of the VieVinum audience to Ukrainian wines?

“Generally speaking, the response to Ukrainian wines among visitors was very positive,” Svitlana Tsybak, representative of Wines of Ukraine and CEO of Beykush Winery, shares her impressions. — It is difficult to single out one wine or winery as the most successful one though. Each of the 10 participating wineries selected 3 wines that best represent the peculiarities of their style and terroir.”

According to the feedback of the team, the visitors of the stand were delighted with dry white wines from Telti-Kuruk, Ukrainian indigenous variety, presented by Beykush and Big Wines, with the local white variety Sukholimansky by Villa Tinta and Biologist, with sparkling and still Chersegi and late harvest Furmint produced by Chateau Chizay, with Sauvignon Blanc and Barbaryska Rose presented by the Bohdan’s Wine, as well as with the rosé sparkling and Chardonnay Reserve of the My Wine winery by Eduard Horodetsky, and aged Chardonnay by Stakhovsky Wines. Exquisite reds from international varieties — Loca Deserta by Beykush and Pinot Noir by 46 Parallel Wine Group, as well as elegant aged Merlot and Saperavi by Stakhovsky Wines, also aroused great interest both from professionals and winelovers. Our flagship wine — the red variety Odessa Black in various styles, presented by Big Wines, My Wine, Biologist and Villa Tinta — was also favoured by the guests of the Ukrainian stand for its bright character, rich aroma and powerful taste. Pet-nat by Biologist, Rkatsiteli Amphora by Beykush, orange Burshtyn by Bohdan’s Wine were appreciated by connoisseurs of special wines. The real hype was created by the classic aged sparkling Grand Admiral Brut Rose from 46 Parallel.

“This is altogether a tremendous marketing experience and, at the same time, an excellent promotion of Ukrainian winemaking. VieVinum is a good platform for communication with experts, but also an opportunity to get a direct reaction from European consumers. We hope that we have made Austrians fall in love with Ukrainian wine and that next time we will not hear “oh, we didn’t know that wines are produced in Ukraine!” from Austrian wine lovers,” concludes Svitlana Tsybak. 

The Wines of Ukraine team is extremely grateful to the organizers of the event, Austrian Wine and M.A.C. Hoffmann, for organizing the fair, and personally to Mr. Chris York, CEO of Austrian Wine, for the incredible opportunity to participate in VieVinum 2024 and for his consistent support of Ukrainian winemaking.

VieVinum 2024, the international wine fair, which took place in the Austrian capital on May 25-27, has come to an end. For three days, 500 Austrian wineries presented their wines in the luxurious Hofburg Palace in Vienna (former royal residence). This year’s expo was attended by 1,200 wine experts, media representatives and international buyers from […]