Gastronomy and Wine Portal

The WTA Awarding Ceremony, where the winners of all 6 nominations of the Wine Travel Awards (WTA) 2022-2023 were officially revealed, took place traditionally at the London Wine Fair. However, due to the fact that we had many Georgian companies and prominent figures among the winners, we decided to continue our celebration in Georgia where WinExpo Georgia became our exhibition partner. 

WinExpo Georgia, a renowned wine industry exhibition with a consistent 15-year legacy, offers Georgian producers an exceptional platform to showcase their products to both domestic and global markets. Our main objective for the expo’s 2023 edition was to help visitors learn more about the dynamic and innovative WTA community, increase the number of its Georgian members and forge new partnerships and cooperation. 

The WTA celebration in honour of the winners of the second edition marked the afternoon of 2 June with a great atmosphere. The WTA winners from Georgia got extra attention and were awarded with trophies and diplomas.

Our VIP guests – wine, tourism and HoReCa professionals, journalists and bloggers – were welcomed with a glass of Shobili 2018, an exclusive qvevri sparkling wine made according to SHUMI’s patented technology. Shobili 2018 was awarded with a gold medal at The Qvevri Wine Hunter Award Georgia 2022. As a welcome wine from SHUMI Winery, WTA attendees could also have Tsinandali, a dry white wine of the Iberiuli premium collection.

Our sincerest congratulations to SHUMI Winery who was chosen the winner in three different categories of the Visiting card of the country nomination – Must visit, Progressive Approach, Art & History Object – by three independent WTA judges! Stéphane Badet, lecturer at ISVV – Institute of Vine and Wine Science at the University of Bordeaux, specializes in wine economy, industry management, business, marketing and tourism for many years, gave the victory to the SHUMI Winery in the Must Visit category. Gergely Szolnoki, Professor of Market Research at Geisenheim University, made his choice also in favour of the famous historical Georgian winery in the Progressive Approach category. SHUMI won the Art & History Object judged by Sarah Abbott MW, Founder of Swirl Wine Group, marketing strategist, communications specialist, wine judge and writer. Besides, SHUMI became an absolute record-holder in different categories as a public voting winner. 

Salome Lomsadze, Commercial Director at SHUMI Winery, received the award and noted how pleased the SHUMI’s team is that world-class wine tourism experts notice and recognize the long-term efforts of the winery’s team with high awards. Also, Salome explained why she appreciates the WTA project so much, because it is the epitome of modern international marketing, not just a “vanity fair”, but a “long-term play”, which today brings results to the nominees and all participants of the award.

We happily raised our glasses to such bright winners of the public vote from Georgia, awarding them with diplomas:

• Château Mukhrani – Must Visit category – a premier wine destination in Georgia committed to upholding the utmost standards in the production and delivery of all its products and services. It seamlessly merges the distinctiveness of Georgia with the finest international practices and expertise.
• Harvest Celebration at Chateau Mukhrani – Event of the Year.
• Gocha’s Collection – Askaneli Winery & Distillery – Brand – the Visiting Card of the Country.
• Askaneli Winery & Distillery – Progressive Approach – ranks within the top three wine production and vine farming companies. The company plays a significant role in safeguarding and promoting the cultivation of native grape varieties, thereby elevating the overall prestige of Georgian winemaking.
• WinExpo Georgia – Magnet of the Region.

Nino Gamrekeli, Creative Director at WinExpo Georgia, emphasized on how important common industry efforts are in promoting Georgia as an attractive enogastronomic destination. WinExpo Georgia’s role here is to become an international platform that contributes to this recognition. 

The Brightest Journey category features two proactive promoters of Georgian wines who entered top 5 during the public voting stage this year:

• Daria Kholodilina, a Georgia-based wine tourism specialist and a big friend of Georgian wine, who kindly agreed to help us hold the event at WineExpo with the translation into Georgian.  
• Sofia Nikabadze, a wine blogger who travels a lot around Georgia to discover some interesting small family cellars and introduce them to wine lovers. 

During the awarding part of the celebration, Sofia shared her observations regarding the growing international interest in the Georgian wine industry and the changes that small wineries in Georgia pursue:  

“Wine is a part of Georgian identity and culture, and it is, with rare exceptions, a kind of visiting card of Georgia for all visitors to Georgia. In recent years, the attitude towards Georgian wine has changed, more and more foreign experts, wine connoisseurs and consumers are interested in Georgian wine. The improvement of the quality of Georgian wine, the expansion of small wineries and the production of natural wine in Georgia, and at the same time the increased interest around the world, created a favorable ground for the development of wine tourism in Georgia as an independent tourist product. 

Worldwide, the wine tourism industry is becoming more and more popular. Georgia has a great potential for the development of this sector. Ever since we earned the name of the homeland of wine, the world’s attention has been drawn to us. Many wineries have been restored and are being restored, winemakers provide places at  family-hotels to their guests. More and more producers are thinking of creating a tourism product and not limiting themselves only to wine production. However, there is still much to be done in this direction.”

A holiday in Georgia lasts as long as you stay on this land. It is not surprising that the next day we went to Kakheti, Tsinandali, to celebrate International Sommelier Day at the beautiful SHUMI’s location. The invitation extended by the winery owners was warmly accepted by the managers of the Drinks+ media group, who assembled a remarkable team of experts. This exceptional group included renowned figures such as Robert Joseph, an esteemed WTA judge, celebrated wine writer, winemaker, and wine critic; Sofia Nikabadze, a well-known Georgian blogger and wine enthusiast; Yevgenia Nikolaychuk, a highly regarded Ukrainian wine expert and successful businesswoman; Galina Kochubeeva, the head of the representative office of the US Meat Export Federation; and Saba Kitiashvili, a prominent Georgian sommelier and the Chief Sommelier of SHUMI Winery. On International Sommelier Day, the journalists from D+ had the pleasure of celebrating alongside these exceptional professionals, while discovering the delights of sparkling wines and exploring the remarkable offerings of SHUMI Winery, including their impressive wine collection, museum of artifacts, and ampelographic collection, among others. It was a joyful moment that made us realize the remarkable world of wine tourism and the significant role played by the WTA community within it. We raise our glasses of sparkling qvevri in a toast to the magnificent world of wine!

Georgian exemplary wine tasting journey and festive buffet 

In the framework of the event, the WTA team organized a walk-around tasting of exemplary wines produced by our Georgian nominees and partners in a pairing with premium American beef (thanks to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), sponsor of the celebration). 

Galina Kochubeeva, representative of the U.S. Meat Export Federation in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), Georgia, Ukraine and Mongolia, joined the event and briefly talked about the Federation’s activities devoted to promoting its premium products, supporting the most talented chefs and the most popular restaurants from different countries.

We invite you to hit the tasting road with us and discover those extraordinary wines! 

SHUMI Winery presented by Saba Kitiashvili, Chief Sommelier of SHUMI Winery

Khikhvi Qvevri Iberiuli 2019 – dry amber qvevri wine. 

Tasting characteristics: aromas of almonds, ripe pears, peaches and white cherries. Khikhvi Qvevri Iberiuli is medium-bodied and has a refreshing taste with pleasant acidity, velvety tannins and a long aftertaste. 

Award: Platinum Medal at The Qvevri Wine Hunter Award Georgia 2022.

Salome 2020 – a limited edition dry red wine.

Wine style: elegant, complex, aged in oak. Tasting characteristics: The aroma intertwines subtle notes of violet, spices, a complex bouquet of ripe cherries and light cigars. The taste is smooth and velvety with a long aftertaste.

Awards: ‘Best of Show by Country’ trophy at the LWC London Wine Competition 2023; Gold medal at the Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Award 2023.

Bio Saperavi Iberiuli 2020 – dry organic red wine. 

Tasting characteristics: Dark pomegranate wine is characterized by aromas of ripe cherries, blackberries, prunes and chocolate, with light tones of vanilla, tobacco and cloves. It is full bodied. It has a harmonious, intense, perfectly balanced taste, rich in velvety tannins, with a long aftertaste.

Awards: Georgian Red Trophy at the International Wine Challenge 2023; Gold medals at the Berliner Wein Trophy 2022 and the MUNDUS VINI grand international wine award spring tasting 2022.

Zigu 2019 – an exclusive drink made from more than 300 rare grape varieties harvested in the SHUMI collection vineyard and prepared using SHUMI’s patented technology. 

Vinification: During the fermentation in conical stainless steel tanks, extreme attention was given to an extraction aimed at fresh and fragrant aromas, full colors, and supple, elegant textures and tannins. Once the wine had run off its skins at the end of the fermentation, it was put through a full malolactic fermentation in oak barrels to fully bring out the finesse and expressiveness of the aromas. The aging process, which lasted approximately 12-14 months, then began and took place in 60 gallon French and Hungarian oak barrels, partly new and partly used once previously.

Awards: Gold medals at the MUNDUS VINI grand international wine award summer tasting 2022 and the China Wine & Spirit Awards 2021.

Château Mukhrani introduced by Giorgi Chikvaidze, brand ambassador

Collection Secret dry white 2019

Blend: Rkatsiteli 46 %, Chardonnay 33 %, Sauvignon Blanc 12 %, Goruli Mtsvane 7 %, Muscat 2 %.

Tasting characteristics: Crafted from prestigious Georgian and French grape varieties. The wine with unique taste and aromatic profile alongside perfect balance and long memorable aftertaste. Significant for Château Mukhrani wines.

Chef’s recommendation: Chicken breast in mandarin sauce. Best enjoyed with salads, seafood, and poultry. Excellent with salmon with fresh grapes and a delicate wine sauce.

Collection Secret dry red 2018

Blend: Saperavi 50 %, Cabernet Sauvignon 25 %, Syrah 17 %, Petit Verdot 8 %.

Color: Dark ruby red.

Bouquet: Fragrant intense and deep fruit bouquet of blackberry, black currant and mullberry, paired with fine sweet spices, vanilla, chocolate, black pepper, dried herbs, tobacco and earthy notes.

Taste: Elegant and complex structure. Dense Palate of jammy dark fruit, chocolate, spice, herbal and earthy notes. Well balanced oaky notes with full bodied medium palate and very long fresh fruity finish. 

Chef’s recommendation: Pork tenderloin in mustard sauce. Best enjoyed with lamb or wild mushrooms, cooked with spices.

Shavkapito dry red 2020

Shavkapito 100%. Shavkapito is one of the oldest and rarest Georgian endemic red-grape varieties from the Kartli region. It has great potential to create subtle and elegant red wines with its distinguished style and perfect balance.

Chef’s recommendation: Steak made with dry-aged beef. Best enjoyed with red meat or game, fried, grilled or stewed with spices. Excellent with mature cheeses of different styles.

Tavkveri dry red 2017

Blend: Tavkveri 90% and Saperavi 10%. Tavkveri is one of the oldest and rarest Georgian endemic red-grape varieties from the Kartli region. It creates powerful and at the same time subtle and elegant red wines with its distinguished style.

Color: deep red.

Bouquet: Very floral bouquet, with licorice and black currant notes. Spicy and fresh acidity.

Taste: Fresh attack with nice pressure on tannins, chocolate, floral and spicy notes on dark fruits. Medium bodied and fresh finish on crispy tannins.

Chef’s recommendation: Dorado and ham. Best enjoyed with red meat and mature cheeses of different styles.

Réserve Royale Saperavi 2015

Saperavi 100%. Saperavi is the most famous Georgian endemic red-grape variety. It has all the noble characteristics to make one of the world’s outstanding red wines. It delivers rich, fruity wines of bountiful body and great vinosity.

Color: Brilliant Dark red

Bouquet: Intense and concentrated flavors of dark fruits behind fresh oaky notes. Wild fruits. Cassis, black berry, black pepper, spicy, velvety balsamic notes.

Taste: Very elegant attack on dark blackberry. Black chocolate. Black pepper. Full-bodied and long balsamic finish on fine tannins and minerality

Chef’s recommendation: Beef filet with demi-glace sauce. Best enjoyed with red meat or game, fried, grilled, or stewed. Excellent with mature cheeses of different styles.

GWS – Georgian Cradle of Wine

Vismino Bio Mtsvane from Maghraani vineyard

Type of Wine: White Dry
Color: Pale, with a bright rim.
Characteristics:
Nose: Intense. Ripe white fruit and tropical fruit tones.
Palate: Mild with balanced acidity, providing freshness. Hints of citrus fruit.
Food Pairing: Smoked fish, mixed salads, chicken with herbs.
 

Vismino Ojaleshi from Martvili vineyard

Type of Wine: Red Dry

The name “vismino” means “I should be listening.” It perfectly transmits the essence of the brand, and invites all attentive “listeners”, observers, learners, experimenters to fully enjoy life’s experiences.
Color: Ruby colored with.
Characteristics:
Nose: Cherry, currant and blackberry aromas.
Palate: Velvety, harmonious and rich varietal aromas, characterized by light acidity.
The flavours are powerful and lingering, carried by the tannins to the finish.
Food Pairing: Serve with poultry, grilled salmon, pasta and cheese.

Vismino Saperavi Cabernet Franc from Artana vineyard 

Type of Wine: Red Dry

Color: Dark ruby color
Specifications:
Nose: distinct aromas of black mulberry, cherry and black currant, with velvety tannins and balanced acidity.
Palate: Fruit and spice aromas blend harmoniously with the delicate tones of aging in oak. Distinguished by long and pleasant endings.
Food Pairing: Perfect with grilled steak, mushrooms, chicken and fish.

Vismino Kindzmarauli

Type of Wine: Red Semi-Sweet
Color: Dark ruby
Characteristics:
Nose: Intense aromas of wild berries and other red fruit.
Palate: The balance and complexity of this wine is created by the combination between rich flavours and the tannic structure. Integrated acidity adds pleasant freshness to the wine.
Food Pairing: Lightly spiced dishes with meat or vegetables.

Colors of Georgia Akura 2016

Colours of Georgia is a rare collection of iconic wines produced from carefully selected parcels and crafted with the utmost care. Within them lies the quintessence of Georgia, the cradle of wine, and 3 remarkable terroirs of the Kakheti region.

This wine comes from an exceptional plot located at an altitude of 650 metres, facing East on a slightly sloping, pebble-strewn terrain over a two-metre-thick limestone subsoil.

Tasting notes: The nose offers enticing aromas of red and black fruits, blackberries and black plums, with elegant spices and soft, balanced notes from the barrel ageing. The palate is particularly full-bodied yet lacks any heaviness or bitterness. The mid-palate reveals a perfectly controlled tannic concentration and a beautiful expression of ripe fruit followed by a long finish. High cellaring potential (over 15 years).

The WTA Celebration and Walk-Around Tasting at WinExpo Georgia has been informationally supported by the Georgian Sommelier Association, Homeland of Wine magazine and Swirl Wine Group. 

Our sincerest congratulations and the good wishes of future growth and prosperity to the WTA 2022-2023 winners!

We are inviting progressive wine & spirits companies, brands and tourism services to join the third exciting year of the WTA campaign! The doors of the Wine Travel Awards 2023-2024 are open for new collaborations and integrations. 

Photo: Pavel Platonov 

The WTA Awarding Ceremony, where the winners of all 6 nominations of the Wine Travel Awards (WTA) 2022-2023 were officially revealed, took place traditionally at the London Wine Fair. However, due to the fact that we had many Georgian companies and prominent figures among the winners, we decided to continue our celebration in Georgia where […]

Georgia, Kakheti, Tsinandali, New Jerusalem, or the “ancient spot”… Can you think of a better place to celebrate Sommelier Day? Also in the coolest company one can imagine!

After the ceremony of awarding the WTA winners which took place in Tbilisi on June 2, members of our wonderful community chose the right place to celebrate International Sommelier Day: SHUMI Winery, the WTA winner in three nominations. The managers of the Drinks+ media group gladly responded to the invitation of the winery owners, gathering an outstanding group of professionals, which included:  Robert Joseph, the WTA judge, famous wine writer, winemaker and wine critic, Sofia Nikobadze, popular Georgian blogger and wine connoisseur, Yevgenia Nikolaychuk, well-known Ukrainian wine expert and businesswoman, Galina Kochubeeva, head of the representative office of the US Meat Export Federation, and Saba Kitiashvili, a well-known Georgian sommelier, Chief Sommelier of SHUMI Winery. The  D+ journalists celebrated International Sommelier Day in the company of top-notch professionals, getting to know the sparkling wines and the impressive charms of SHUMI: the wine collection, the museum of artifacts, the ampelographic collection etc. It was one of those happy moments when we realized how amazing the world of wine tourism is, and what an important role the WTA community plays in it. We are happy to raise our glasses of sparkling qvevri to the wine world!

Georgia, Kakheti, Tsinandali, New Jerusalem, or the “ancient spot”… Can you think of a better place to celebrate Sommelier Day? Also in the coolest company one can imagine! After the ceremony of awarding the WTA winners which took place in Tbilisi on June 2, members of our wonderful community chose the right place to celebrate […]

Vinitaly, the international wine competition and wine fair which traditionally takes place in Verona, is expanding its business abroad this year with a range of international events.

Vinitaly is constantly paving the way for new international business opportunities, first and foremost to expand the network of buyers around the world. In 2023, a new collaboration in the United States will be added to the already existing international sites. This project will contribute to the further expansion of opportunities to enter foreign markets.

International Wine Expo, October 22-23, 2023

IWE is a B2B event that aims to develop strong and lasting relationships between manufacturers and buyers in a comfortable environment. The main idea behind this collaboration is to offer the Italian wine industry a new commercial channel in the United States.

Vinitaly China Roadshow, September 11-16, 2023

This roadshow is a joint project of Vinitaly and ICE Network in China. It will be held in Beijing, Changsha and Hangzhou. Vinitaly invites exhibitors to participate in the sixth session of the Vinitaly China Roadshow to meet and make deals with Chinese operators in the wine and spirits sector in China.

Wine South America – WINESA, September 12-14, 2023

The largest wine fair in South America will be held for the fourth time. This fair has been launched in cooperation with Milanez & Milaneze, the leader in the organization of exhibitions in Italy and the second largest in Europe which in 2013 joined the Veronafiere group. One of the goals of this partnership is implementation of an important business development plan that will increase the number of fairs, conferences, congresses and other events throughout Latin America.

Vinitaly, the international wine competition and wine fair which traditionally takes place in Verona, is expanding its business abroad this year with a range of international events. Vinitaly is constantly paving the way for new international business opportunities, first and foremost to expand the network of buyers around the world. In 2023, a new collaboration […]

Wine Meridian, Wine Travel Awards’ info partner, reporting daily on the evolution of the wine markets, best practice of the most successful companies and the most famous professionals, goes on a wine tour to the United States to explore the opportunities of wine tourism there (US wine tourism industry is considered to be the most efficient in the world).

In recent years, the Wine Meridian team has traveled tens of thousands of kilometers to get to know and explore wine tourism opportunities in Italy, South Africa and Europe.

These travels have collected a wealth of interesting stories and incredible wine tourism experiences that Wine Meridian shares with its followers to showcase just how diverse the wine tourism scene can be around the world.

To get to know the American model of hospitality firsthand, Wine Meridian is embarking on a new journey in June – a wine tour from coast to coast of the United States.

On June 11, 2023, the Wine Meridian team will arrive in San Francisco and set on a journey of 15,000 km. The researchers will search for the key to the success of American wine tourism, crossing 20 states and visiting 150 wineries, from the giants of Napa Valley to the little-known vineyards of Oklahoma.

The purpose of the tour is to provide comprehensive information about the many wine tourism options available in the United States, as well as to introduce the American wineries, products and regions that the tour will pass through. The study is not only aimed at the most famous vineyards, but also small producers who serve a more local market will be given the floor.

It is also a good opportunity for Wine Meridian to gain experience and ideas for new articles, consultations and training events.

You can support Wine Meridian on this adventure by reading articles full of interest and in-depth analysis, and by following the journey on social media @wine_meridian.

Wine Meridian, Wine Travel Awards’ info partner, reporting daily on the evolution of the wine markets, best practice of the most successful companies and the most famous professionals, goes on a wine tour to the United States to explore the opportunities of wine tourism there (US wine tourism industry is considered to be the most […]

Wine Travel Awards Celebration ceremony in honour of the winners of WTA’s second edition, accompanied by a Walk-Around wine tasting, will take place during WinExpo Georgia, one of the region’s biggest and most important international wine events.

The event will be hosted by WTA’s lead Oleksandra Hryhorieva and WTA nominee from Georgia, Daria Kholodilina a.k.a. Dariko Mogzauri. They will introduce our dear guests to the WTA concept, and after a brief presentation guests will have an opportunity to get to know WTA community members from Georgia and taste their exemplary wines in a pairing with premium American beef.

Sofia Nikabadze, the public voting winner in ‘The brightest journey’, will talk about the growing international interest in the Georgian wine industry and the changes that small wineries in Georgia pursue.

SHUMI Winery, the winner in the Visiting card of the country / Must visit, Progressive Approach, Art & History Object categories, will present their wines, as well as a unique alcoholic beverage, Zigu. GWS, another significant winemaking company from Georgia, will also introduce their wine collection to the guests of the tasting, while Chateau Mukhrani, the WTA public voting winner and one of the best wineries of Georgia, will impress our guests with their premium wines. More details about the wines in the tasting will come later, and we will certainly share them with our readers.

The WTA team will be glad to welcome wine, tourism and HoReCa professionals, journalists and bloggers to the Wine Travel Awards celebration and tasting. The WTA, an innovative global project in the field of wine tourism, will shed light on the winners of the 2022-2023 edition in the following nominations: The Visiting Card of the Country, Ambassador, Wine & Food Influencer, Education in Enotourism, Wine Guide, Enogastronomic Events. Wine Travel Awards is more than just a rating: it’s a unique and interactive platform for promoting wine tourism and wine culture, as well as for networking, bringing together wine tourism professionals around the world.

We believe that tourism is an opportunity for wine and wine is an opportunity for tourism! And we are very happy that our celebration ceremony will be hosted by Georgia, the cradle of winemaking, and the famous land of wine and hospitality!

When: Friday, June 2, 2023, 16:00 PM

Where: WinExpo Georgia, Exhibition Center ExpoGeorgia, pavilion 11, 118 Akaki Tsereteli Ave., Tbilisi, Georgia.

Wine Travel Awards Celebration ceremony in honour of the winners of WTA’s second edition, accompanied by a Walk-Around wine tasting, will take place during WinExpo Georgia, one of the region’s biggest and most important international wine events. The event will be hosted by WTA’s lead Oleksandra Hryhorieva and WTA nominee from Georgia, Daria Kholodilina a.k.a. […]

Winner of the Wine Travel Awards, Château Mukhrani hosts the renowned wine festival for the second year in a row.

The first Merano International Wine Festival took place in 1992 in the city of Merano in South Tyrol. It was the first wine festival in Europe, which later became a leading event not only in Italy, but also internationally, as well as a traditional meeting place for both professionals and wine lovers.

In 2022, the Merano Wine Festival went outside Italy for the first time, when it took place at Château Mukhrani (Georgia), in partnership with the Georgian Wine Association.

As we know, Château Mukhrani is the winner of the Wine Travel Awards 2021-2022 in the Must Visit category, and the finalist of the Wine Travel Awards 2022-2023 in two categories – Must Visit and Event of the year (Harvest Celebration at Chateau Mukhrani).

This year, the Merano Wine Festival will also take place at Château Mukhrani – in the newly built greenhouse. The date of the event is June 11.

The Merano International Wine Festival promises to be rich and to present a lot of unforgettable experiences to festival visitors of all ages. The program of the event includes an exhibition of wines from different regions of Georgia, as well as Italy and Turkey (more than 350 items), an exhibition of food products and gastronomic ingredients, seminars, wine tastings, culinary master classes of Georgian and Turkish cuisines, a children’s entertainment area.

You can contact the organizers and get additional information by writing an email to 1878@mukhrani.com

Detailed information about the Merano International Wine Festival program and ticket purchase here https://www.facebook.com/events/197463889770170?ref=newsfeed

Winner of the Wine Travel Awards, Château Mukhrani hosts the renowned wine festival for the second year in a row. The first Merano International Wine Festival took place in 1992 in the city of Merano in South Tyrol. It was the first wine festival in Europe, which later became a leading event not only in […]

Corks are popping out of the bottles. Bubbles are dancing in the glasses. The Consorzio dell’Asti DOCG are welcoming guests of the Wine Travel Awards official Ceremony at the London Wine Fair. 

Holding the WTA Awarding Ceremony in London became symbolic and some kind of a tradition. Last year, a new innovative WTA project debuted at the LWF – and it was literally preceded by a celebration of the Platinum jubilee of Queen Elizabeth marking 70 years as Monarch. This year, the WTA team was holding the awards’ ceremony again in London – and recently, King Charles III was formally crowned at Westminster Abbey. We believe London sends us a good sign. 

Wednesday 17th of May, 10.30 am marked another special milestone of the WTA project. The new and prosperous names of businesses and personalities operating in the wine tourism industry were revealed in all 6 nominations, naming the Visiting Card of the Country, Ambassador, Wine & Food Influencer, Education in Enotourism, Wine Guide, Enogastronomic Events. This reflects the result of a two-stage selection process: public voting in March and expert opinion of the WTA Jury Committee in April. 

At the beginning of the sublime awarding ceremony, Sarah Abbott, MW, WTA Judge, Founder of Swirl Wine Group, marketing strategist, communications specialist, wine judge and writer, underlined the importance of the WTA initiative in today’s very diverse wine and tourism world: “Wine is a cultural journey, as well as a physical journey. Everything that we’ve experienced in recent years showed us how important it is that individual cultures can thrive and be respected, nurtured and enjoyed among as wide a community as possible. And I think those shortlisted candidates that really stood out were the ones that were fully embracing every aspect of the potential journey of wine… the viticulture, the heritage and its expression, contemporary times that lead to society and community, as well as creation of experiences where people have so much fun that they do not necessarily realize that they have been taken into this journey, culture and intellect.”

Georgia, Ukraine, France, Armenia, Moldova, Netherlands, Greece, Germany, India and UK replenished the community of WTA winners in the 2022-2023 campaign year. In total, around 300 community members coming from 30 different countries, including Austria, Nigeria, Italy and many others, participated in WTA second edition. As a result, we have 80 public voting winners and 16 final WTA winners. All of them are invited to an online master class held by Gergely Szolnoki, WTA Jury, Professor of Market Research at Geisenheim University, and to a webinar led by Romané Basset, Co-Founding Trustee of the Gérard Basset Foundation.

Considering education as an important part of our initiative and wine tourism as a whole, we have engaged with Prize Fund sponsors in order to provide a wide range of educational opportunities and experiences for the WTA 2022-2023 winners. The Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a cult place for Bordeaux wine culture which was even chosen by King Charles III for his official visit to France, invites 10 WTA winners to a Private tour and tasting of SHL and its Land Art Forest of the 5 senses. Mastroberardino, one of the oldest producers of South Italy, invites all 16 final winners to a winery tour and wine tasting in Atripalda, Avellino. The Consorzio dell’ASTI DOCG, WTA Nominees’ Sponsor and Sponsor of Welcome Drink at the WTA Ceremony, organizes an exclusive online master class and wine tasting from ASTI DOCG for WTA winners from Germany and France. Finally, the London Wine Fair is delighted to provide two free tickets to LWF 2024 and guaranteed participation in 2 masterclasses of the winners’ choice.

For the second consecutive year, Wine & Food Influencer nomination has been supported by the international wine group Vinos de La Luz, which created for journalists, bloggers, and influencers the opportunity to join the awards completely for free. This year, the nomination got new professions on the list: actors and actresses passionate about wine, TV hosts, bartenders, photographers, podcasts, sommeliers and many more. 

Dr. Ricardo F. Nunez, founder and owner of Vinos de La Luz, emphasized on the Ukrainian roots of the project during the ceremony: “Last year, we were here in London two months after the invasion of Ukraine. The company who is organizing this award is also Ukrainian. They worked hard to organize this fantastic contest. And we are very proud that one team like the WTA is fighting outside of the country to put in front the identity of Ukraine.” Besides, Dr. Ricardo F. Nunez mentioned that the selection of the best among many nominees requires not only lots of time but also “to go inside the work that each and every made in their career”.

According to the Vinos de La Luz prize conditions, the WTA winner in the Wine & Food Influencer nomination, who gets the highest points from the panel of judges, receives 1000 euros. Professor Marianna Sigala, the winner of ‘Author of the Year’ was ranked first with 47 points receiving 1000 euros from Vinos de La Luz. Two other winners of the nomination determined by the jury – Gergely Szolnoki, the winner of ‘Expert Opinion’ (45 points) and Rojita Tiwari, winner of ‘The Brightest Journey’ (40 points) – receive 500 euros each.

In addition to the sponsorship of the prize fund, this year was distinguished by a very honorable collaboration with the Gérard Basset Foundation. Thanks to the personal consent of Nina and Romané Basset, Artyom Mkrtchyan, WTA winner in the Ambassador Nomination, a sommelier and proactive wine professional from Armenia, was awarded with the Gérard Basset Prize “Ambassador of the Year” receiving 1000 euros for his educational purposes. 

The WTA Ceremony was followed by the walk-around tasting where guests had an opportunity to get to know WTA community members and taste their wines:

• ASTI DOCG (Italy)
• Mastroberardino (Italy)
• Vinos de La Luz (Spain, Argentina, Ukraine)
• SHABO Family Winery (Ukraine)
• Beykush Winery (Ukraine)
• Askaneli Winery (Georgia)
• ‘Armenia Wine’ Winery and Vineyards (Armenia)

What fantastic memories we made during the second edition to cherish forever! Our greetings and the good wishes of future growth and prosperity to the WTA 2022-2023 winners! 

We will continue the celebration in honor of the WTA winners and second successful project year in June. The next stop is WinExpo Georgia – Friday 2nd of June at 16:00 PM, in the main pavilion of WinExpo Georgia, Business Forum area.

Corks are popping out of the bottles. Bubbles are dancing in the glasses. The Consorzio dell’Asti DOCG are welcoming guests of the Wine Travel Awards official Ceremony at the London Wine Fair.  Holding the WTA Awarding Ceremony in London became symbolic and some kind of a tradition. Last year, a new innovative WTA project debuted […]

In May 2023, London, which is rightly considered the “world capital”, attracted the attention of the international media: a week ago millions of people around the world watched the coronation of King Charles and the celebration of this important event, and already this week London welcomed the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived here on an official visit. On the same day, May 15, another important event started in London: the London Wine Fair, a grand international wine expo, and we are happy to note that Ukraine, once again, has become one of the fair’s newsmakers. For the second time in a row, Ukrainian wines are presented at LWF, also under the long-awaited Wines of Ukraine brand!

Ukrainian producers showcase their best still and sparkling wines from unique local and European grape varieties which have received a very warm welcome from local importers and distributors. The Wines of Ukraine stand at London Wine Fair will present the following wineries:

46 Parallel Wine Group (Odessa region)

Beykush Winery (Mykolayiv region)

Biologist Craft Winery (Kyiv region)

Bolgrad / Alcoline (Odesa region)

Chateau Chizay (Transcarpathian region)

Father’s Wine VB (Ternopil region) 

Graevo (Zaporizhzhya region)

My Wine by Eduard Gorodetsky (Odesa region)

Stakhovsky Wines (Transcarpathian region)

Villa Tinta (Odesa region / Southern Bessarabia).

“The interest in Ukraine and Ukrainian wines at the London Wine Fair is extraordinary, we have a lot of work at our stand. We are glad to have the opportunity to communicate with experts and buyers not only from the UK, but also from other countries. We hope to expand exports, to find new partners and distributors. We are very happy that the quality and unique nature of Ukrainian wines are admired by specialists. I am once again proud of our team, all the winemakers, and grateful to them and to our Ukrainian colleagues who came from all around the UK to support us and to work at our stand. I am proud of Ukraine, Ukrainians and Ukrainian wines. We love our country infinitely, and we are and will be doing our best to make people of the world love our wines!” comments Svitlana Tsybak, representative of Wines of Ukraine, head of the Association of Craft Winemakers of Ukraine and development director for Beykush Winery.

SHABO family winery, one of Ukraine’s flagship wineries and the winner of the Wine Travel Awards in the Brand – the visiting card of the country category, will also present their wines at their own stand.

Wines of Ukraine are participating in this year’s LWF due to the kind support of Mr Yevgeny Chichvarkin, investor at Hedonism Wines –  a fine wine, whisky & spirits boutique located in the heart of London’s Mayfair. “Ukraine has a wonderful climate, fertile soils, and hardworking people. Apart from a few moments of legislative deregulation and organisational issues, nothing prevents Ukraine from taking its rightful place on the world wine map. Unfortunately, I cannot influence the legislation of Ukraine, but I am happy to contribute to the speedy search for a distribution channel in the UK,” comments Mr. Chichvarkin. 

The London based entrepreneur is a great supporter of Ukraine in its fight for freedom and independence. Evgeny Chichvarkin has financed more than £4.5 million worth of medical purchases for the Ukrainian people subjected to Vladimir Putin’s illegal war. In March 2022, he launched the EC Project, where others were invited to join his efforts and cover large invoices for the purchase of medical aid. 

Drinks + and the Wines of Ukraine team express their deep gratitude to Evgeny for supporting Ukraine and the participation of Wines of Ukraine in the London Wine Fair!

Ukrainian wines will also be showcased at a walk-around tasting, which will be held during the Wine Travel Awards 2023 awarding ceremony. This event, which marks the second successful year of our innovative project in the field of wine travel marketing, will take place on May 17 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: 30 in the Industry Briefing Room at the London Wine Fair.

The wines of the Ukrainian WTA 2023 winners – SHABO, Big Wines / Vinos de la Luz (sponsor of the WTA Wine & Food Influencer category) and Beykush Winery – will be presented at the tasting: SHABO Reserve Telti-Kuruk 2022, SHABO Limited Edition Saperavi-Merlot (by Kachetin technology) 2020, Big Wines Big Art 2020, and Beykush Telti Kuruk 2022. The tasting also includes wines from WTA winners from Armenia, Argentina, Georgia, Spain and Italy. This will be one of the largest round tastings held by WTA.

The Drinks+ team would also like to express their sincere gratitude to Tanya Olevska, who is the founder of the Friends Wine Travel company, the winner of this year’s WTA and an employee of the London Wine Fair, and to her colleagues for prompt and friendly assistance in solving logistical problems with the delivery of our prizes and catalogues from Germany, as well as wines from Ukraine. United we stand!

In May 2023, London, which is rightly considered the “world capital”, attracted the attention of the international media: a week ago millions of people around the world watched the coronation of King Charles and the celebration of this important event, and already this week London welcomed the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrived here […]

The official awarding Ceremony of the WTA second edition will take place on Wednesday 17th of May, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM, in the Industry Briefing Room at the London Wine Fair to celebrate the WTA winners and the second successful year of the project.

In the framework of the event, the Drinks+ and Wine Travel Awards team organizes a walk-around tasting of wines produced by the WTA nominees and partners. 

The Consortium Asti DOCG, a sponsor of the WTA Ceremony, will provide welcome wine for guests of the official Wine Travel Awards Ceremony. At the tasting, you will feel the vibes of Asti and Moscato d’Asti and taste the best wines from the UNESCO hills such as:

• SAROTTO, Asti Spumante Dry
• MARANZANA, Asti Spumante Dry
• MATTEO SORIA, Asti Spumante Brut
• LA TORRE, Asti Spumante Dry
• FONTANAFREDDA, Asti Spumante Dolce
• SANTERO, Asti Spumante Dolce
• TRE SECOLI, Asti Spumante Dolce
• SANT’ORSOLA, Asti Spumante Dolce
• TERRENOSTRE, Moscato D’Asti
• MALGRA’, Moscato D’Asti
• BERA, Moscato D’Asti
• SCAGLIOLA, Moscato D’Asti

Moreover, the guests of the ceremony – WTA winners, nominees, wine & food influencers and wine journalists, wine buyers and wine professionals – will have an opportunity to taste the wines from:

Vinos de La Luz

The international wine group Vinos de La Luz, the WTA Sponsor of the Wine & Food Influencer for the second consecutive year will present its notable wines:

• Callejon del Crimen Red Blend Criminal 2021, Argentina 
• Valpincia Crianza 2019, Spain
• Big Wines Big Art 2020 – the very new and already Gold Awarded by Mundus Vini and Berliner Wine Trophy wine from Ukrainian Project

MASTROBERARDINO

Italy  – the WTA nominee at The Visiting Card of the Country, Authentic Location

• Novaserra Greco di Tufo DOCG
• Radici Taurasi DOCG
• Fiano di Avellino DOCG

SHABO FAMILY WINERY

Ukraine – the WTA winner at the The Visiting Card of the Country, Brand – the visiting card of the country 

• SHABO Reserve Telti-Kuruk 2022
• SHABO Limited Edition Saperavi-Merlot (by Kachetin technology) 2020

 BEYKUSH WINERY

Ukraine – the WTA nominee at The Visiting Card of the Country, Must Visit 

• Telti Kuruk 2022 – one of Beykush Winery’s flagship wines 

ASKANELI WINERY & DISTILLERY 

Georgia is presenting its Gocha’s Collection, that was nominated at the Brand – the visiting card of the country:    

• Gocha’s Collection. Muza Qvevri 2019
• Gocha’s Collection. Saperavi Reserve 2018
• Askaneli Brut. Méthode traditionnelle

“ARMENIA WINE” WINERY and VINEYARDS 

A modern winery that produces wines and brandies which give a chance to discover Armenia through the autochthonous grape varieties and diversity of the terroir. 

• Tariri. Areni, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon  
• Takar. Areni 
• Yerevan 782. B.C. Areni, Karmrahyut 

We are inviting you to join the WTA Ceremony and Walk-Around Tasting. Please register here or send us a request via contact@winetravelawards.com to obtain your confirmation.

The official awarding Ceremony of the WTA second edition will take place on Wednesday 17th of May, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM, in the Industry Briefing Room at the London Wine Fair to celebrate the WTA winners and the second successful year of the project. In the framework of the event, the Drinks+ and Wine […]

On June 2-4, 2023, the 15th WinExpo Georgia International Wine and Spirits Fair will be held at the ExpoGeorgia Exhibition Center, located in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. We would like to emphasize the fact that the awarding ceremony of WTA winners will be also held during this event.

WinExpo Georgia is the largest event in Georgia dedicated to wine, alcoholic beverages and related services, among which a wine tourism takes its place. It is no coincidence that WinExpo Georgia joined the international Wine Travel Awards community and this year became the winner of the public vote in the Enogastronomic Events/Magnet of the Region nomination.

The WTA stand will be located at WinExpo Georgia, and the second round of the Wine Travel Awards 2022-2023 Awards Ceremony will take place (the first round will be held at the London Wine Fair on May 17, 2023).

As part of the event, the Drinks+ and Wine Travel Awards teams will organize a wine tasting of nominees and WTA partners.

International interest in Georgian wine, produced in the lands where winemaking itself was born, grows year by year, which directly affects the scale and importance of the exhibition. WinExpo Georgia attracts nearly 4,000 visitors annually, representing up to 100 companies from different countries and focusing on creating a fruitful working environment for all participants and visitors.

WinExpo 2023 will be attended by international manufacturing companies, exporters, sommeliers, representatives of hotels, restaurants and retail chains, international media and, of course, wine lovers. One of the largest fairs in the region, it presents a wide array of national and international brands of wine and spirits and other related products, as well as wine education and services for buyers and travelers from around the world.

WinExpo combines a traditional fair with a comprehensive program of events, including the International Wine Award Georgia wine competition. The event proved its importance for the industry and its significance for regional and international markets.

WinExpo Georgia is an experience for everyone who wants to learn about the art of winemaking, taste the best wines and spirits from Georgia and other countries, meet famous winemakers, potential suppliers of wine and other beverages, get information about innovations and industry trends.

On June 2-4, 2023, the 15th WinExpo Georgia International Wine and Spirits Fair will be held at the ExpoGeorgia Exhibition Center, located in the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. We would like to emphasize the fact that the awarding ceremony of WTA winners will be also held during this event. WinExpo Georgia is the largest event […]