Gastronomy and Wine Portal

This year MUNDUS VINI summer tasting in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse – the 33rd Grand International Wine Award – honored wines from 36 countries around the world.

The Results

Almost 140 wine professionals including Drinks+ and Wine Travel Awards team representatives tasted and rated 4238 wines during the four-day tasting. Italy was represented by the largest number of samples – 1062, Spain ranks the second place with 790 samples, next is Germany with 744. And, well, Ukraine took part at this time with 29 samples on an equal footing with the USA.

In the medal table at the summer tasting, Italy took first place (3 Grand Gold, 225 Gold, 215 Silver), followed by Spain (5 Grand Gold, 148 Gold, 125 Silver) and Germany (2 Grand Gold, 116 Gold, 118 Silver). They are followed by Portugal (100 medals), France (90), Georgia (62), South Africa (45), Austria (43), Romania (43) and the Czech Republic (40).

The results can be found here.

We are pleased to announce at this Summer tasting Ukrainian wines were awarded 6 Gold & 9 Silver medals and as we can analyze from the official information their number amounts to almost 50% of samples sent to the competition.

The 6 Gold medals and 9 Silver went to the famous and one of the biggest Ukrainian wine producer, the Wine Travel Awards 2022-2023 winner in the The Visiting Card of the Country nomination, Brand – the visiting card of the country category – the family business of the Iukuridze family – SHABO located on the south coast of the Black Sea in the major wine producing region of Odessa.

It is also important to note the 2020 Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon according to the Mundus Vini official information has become the Best of Show Ukraine!   

Wines Awarded Gold medals:

***Best of Show Ukraine***   2020 Grande Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 

2019 Grande Reserve Chardonnay

2020 Grande Reserve Cabernet – Merlot

2018 Limited Edition Vintage Dessert Muscat – Ottonel

2016 Limited Edition Vintage Dessert Traminer

2019 Limited Edition Sherry Fortified Dry

Wines Awarded Silver medals:

2021 Classic Extra Brut White

2021 Shabo Reserve Chardonnay

2021 Limited Edition Rkatsiteli by Kakhetian Technology

2021 Shabo Reserve Cabernet

2022 Shabo Reserve Saperavi

2022 Limited Edition Saperavi – Merlot by Kakhetian Technology

2016 Limited Edition Vintage Dessert Cabernet

2016 Limited Edition Vintage Dessert Cabernet

Our Editorial Team congratulate the Shabo Family Winery on their victory and let’s hope that there will be more producers in Ukraine who are ready to accept the challenge and prove to the world that they also produce wines of international class!

The wine competition and more…

Beside the fact, that the MUNDUS VINI Summer Tasting 2023 was the already 33rd Grand International Wine Award, during the tasting dates the Team celebrated the Anniversary of the Meininger Verlag (MUNDUS VINI was founded by this important and Germany’s oldest specialist publishers).

So, exactly 120 years ago, on 3 September 1903 the Meininger Verlag was founded by Daniel Meininger. The international wine judges of MUNDUS VINI handed over a special present to the Meininger family which was personally presented on the main stage by Paul Robert Blom.

On Paul’s initiative, the judges also collected an amount to help Ukraine. We would like to thank the MUNDUS VINI Family for this donation, will let you know what needs we will send it to.

And we, as the Communication Media Group absolutely agree with Robert Joseph, the member of the MUNDUS VINI Board of Management, what he noted in his final traditional speech at the closing of the competition: “There are many family wineries in the world that are an example of effective wine business. Namely, Meininger Verlag is one of the best and even unique examples of a family business that specializes in outstanding beverages press”.

But of course the great tradition of the MUNDUS VINI team is the fantastic extra program that is usually organized for the international wine judges. This time at the Meininger Verlag office in Neustadt a detailed and informative presentation of SOAVE DOC was made. All the judges have the opportunity to taste 17 selected Italian wines presented by SOAVE Consortium at the Vinicombe of Meininger Verlag and share their thoughts on the wines of a very old region with grown grapes in the volcanic hills near Verona since Roman times.

A moderated wine tasting, presented by ICEX – Wine from Spain in cooperation with the Control Council DO Rías Baixas at the Gesellschaftshaus of BASF in Ludwigshafen took part on the 3rd evening of our arrival at the competition. Christoph Nicklas, Editor at Meininger Verlag GmbH guided us through the tasting of selected wines from Galicia in Spain’s northwest. And it was a wonderful surprise to taste the wines from this region, to find out about the peculiarities of the climate and terroir of the DO, to taste several iconic sparklings, the full-bodied and at the same time fresh white wines, as well as to discover the red wine from the Brancellao variety.

Our Editorial Team would like to thank Christian Wolf, Director Degustation and the highly motivated team of Mundus Vini for the invitation and organization of these four excellent days of the competition!

Photo: Drinks+, AD Lumina

This year MUNDUS VINI summer tasting in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse – the 33rd Grand International Wine Award – honored wines from 36 countries around the world. The Results Almost 140 wine professionals including Drinks+ and Wine Travel Awards team representatives tasted and rated 4238 wines during the four-day tasting. Italy was represented by the largest number of samples […]

The large-scale event of the wine world from HOTELIERO will bring together the best local and international producers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, wine industry experts, professional sommeliers and connoisseurs of wine culture for two days.

Be Wine Show 2023 will be held from September 30 to October 1 in the Congress center «Parkovy» (Parkova doroga, 16a, Kyiv).

This year, Drinks+ Communication Media Group and Wine Travel Awards have become international information partners of the Be Wine Show. The D+ & WTA team will present at the event their media group and an exciting project – the Wine Travel Awards international wine tourism award, where we will be glad to see all the participants and guests. If you are interested in making your company, brands and services more integrated and visible in the competitive world of wine and wine tourism, please join us. The doors of our project are always open for new partnerships and integrations.

Hundreds and hundreds of wine brands will participate in the event, Ukrainian producers and importers will present the best new products, as well as conduct professional tastings and speed-testing. This year, the Be Wine Show will be held under the slogan «Recovery» and will be dedicated to the recovery of the wine industry.

«We understand that it is quite ambitious to talk about recovery now, when a full-scale war is still going on. But despite the war and the loss, the vine continues to grow and bloom every year. Our task now is to preserve what we have and prepare the ground for the future so that the cycle of life continues,» say the organizers of the event.

As a winemaker takes care of the vine after a frost, so Be Wine Show unites industry professionals to «warm up» Ukrainian winemaking from the cold February of 2022, which has stretched for more than a year and a half.

The organizers announce that the Be Wine Show will join the collection from United24: part of the funds from the sold tickets and drinks will go to the humanitarian demining.

Full event details and tickets are here.

Join the development of Ukrainian wine culture and become a partner of Be Wine! See you at the new Be Wine Show-2023!

Photo: facebook.com/bewineshow

The large-scale event of the wine world from HOTELIERO will bring together the best local and international producers, restaurateurs, hoteliers, wine industry experts, professional sommeliers and connoisseurs of wine culture for two days. Be Wine Show 2023 will be held from September 30 to October 1 in the Congress center «Parkovy» (Parkova doroga, 16a, Kyiv). […]

On 22-23 October 2023, the world-famous Nobu Hotel will host the most prominent wine exhibition in Poland, bringing together end consumers and B2B representatives. This year, Drinks+ Communication Media Group and WTA have become media partners of Warsaw Wine Experience-2023.

The wine market in Poland has grown significantly over the past 32 years. The Polish market has great potential: according to the Global Compass 2020 report published by Wine Intelligence, Poland is one of the five most attractive wine markets in the world. According to a survey by the Geisenheim University for ProWein, Poland is Europe’s third most popular wine market.

• More than 45% of Polish consumers drink wine regularly.
• The volume is growing by 10% every year.
• Sparkling, rosé and premium wines up to +50% per year.

The Warsaw Wine Experience will feature seminars, workshops and masterclasses.

• The event will be attended by >1000 participants (business + consumers).

Warsaw Wine Experience will be held in the luxurious newly opened 5* Nobu hotel. The hotel has a spacious exhibition area and excellent transport links. It is known to host many prestigious art and design events.

In 2012, the exhibition organisers launched the Winicjatywa – a wine community platform, and in 2017 – Ferment, a magazine for wine lovers.

For more information on stand placement, participation in seminars and accommodation at Nobu, please contact the organisers of the exhibition by email:

• er@winicjatywa.pl;
• wb@winicjatywa.pl

Or by phone call:

• +48 888 105 110
• +48 607 116 863

Location: Wilcza 73, 00-670 Warsaw, Poland

On 22-23 October 2023, the world-famous Nobu Hotel will host the most prominent wine exhibition in Poland, bringing together end consumers and B2B representatives. This year, Drinks+ Communication Media Group and WTA have become media partners of Warsaw Wine Experience-2023. The wine market in Poland has grown significantly over the past 32 years. The Polish […]

«Heroes never die» is a romantic patriotic slogan, which, unfortunately, has nothing to do with real life. In the real life of Ukrainians, our relatives, loved ones, friends, and colleagues become heroes. And, unfortunately, they die. Such are the terrible realia of the full-scale Russian aggression in Ukraine, which has been tearing our country apart for 1,5 years. 

Today, the Ukrainian wine community mourns and honors the memory of our colleague, sommelier Gregory Tkachenko, who died a hero’s death at the front. “Every time someone from our very narrow circle of Ukrainian sommeliers dies, a part of each of us dies,” Oleksandr Meyer, a well-known Ukrainian sommelier and wine expert, wrote on his Facebook page. — I did not know Gregory closely, but I will always remember him as a friendly and light person with a keen interest in wine, who loved life. The moment the very existence of our country was threatened, he stood up for it. And died protecting us all. Rest in peace, hero. I despise russian sommeliers who, silently or openly, support their country’s aggression against us and our home. You thought that your country interferes in our internal affairs because it knows better how we live. You thought you were better than us, but you yourself exchanged humanity for money and dubious ideas. You thought your country was invincible. But you were wrong.” 

«I knew him personally, he was an excellent sommelier, and the first time I met him, he impressed me with his knowledge of Piedmont… He was always positive, handsome, athletic, smiling. He defended our Ukraine so that we could live in safety. A true patriot and hero of Ukraine!!! My sincere condolences to the entire family, to Gregory’s son and wife. We will always remember you… RIP” — this emotional post of sommelier Anna Pototska is a reflection of what we all feel. 

The Drinks+ editorial team expresses its sincere condolences to the family, relatives and friends of Gregory Tkachenko. We very much hope that the entire civilized world will not only continue, but also strengthen support for Ukraine, bringing our Victory closer. Heroes are not supposed to die. They must live among us.

«Heroes never die» is a romantic patriotic slogan, which, unfortunately, has nothing to do with real life. In the real life of Ukrainians, our relatives, loved ones, friends, and colleagues become heroes. And, unfortunately, they die. Such are the terrible realia of the full-scale Russian aggression in Ukraine, which has been tearing our country apart […]

On 7-9 November 2023, Coimbra (Portugal) will host an international wine conference aimed at raising, discussing and finding important solutions to the key issues currently facing the wine industry. Drinks+ Communication Media Group and WTA are the media partners of WineFuture-2023.

For more than 10 years the international wine conference WineFuture has been the main platform for discussing important issues in the wine industry. The conference is a meeting of the most influential and respected names in the wine business, as well as representatives of other sectors, leaders of related fields and competing industries. This year, Drinks+ Communication Media Group and WTA become media partners of WineFuture-2023, our teams have agreed on a long-term collaboration and are confident that it will be a fruitful and successful cooperation.

WineFuture-2023 will address issues such as attracting new consumers (Millennials and Gen-Z), working in an unstable global economy, overcoming competition from ‘Alternative beverages’, better communication and promotion of wine and related activities, etc.

Robert Joseph

The speakers at WineFuture-2023 will include the most relevant and influential experts from all areas of the wine industry – from winemakers to CEOs of major organisations, viticulture experts, MWs, wine journalists, wine writers and many others whose activities are directly or indirectly related to the world of wine. Each year, the keynote speakers at WineFuture include music and sports celebrities, Nobel Prize winners and Hollywood stars who are in some way related to the industry.

WineFuture hosts various events, including the Green Wine Future, a summit on climate change and wine that was launched in 2006. Green Wine Future brings together wine experts, scientists, politicians, world leaders and celebrities to discuss sustainable development and climate change. Over 300 speakers from around the world have participated in the seven editions of this summit, including such world leaders as Irina Bokova, Director of UNESCO; Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General; 44th President of the United States Barack Obama, and others.

This year’s speakers at WineFuture and Green Wine Future include Robert Joseph, a renowned wine critic, author of more than 28 books, Sunday Telegraph wine expert, co-founder of Meininger’s Wine Business International, judge of many wine competitions, one of the members of the Grand Jury Européen, Chevaliers du Tastevin, member of the Commanderie du Bontemps du Médoc, judge of the Wine Travel Awards; WTA nominee and winner of the Author of the Year and Expert opinion categories Alder Yarrow; WTA nominee and public voting winner of the Ambassador of the Year category Sonal Holland. In the first year of the Award, the Sonal Holland Wine Academy, founded by Sonal Holland, was nominated for the Wine Travel Awards and became one of the sponsors of the WTA prize fund.

WineFuture always features informative masterclasses and tastings. This year’s Conference is no exception and will offer participants three unique tastings under the patronage of world-renowned experts: Richard Mayson, tasting of Legendary Madeira & Port; MW Dirceu Vianna Jr., tasting of Icon Wines of Portugal; Mark Squires, tasting of The Magnificent 12.

More information about the WineFuture programme is available here.

To purchase Early Bird Tickets, please follow the link.

You can communicate with the organisers of the Conference via chat on the website or by filling out the form.

On 7-9 November 2023, Coimbra (Portugal) will host an international wine conference aimed at raising, discussing and finding important solutions to the key issues currently facing the wine industry. Drinks+ Communication Media Group and WTA are the media partners of WineFuture-2023. For more than 10 years the international wine conference WineFuture has been the main […]

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

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

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

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

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

Robert Joseph:

Tsinandali 2021 (Rkatsiteli /15% Kakhuri Mtsvane).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shumi Iberiuli Aladasturi Qvevri Red Dry 2019, 12.5%.

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

Simonaseuli 2019 – 100%, Qvevri 4 months.

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

Mukhuzani 2020 – aged in barrel.

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

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

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

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

Khvanchkara 2020  –  semi-sweet.

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

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

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

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

Barbale, first qvevri icewine, 102 aromatic grape varieties.

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

Sofia Nikabadze:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jenia Nikolaichuk:

Sparkling wine, 3 months in qvevri.

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

Tsinandali 2021.

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

Qvevri Ice Wine.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SHUMI Winery, one of the largest wine producers in Georgia, which has been repeatedly bestowed prestigious awards and titles, is presenting a new series of video blogs.

The best producer of Georgia according to one of the world’s most prestigious competitions – MUNDUS VINI Grand International Award, a nominee and winner of the Wine Travel Awards, participant of the European Union Eco2Wine scientific project, SHUMI Winery is presenting SHUMI Wine’s Diary – a new series of unique video blogs.

Each new page of the “Diary” will become a kind of guide to the world of wine: wine tips, experts’ stories, tasting techniques, pairings and much more interesting for all wine enthusiasts and wine lovers who want to improve and expand their knowledge.

SHUMI Winery, one of the largest wine producers in Georgia, which has been repeatedly bestowed prestigious awards and titles, is presenting a new series of video blogs. The best producer of Georgia according to one of the world’s most prestigious competitions – MUNDUS VINI Grand International Award, a nominee and winner of the Wine Travel […]

For the second year in a row, an international wine competition the Winelovers Wine Awards took part in Budapest from June, 7-9 and Drinks+ were delighted to be among the wine judges of this contest that ambitiously claims that aims to become the most influential wine competition in Central and Eastern Europe as Hungary, has always functioned as a gateway between East and West.

The competition features

This year the judges and the wines from different countries expanded due to the contest’s teamwork and communications. Incidentally, it is worth adding that Agnes Nemeth, the Wine Travel Awards nominee in the “Author of the Year” category, performs as a chief professional organizer as part of the Winelovers Wine Awards competition.

It is also important, that Ukrainian wines got the special occasion to take part on a free basis. This proposition from the organizing committee was immediately announced on our media resources and spread through the Ukrainian winemakers’ community. And the excellent results for Ukrainian winemakers were not long in coming. But let’s tell orderly how the competition took place as well as who’s who in award decisions.

The wine judges very carefully selected by the leaders of the competition are enough international. Not only Hungarian professionals attended, but also representatives from Poland, Croatia, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Romania, Austria, Slovakia, USA, and Belgium. Each wine commission is headed by a titled representative of the wine world, such as Wine Akademiker, Masters of Wine еtс. This year it was delightful to see such famous wine personalities as Dr. Caroline Gilby MW, Dr. Jamie Goode, Essi Avellan MW, Kristian Kielmayer DipWSET and Weinakademiker with whom I was very lucky to taste, discuss and evaluate wines in our team as a jury member of the competition during the three days. By the way, the first two days for our team were devoted exclusively to still white wines, the last – to red ones.

More than 50 renowned international experts judge and give feedback on the entered wines at Winelovers Wine Awards competition. This 2023 edition numbers: 840 wines, 256 wineries, 11 countries, 38 wine regions.

According to the statistic of the Non-Hungarian entries, the first place was Romania (32,6%) and the second place was Ukraine taking 20% of the total number, then comes Slovakia with a share of 13.8 percent.

István TÁBOR, competition director, in his address to the jury members 2023 said: “The Winelovers Wine Awards represent the latest generation of international wine competitions, with aims and activities that go beyond traditional wine competitions. The competition was created to give wines a real breakthrough, covering the marketing value of medals into commercial results to build the bridge East to West, a win-win situation for Winemakers”.

László BÁLINT, competition president, commented to Drinks+: “The Winelovers Wine Awards 2023 wine competition has made significant progress compared to the previous year: both the number of domestic and foreign entries has increased. The number of international entries has surpassed 50%, indicating that the reputation of the competition has reached more wineries, and the professional level is unquestionable and exemplary due to the selection of the jury members. Any winery achieving outstanding results in this competition can be confident that their wine will stand its ground in any international competition and market”.

We are absolutely agreeing and are proud of Ukrainian winemakers who defiantly deserve such results they got.

The Results

In total 762 medals were awarded, and 4 wines received the Grand Gold distinction. Alongside the judges gave 101 Gold, 281 Silver, and 307 Bronze medals awarded. Our Ukrainian winemakers have an excellent result – 25 wines were awarded medals. The Ukrainian Winemakers who took part in the contest were Biologist Craft Winery from Kyiv region, Bereczky “Borászat” Winery from Beregovo, Frumushika-Nova Family Winery from Odesa region, Wine Cellar of Sass family (Kidyosh, Transcarpathia), Orosz Winery (Derecen, Transcarpathia), Bolgrad Winery (Odesa Region, Bessarabia)

The highest score of 91 points was given to the Wine Cellar of the Sass family for its oak-aged white wine Hárslevelű 2021. The Gold medals were also given to Biologist Craft Winery for its Aligote 2022, Bolgrad Winery for Bolgrad Reserve Collection Chardonnay 2021 and 1821 Select Collection Bolgrad Pinot Grigio 2021.

Congratulation from all our team!

All the results can be found here.

Not only the blind tastings

Not only blind tastings awaited the jury during these 3 days of the competition. In addition, the organizers tried to present us with a wide program of exciting master classes. Essi Avellan MW in her sparkling wine masterclass showed us the difference between various sparkling wine tastes of 0.75 bottle VS Magnum. And the taste is really different because the second magnum fermentation starts on average two days later than the same wine in 75 cl bottles, and takes almost one week longer. Citation from the presentation: ”The wines produced in magnums are also intrinsically different, due to the additional processes involved in the longer fermentation”.

She also shared with us the experience from The Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships 2022. According to Essi Avellan MW, 51 pairs of comparable 0.75l and magnum bottles were entered with the same wine from the same vintage or non-vintage (regardless of base year) including all production methods. The result – 86% of the wines received the same or better medal results in magnum formats because of the specific mention above.

A brilliant masterclass conducted by Sebastian Giraldo Makovej, brand ambassador of Sauska Wines: ‘Furmint as a Sparkling: In the pursuit of the Sauska style’ where we could see the potential and different tastes and styles of the Furmint grape variety.

In its master class Gergely Ripka, Editor at TokajGuide, presented Young Aszú vintages from Tokaj.

The program of the second day was dedicated to the Winelovers X tasting & networking event. A relaxed and professional tasting of the wines by a small number of selected wineries (a list of 15 wineries was presented), and some samples entered the wine contest.

Our Drinks+ team congratulate all the winners and we are very pleased that the members of our team become participants in such prestigious wine competitions.

Cheers!

For the second year in a row, an international wine competition the Winelovers Wine Awards took part in Budapest from June, 7-9 and Drinks+ were delighted to be among the wine judges of this contest that ambitiously claims that aims to become the most influential wine competition in Central and Eastern Europe as Hungary, has […]

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

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

In the tasting program:

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

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

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