Gastronomy and Wine Portal

For the eleventh year in a row, Sofia will host the event that puts the focus on the Balkan wines and culture. Between 16 and 18 June, The Balkans International Wine Festival (BIWCF) will set up its traditional white tents in front of the National Palace of Culture, where 70 wine producers will offer a selection of their best products for tasting. The visitors of the Festival will be able to touch the awarded wines from the Competition, held earlier June on the Greek island Salamina – in a special Golden Tent – which was attended by a record number of participants – more than 1,000 wines and 280 winerie.

The wine that won the most points from the prestigious jury of the Competition – the winner of the Grand Trophy, will be announced during a ceremony on the first night of the three-day city event – on June 16 at 20:00 h. The host of the ceremony will be the director of BIWCF and chairman of the Bulgarian Association of Wine Exporters – Galina Niforu. The Best Cellar in the Balkans, which won the most medals in the Competition, and the trophies in the individual categories will also be announced.

Drinks + Media Group and Wine Travel Awards performed at a competition in Greece (Salamis) and the Wine Festival in Bulgaria as the information partner. At both events, the WTA team presented the Wine Travel Awards Guide, published by the Drinks + media group, which includes stories about stories about all nominees, voting winners and awarded winners.

On the last day of the Balkans International Wine Competition, the nominees’ wines and sponsors of the Wine Travel Awards were presented, including a presentation of Ukrainian wines.

Vinoman

In this difficult hour for Ukraine, when we all suffer from russian aggression, organizers of the competition initiated the free participation of winemakers from Ukraine, which was a sign of support for our producers.

Le Pri-more

The competition was attended by: Odesos Winery (Odesa), VinSancho (Dnipropetrovsk region), Vinoman (Chernihiv region), Le Pri-more (Kherson region), Biologist craft winery (Kyiv region).

Biologist craft winery

Traditionally, the Balkans International Wine Competition jury team awards one of the best contestants from each country with the Best of Show award for the wine won the highest number of points among the wines of this country. This year the winner from Ukraine was Odesos Merlot Limited Edition 2020, Odesos Winery. By the way, this year Odesos Winery has made a stellar appearance on the international stage.

Odesos Winery

First, provided samples for presentations at the Wines of Ukraine stand, organized at the initiative of London Wine Fair 2022 and the forces of the media group Drinks+ and the company «Ukrsadvinprom». And while world buyers got acquainted with samples of Ukrainian winemaking at the exhibition, the pool of domestic producers collected the highest points at the Decanter World Wine Awards. In particular, Odesos Winery, which became the Best of Show at the Balkans International Wine Competition, won bronze and silver medals at the famous competition in London. Our Congratulations to the winery with the highest honors and we wish for all Ukrainians victory and bright future.

VinSancho

Sofia residents and guests of the capital will have the opportunity to spend two exciting evenings (this Thursday and Friday) and all day on Saturday, enjoying a rich program, delicious delicacies from various national cuisines, music, and games with prizes. Tickets can be taken on the spot or online, and at the entrance, souvenirs of the event will await the visitors.

For the eleventh year in a row, Sofia will host the event that puts the focus on the Balkan wines and culture. Between 16 and 18 June, The Balkans International Wine Festival (BIWCF) will set up its traditional white tents in front of the National Palace of Culture, where 70 wine producers will offer a […]

The only winery in the world awarded with 3 Platinum Medals – Vinos de la Luz – will be presented at the Bordeaux Wine Week WTA Tasting.

Vinos de La Luz became the only winery in the world to receive three Platinum Medals at the DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2022. Three Platinum Medals and 97 points for Vinos de La Luz for its Callejón del Crimen Blend de Terroirs Malbec 2019, Callejón del Crimen Single Vineyard Gualtallary Malbec 2019 and Relatos del Callejón Malbec 2020 from La Luz del Vino winery were given by DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS international wine experts. This year, the judging panels were presented by almost 250 international wine experts, including 41 Masters of Wine and 13 Master Sommeliers.

All three awarded wines come from vineyards in the Uco Valley (Mendoza), where the winery is located. Speaking about winery and its exceptional vineyards, Vinos de La Luz winery currently has 106 hectares of its own vineyards in four exceptional vineyards in the Uco Valley: Gualtallary, Paraje Altamira, Vista Flores, and Pampa el Cepillo. Year after year, over 500,000 liters are produced by the winery.

Since their beginning, the Vinos de La Luz team, led by Mendoza winemaker Pablo Navarrete, has had a strong commitment to the deep exploration of the different characteristics of the Uco Valley. Thus, the result is Blend de Terroirs; the line is made with Malbec from their four estates: Gualtallary, Vista Flores, Paraje Altamira and Pampa El Cepillo, the line that best represents its geographical diversity.

“This sublime combination of our terroirs shows our commitment to value and communicate the richness of the different terroirs and expressions that the Uco Valley gives us”, says Navarrete.

Blend de Terroirs is the big brother of Callejón del Crimen Single Vineyard Gualtallary Malbec 2019, which comes from one of the most extreme and exciting places where Argentine wines are born – at almost 1,300 meters above sea level. Wines from Gualtallary have the presence of purity, freshness, juiciness and herbs thanks to their particular calcareous, stony, alluvial, sandy soil and pebbled soils.

Relatos del Callejón 2020 comes from the Vista Flores vineyard, from the Malbec variety, which is the most cultivated in the winery. In this wine, the winemaking team wanted to express and bottle this high altitude varietal. With 8 months of ageing in French oak barrels, it is a fresh, subtle and elegant wine that with its name, keeps alive the memory of the characters that inspired the birth of the winery.

It also should be noted that the Vinos de La Luz stellar winery  from the Uco Valley – La Luz del Vino is a Wine Travel Awards nominee. Dr. Ricardo F. Nunez, the owner of the international wine group Vinos de La Luz, participated in the awards as a member of the WTA panel of judges and sponsor of the Wine & Food Influencers nomination.

As part of the wine festival Bordeaux Wine Week, on June 22, there will be a unique tasting of Vinos de la Luz Decanter Platinum Medals awarded wines as well as the special line-up of premium wines ILUMINADO Vinos de La Luz. Each ILUMINADO Vinos de La Luz is a mono-varietal wine made from grape varieties that are symbols for each region where the Vinos de La Luz wineries are located: Argentina, Spain, Italy and California.

Also guests of the event will have a presentation of the Wine Travel Awards project and awarding the WTA winners from France.

A presentation and a wine tasting will be held at La Cité du Vin on June 22 from 10 a.m. to noon at hall No. 2. The Wine Travel Awards tasting can be called a unique event in the middle of another unique event.

ABOUT VINOS DE LA LUZ

The international group Vinos de La Luz belongs to the Fernández Núñez family and has wineries in different wine regions of the world, with its own brands in each country: Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina (Callejón del Crimen); Ribera del Duero, Peñafiel, Spain (Valpincia, Pagos de Valcerracín and Cinema); Montalcino, Italy (Cinema Rosso and Paraíso) and Santa María Valley, California, USA, and all of them produce an icon wine called Iluminado Vinos de La Luz, one of whose expressions – Iluminado Paraje Altamira Malbec 2015 – received the distinction of Best In Show, Platinum medal and 97 points, at Decanter 2019.

To join the tasting fill out the form:
https://cutt.ly/AJIsU6T

contact@winetravelawards.com

The only winery in the world awarded with 3 Platinum Medals – Vinos de la Luz – will be presented at the Bordeaux Wine Week WTA Tasting. Vinos de La Luz became the only winery in the world to receive three Platinum Medals at the DECANTER WORLD WINE AWARDS 2022. Three Platinum Medals and 97 […]

The cult wine celebrates its 100th vintage with an impressive relaunch and a new portfolio

The launch of the German Blue Nun wine brand in 1921 saw the start of a golden decade, which has resulted in a best-selling brand to this very day. The Roaring 20ies. German design revolutionised the world and, on international wine lists, German wine was considered the finest and most expensive of all. It was during this time that F. Scott Fitzgerald published his novel „The Great Gatsby“. Walt Disney drew his first animated film with Mickey Mouse and Albert Einstein received the Nobel Prize for his theory of relativity. Merely 8% of households had a telephone. Yet, joie de vivre was all the greater for it. And, Berlin, Germany‘s capital, was the place to be.

The first wine to become a pop icon

Half a century later, Blue Nun had become part of pop culture. In the 1960s and 70s, stars drank and celebrated

with Blue Nun – among them the Beatles and David Bowie, Elvis Presley, and Fleetwood Mac! And even the antiestablishment had created a monument to the global Blue Nun brand. The Beastie Boys dedicated an entire song to the Blue Nun brand on their „Check your head“ album. And, whenever he has the chance to enjoy a glass of Blue Nun, Bruno Mars is no saint either. 1.1 billion bottles of Blue Nun have been sold to date. Blue Nun has also been available as a sparkling wine since 2010 – and is especially successful in the 24K variant, with gold flakes. A kosher variety has also been available since 2016, which has boosted Blue Nun enormously, especially in Israel.

The new look by New York star designer, Paula Scher

On the occasion of the Blue Nun‘s 100th anniversary, Paula Scher, a well-known New York designer, who is responsible for the logos of Tiffany & Co, Rolls Royce and Citi Bank, to mention but a few, has developed a new, iconic and distinctive Blue Nun packaging. With a hint of Art Deco and a sophisticated modernisation of the Blue Nun, Paula Scher combines the design elements of the 1920s with those of the 2020s. She remains true to her credo for success: “When you try to create an identity, you need to create an ability to recognize and understand things right away.”

The new portfolio, with a focus on authenticity

„Blue Nun“ began its triumphal march 100 years ago as Liebfraumilch. Meanwhile, it has become a cult wine brand that delights wine drinkers around the globe with fruity and dry wines, as well as sparkling wine varieties.

The „New Authentic Blends” are at the heart of the brand, with Authentic White and Authentic Rose. They combine the strengths of different grape varieties and origins to create a unique taste profile that characterises Blue Nun: for instance, for the „Authentic White“, the Blue Nun winemakers blend Riesling from Germany, Chardonnay from Italy, Muscat from Hungary, and the autochthonous grape variety, Airen, from Spain. The new portfolio is complemented by three white and three rose wines, in addition to the best-selling „24K“ sparkling wines, crowned with gold flakes, which shine in a new Paula Scher splendour, just like the entire portfolio.

The new Blue Nun collection is available in 90 countries and presents the iconic wine brand in a refreshingly different way even after 100 years!

As part of the First Wine Travel Awards Ceremony in London, the London Wine Fair hosted a tasting of Blue Nun wines by F.W. Langguth Erben: Blue Nun Authentic White, Blue Nun Authentic Pink, Blue Nun Sparkling 24K Gold Edition. Blue Nun wines were also presented at the Drinks + / Wine Travel Awards during the three days of the exhibition. F.W. Langguth Erben has the status of National Sponsor of the Award.

The cult wine celebrates its 100th vintage with an impressive relaunch and a new portfolio The launch of the German Blue Nun wine brand in 1921 saw the start of a golden decade, which has resulted in a best-selling brand to this very day. The Roaring 20ies. German design revolutionised the world and, on international […]

For the eleventh consecutive year, the best wines in the Balkans were awarded in the prestigious contest The Balkans International Wine Competition (BIWC). This year it was held on the historic Greek island Salamina, and a record number of participants took part in the competition – more than 1,000 wines and 280 wineries. At an official ceremony and gala dinner in Ktima Filippikon, the prestigious international jury announced the host country of the next edition of the Competition – Romania! In June 2023, Bistrita-Nassaud, Transylvania, will host the 12th edition of the BIWC.

The biggest prize in the competition – the Grand Trophy for the “Best Wine in the Balkans”, the best cellar in the Balkans, which won the largest number of medals in the competition, as well as the trophies in each category – will be awarded at a glamorous Balkan ceremony “Balkan Wine Oscars” on the first night of the Festival in Sofia – on June 16 at 8 p.m. in the Wine Town in front of the National Palace of Culture.

The International Wine Travel Awards was presented to BIWC as an information partner. In addition, the WTA team presented the Wine Travel Awards Guide, published by the Drinks + media group, which includes stories about all nominees, winners and prize-winners.

On the last day of the competition, the wines of the WTA nominees and sponsors were presented, and a presentation of Ukrainian wines was held.

Traditionally, the jury awards one of the best participants from each country in the Competition with the ‘Best of Show’ award, for the wine that won the highest number of points for each country. The Bulgarian winner in this category is Zelanos Rose Pinot Noir 2021, ZELANOS WINERY winery. From Ukraine such a winner was the wine Odessos Merlot Limited Edition 2020, winery ODESSOS WINERY. Here are the other winners:

Best of Show Albania

Juga e Bardhe 2021

KANTINA FABA

Best of Show Bosnia and Herzegovina

Perle Ljubavi 2021

VINARIJA FAZAN

Best of Show Croatia

Plovac Ploski 2015

CARIC WINERY

Best of Show Greece

Diaporos Xinomavro 2017

KIR YIANNI ESTATE

Best of Show Kosovo

Rahova Klasike Reserve 2019

LABI WINES

Best of Show Montenegro

Stari Podrum Vranac 2013

PLANTAZE WINERY

Best of Show North Macedonia

Luda Mara Vranec 2019

TIKVES WINERY

Best of Show Romania

Crama Gabai Red Blend 2019

CRABA GABAI

Best of Show Serbia

Vincic White Reserve 2012

VINCIC WINERY

Best of Show Slovenia

Seven Numbers Sauvignon Blanc 2019

PUKLAVEC FAMILY WINES

Best of Show Turkey

Suvla Bogazkere – Okuzgozu 2021

SUVLA WINERY

Best of Show Ukraine

Odessos Merlot Limited Edition 2020

ODESSOS WINERY

The award ceremony was hosted by Galina Niforu, BIWC’s director, Igor Lukovic, this year’s BIWC president, and Konstantinos Lazarakis, honored president of BIWC. It was opened by the mayor of Salamina Georgios Panagopoulos, in the presence of the Bulgarian ambassador in Greece – Valentin Poryazov, the ambassador of Turkey in Greece – Mr. Özügergin, and diplomats from Slovenia, Romania, and Ukraine. The ceremony was also attended by the President of the Trade association of Salamina – Konstantinos Speciotakis, Konstantinos Zafiris, and Antonis Zafiris from the Link EPE  company – logistics partner of the Competition, business representatives from Athens, Piraeus, Salamina, and fans of the Balkan wine.

I am really impressed by the warmth and professionalism of the hosts from Salamina. For me personally, it was extremely exciting my second home to host the twelfth edition of BIWC. For the glamorous ceremony, we had not only a record number of samples but also a record quality! I’m observing the development of the wines from the region and I can honestly say that we are approaching, with a brave tempo, the world powers!, says Galina Niforou.

Special awards with the image of Salamina island and an olive branch were given by the mayor of Salamina to all Master of Wines that attended the event: Earl John Salvi MW, Caroline Gilby MW, Rod Smith MW, Robin Kick MW, and all other jury members received diplomas for their participation.

All awarded wines from the Competition can be tasted in the special Golden Tent in the Wine Town in front of the National Palace of Culture. Apart from the rich program and the extremely generous selection of wines from the whole Balkan region, the guests of the Festival will be the first to learn the name of the winner of the Grand Trophy, the real culmination of the eleventh edition of BIWCF!

If you want to be accredited for the festival, please reply to this email with your first and last name, email address, phone number, and the media you will represent.

Journalists that are accredited journalists will be able to take their pass only on the first day of the festival – June 16 from 17:00 to 22:00.

The Balkan International Wine Competition and Festival 2022 is supported by the Sofia Municipality, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as the media partnership of Wines of Macedonia, All Wine Stories, Vino & Fino magazine, Sofiaadventures, Visitskopje, Vinopedia, Winepeople.ro, In your pocket, Drinks.ua, Wine Travel Awards, ivanasimjanovska.com,  Autentika, Turističke priče, Moto Pfohe Rent a Car, Страница.бг, vevesti.bg, divident.eu, Sportal Media Group, Exporter.bg, Apollowine.com, Hit-bg.com, WineBG.info, списание твоят БИЗНЕС, b2b media.bg, ExpoWorld.bg, Agro TV, Стандарт, Trio.bg, White Water, АИДБ, Аз чета, Jasmin.bg, bgtourism.bg, Winetours.bg, Wineo.bg, Bulgaria Wine Тours, Bulgaria Wine Тours, Fresh Cuts of Life, WineTourMaker.com, Exotic Wine Travel, bgvipnews.eu, hotpressbg.com, bulgarianews.bg, green-news.bg, Литературен клуб „Перото“, Екопак.

For the eleventh consecutive year, the best wines in the Balkans were awarded in the prestigious contest The Balkans International Wine Competition (BIWC). This year it was held on the historic Greek island Salamina, and a record number of participants took part in the competition – more than 1,000 wines and 280 wineries. At an […]

Artémis Domaines & Gérard Basset Foundation & Liquid Icons offer 20 thousand euros and study in prestigious chateaux in France and the United States.

The world is helping Ukraine on all fronts. We have just observed another opportunity that our winemakers can take advantage of: Artémis Domaines (company-owner of the famous Château Latour, Clos de Tart, Domaine d’Eugénie, Château Grillet, Eisele Vineyard) in partnership with Gérard Basset Foundation and Liquid Icons announced a new scholarship program for winemakers affected by the war in Ukraine.

Liquid Icons, a wine research company with an educational mission, was founded by two friends, the unique professional Gérard Basset, who was the only one person in the world to have such high titles at once – World Champion Sommelier, OBE, MW and MS. and Lewis Chester DipWSET.

Château Latour

In 2018, The Global Fine Wine Report appeared. But it soon turned out that Gerard had cancer, and after his death in January 2019, the title of this report was changed to The Gérard Basset Global Fine Wine Report. This unique free publication is based on a detailed survey conducted among leading wine professionals around the world: Masters of Wine (MW), Masters Sommelier (MS), sommeliers, wine brokers and traders, and other representatives of the wine industry.

In January 2021, Lewis decided to focus on charitable activities in the field of winemaking. Together with Gerard’s widow Nina Basset, as well as Ian Harris MBE DipWSET and Jancis Robinson OBE MW, as founding proxies, the Gérard’s Basset Foundation was established to honor the legacy of this extraordinary man. Lewis Chester is currently the Honorary President and Head of Fundraising at the Foundation.

Eisele Vineyard

Gérard’s Basset Foundation has focused on wine education. The foundation uses its funding for educational programs to increase the diversity and excitement of new players in the wine industry, as this will only make the world of wine better and stronger.

So it is no coincidence that the Gérard Basset Foundation became one of the participants in an international initiative to support winemakers affected by the war in Ukraine.

Clos de Tart

The € 20,000 scholarships for each of the five participants will be funded equally by the Artémis Domaines and the Gérard Basset Foundation in partnership with Liquid Icons. Famous, prestigious chateaux Château Latour, Clos de Tart, Domaine d’Eugénie, Château Grillet in France and Eisele Vineyard in the Napa Valley, USA take part in this charity program. The scholarship jury consists of Ian Harris MBE DipWSET, representing the Gérard Basset Foundation, Hélène Génin, Technical Director of Château Latour, and Jean Garandeau of Artémis Domaines.

Registration is open! Applicants can apply online until July 4, 2022.

Domaine d’Eugénie

Frédéric Engerer, CEO of Artémis Domaines, commented: “Everyone who is watching the devastation in Ukraine today can help but sympathize with the people whose lives have been so tragically damaged. That’s why we’re excited to work with the Gérard Basset Foundation and Liquid Icons to help our wine colleagues by getting them on their feet and taking advantage of the incredible learning opportunities they will have in the large chateaux we are fortunate enough to own and manage.”

Lewis Chester DipWSET from Liquid Icons and Head of Fundraising at the Gérard Basset Foundation added: “The work we do is committed to helping the winemakers of countries in aggression achieve their dreams in the wine, spirits and hospitality industries through education. Artémis Domaines has an unsurpassed collection of fine wines. These are productions in which anyone who is interested in the wine industry is willing to jump over his head just to work there. We are proud that Artémis Domaines has agreed to work with us to help dedicated winemakers who have been victims of the conflict in their country regain their dignity and their chosen career path.”

wineindustryadvisor.com

Artémis Domaines & Gérard Basset Foundation & Liquid Icons offer 20 thousand euros and study in prestigious chateaux in France and the United States. The world is helping Ukraine on all fronts. We have just observed another opportunity that our winemakers can take advantage of: Artémis Domaines (company-owner of the famous Château Latour, Clos de […]

One of the major events in the wine world opens the doors, hearts and market of Great Britain for Ukrainian winemakers.

This year’s London Wine Fair will take place on June 7-9, right after the platinum jubilee of the Queen’s reign, when the capital is expected to host the loudest celebrations in history.

The London Wine Fair 2022 will also mark its anniversary: the exhibition will be held for the 40-th time! After a two-year quarantine break, all those involved welcome its return to Olympia. In addition, this year, the event will be held in live and digital formats for the first time.

For the first time in the history of LWF and Ukraine, wines of Ukrainian producers will be widely presented at the joint stand of Wines of Ukraine during this large-scale international event. To support Ukraine in times of hardship, the organizers of LWF 2022 initiated the creation of a joint stand, and gave Ukrainian winemakers the opportunity to present their products for free. Organizational efforts and costs were borne by LWF, and, from the Ukrainian side, by Drinks+ Communication Media Group and Ukrsadvinprom LLC. The wines have already been safely delivered to London, and are waiting for the exhibition opening.

Thus, at E30 stand in GRAND HALL (Ground Level) almost fifty names of drinks from Ukraine will be presented. The following companies are going to present their products: 46 Parallel Wine Group, Father’s Wine, Beykush Winery, Shabo Winery, Prince Trubetskoi Winery, Stakhovsky Wines, Honey Badger, Villa Tinta Winery, Biologist, Wineidea, Chateau Chizay, Vinoman Winery, and Akkerman Distillery.

Given that Ukrainian winemakers will not be able to attend the London Wine Fair 2022 due to the martial law, the stand will be presented mainly by British volunteer sommeliers, and  several experts in the field – Sarah Abbot MW from Swirl Wine, Brad Horne, founder of WineTime London and others also agreed to render their assistance in presentation of our wines.

London Wine Fair 2022 opened not only its doors but also its hearts for the Ukrainian winemakers: “We are offering our support to Ukrainian nominees and all others who suffer from this tragic situation”, – the fair’s organizers wrote on their FB page.

London Wine Fair 2022 is a really big and significant event in the world of the wine industry. On the eve of the opening, Hannah Tovey, Director of LWF, said: “To say that we are delighted with the London Wine Fair in 2022 would be a significant understatement. The last two years have become something of a roller coaster, starting with the 2020 cancellation, just two months before a 100% digital show, and then, within a few weeks in 2021. Now, we are looking forward to this year being a real milestone for the 40-th fair. Participants and visitors will see how physical and virtual elements can combine to make a truly groundbreaking event. When talking to our exhibitors, we learn that everyone has a great desire to return to Olympia and normal trade, and we are looking forward to a truly special 40-th London Wine Fair in 2022”.

For the first time in the history of LWF and Ukraine, wines of Ukrainian producers will be widely presented at the joint stand of Wines of Ukraine during this large-scale international event.

The capital of Great Britain, which will celebrate the 70-th jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II over the first weekend of June, will be followed by another bright event – the 40th (40!) anniversary of the London Wine Fair 2022.

Traditionally, for at least the last decade, Drinks+ Communication Media Group has been the information partner of Britain’s most authoritative wine hub. However, this year Drinks+ has a special format of participation: as part of the London Wine Fair 2022, the First Wine Travel Awards Ceremony (a new project of the Media Group) will take place at 12.30-14.30 on June 8, 2022 in the Industry Briefing Room.

All those wishing to register should follow the link.

During the ceremony, the organizers of the Wine Travel Awards will reward winners with diplomas, trophies and gift certificates from the award sponsors. However, it should be emphasized that there will be no losers at the Wine Travel Awards. And this is the main feature of the project: ranks and prizes are the cherries on the cake. And the “main dish” of the project is a large-scale advertising campaign for each nominee that lasts throughout the year and includes both digital resources and offline activities such as participation in the world’s largest exhibitions. To date, the nominees have already been presented in a number of events: in Ukraine, Italy, Hungary, as well as in large-scale exhibitions – such as ProWein (5700 exhibitors + 38,000 visitors from 145 countries) and Vinitaly (4400 exhibitors and 25,000 visitors from 139 countries). Now, it is the London Wine Fair. And then – BALKANS INTERNATIONAL WINE COMPETITION-2022 (Athens) and the premiere of Bordeaux Wine Week. Taking into account the audiences, including online ones, to which information about the nominees of the Wine Travel Awards was provided, the awareness of this project has reached as of today the figure of almost half a million of wine and tourism operators.

In all these events, the Wine Travel Awards are presented in up-to-date and diverse formats: with print advertising, electronic catalogs, tastings, and presentations. In particular, as part of the First Wine Travel Awards Ceremony in London, tasting of wines from the below nominees and sponsors will be held:

• F.W. Langguth Erben (Germany)
• Prince Trubetskoi Winery (Ukraine)
• Shumi Winery (Georgia)
• Shabo Winery (Ukraine)
• Castel Mimi (Moldova)
• Beykush Winery  (Ukraine)
• Chateau Mukhrani (Georgia)
• 46 Parallel Wine Group (Ukraine)
• Father’s Wine (Ukraine)
• “Armenia Wine” Factory LLC (Armenia)
• Stakhovsky Wines (Ukraine)
• Honey Badger (Ukraine)

The walk-around wine tasting will be accompanied by a buffet presentation of Ukrainian cuisine by the famous domestic chef, gastronomist and TV presenter Yuri Kovryzhenko. Yuri is a member of DisciplesEscoffier International and winner of the Global Chef Awards 2017, Ambassador of Taste for Global Gastronomy2021, 2022; Best of Gastronomy 2021 gold medal.

We would like to emphasize that the London Wine Fair 2022 will also host Drinks+ stand (C66 at GRAND HALL, Ground Level), where three days long you will be able to taste wines by the Wine Travel Awards nominees from around the world: Shumi Winery, Chateau Mukhrani, Castel Mimi, F.W. Langguth Erben, “Armenia Wine” Factory LLC. And wines produced by the nominees for the award from Ukraine will be available for tasting at the Wines of Ukraine stand organized at the initiative of the London Wine Fair in cooperation with Drinks+ and Ukrsadvinprom LLC, during all three days of the exhibition.

We are waiting for you at the First Wine Travel Awards Ceremony and at stands C66 and E30!

The capital of Great Britain, which will celebrate the 70-th jubilee of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II over the first weekend of June, will be followed by another bright event – the 40th (40!) anniversary of the London Wine Fair 2022.

A tasting dedicated to red and white wines will take place on May 12-14, 2023 in the city of Poreč (Istria peninsula).

Istria is the largest peninsula in Croatia and one of the country’s main tourist areas, bordering Slovenia and Italy. The people of Istria are historically connected to the production of grapes and wine. Wine here is a history of passion and an integral part of the culture of local life. The region is famous for the production of excellent wines, including iconic – Malvasia and Teran.

Both local and international grapes are grown in Istria. Currently, 4,000 hectares are under vineyards, and there were 44,000 hectares before phylloxera problems.

The variety of soils – from red along the coast to white within the country – adds another feature to local viticulture. The most famous and most common variety here is Malvasia Istriana, the wines of which have a refined aroma, fresh taste and are perfectly combined with seafood dishes.

Red wines made from Teran and Refosco are the oldest produced in the region. Their ruby color and pronounced fruity aroma make these wines a perfect pairing with meat dishes. Many Istrian wine lovers choose Muscat for its golden color, notes of wild cloves and exquisite aroma. It can be dry or sweet and is perfect for pudding.

The wine route of Istria, covered with numerous wine cellars, offers an unforgettable experience. The city of Porec has preserved many Roman, Gothic and Venetian monuments of antiquity. These include the main Euphrasian basilica of the 6th century, which rises above the city like a pearl in its crown. This early Christian church with a magnificent Byzantine mosaic is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Holding such an important event in Istria as the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is another proof of the great potential of the region. The region has a proven winemaking experience, combined with a rich local wine culture and recent strong investments: today, Croatian Istria is considered a wine region that produces high quality wine.

More than 10,000 wines will be presented at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in Croatia for tasting and evaluation by a group of experts. Experienced tasters will appreciate competing samples in order to select wines of impeccable quality.

Photos: concoursmondial.com, planetofhotels.com

A tasting dedicated to red and white wines will take place on May 12-14, 2023 in the city of Poreč (Istria peninsula)

More than 1,000 wines and 280 wineries copete for the awards at The Balkans International Wine Competition 2022 (BIWC). Its 11th edition brings together winemakers from Bulgaria, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Romania, Croatia, Albania, Slovenia, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Montenegro, and Ukraine.

The pride of their work will be judged by an internationally prestigious jury of 21 judges, chaired by Igor Lukovic from Serbia. The jury includes 5 holders of the title of Master of Wine and established wine professionals from all around the world.

“There are only two weeks left until BIWC and I can’t wait to gather in the paradise island of Salamina and assess the best wines from the Balkans! For the first time, I will be the chairman of the jury of the Competition and it is an honor for me to be part of such a star team! This year, the jury has been expanded with new world-class wine judges and I am confident that the Competition will be remarkable,” said the President of BIWC Igor Lukovic.

The Balkan Wine Oscars will be presented at a glamorous ceremony in Ktima Filipicon, Salamina, on June 3. The most attractive and contested categories are traditionally the Grand Trophy for “Best Wine in the Balkans” and “Best Cellar in the Balkans”, but this year’s edition will also award a special prize – “Golden Dionysus”. It will be given to the best Greek wine for 2022 by the Mayor of Salamina, Mr. Panagopoulos.

“Municipality of Salamina is ready to welcome the international jury of the Balkans Wine Competition in the beginning of June. We are proud that the organizers trusted us by choosing the island to host the 11th edition of the prestigious wine forum. As a popular tourist and cultural destination, we will offer hospitality to our guests, you are welcome!”, said Georgios Panagopoulos, Mayor of Salamina.

After the competition, on June 4, a wine expo will be held, where business representatives, sommeliers, distributors, and wine lovers from the host country – Greece, and abroad are invited. Registration for participating in the Balkans International Wine Competition and Festival lasts until May 20. More information and instructions can be found here.

“I am extremely proud that year after year the Balkans International Competition enjoys growing interest from the wine community in the region. In 2022, we are setting a new record for the number of wineries that will present their best wines in Salamina, and I am convinced that the quality will also be improved a lot. We can now have the confidence that we own a world power in winemaking”, said Galina Niforu, Director of BIWC.

We remind you that during the competition there will be a presentation of Ukrainian wines, as well as tasting of wines of nominees and sponsors of the International Wine Travel Awards. In addition, the WTA team will present the Wine Travel Awards Guide consisting of unique stories of WTA Community members, published by the Drinks+ Communication Media Group.

More than 1,000 wines and 280 wineries compete for the awards at The Balkans International Wine Competition 2022 (BIWC).

The Wine Travel Awards Guide 2021-2022 will be presented for the first time at ProWein 2022.

The exclusive PR catalog of the Wine Travel Awards nominees and winners – the Wine Travel Awards Guide 2021-2022 will soon debut on ProWein 2022.

The Wine Travel Awards (WTA) Guide is a special advertising edition in English that is published by Communication Media Group Drinks+ one time a year in print and digital versions, and read by over 150,000 members of the wine community globally.

The printed version of the Wine Travel Awards Guide 2021-2022 will be distributed at the International Trade Press stand at ProWein, located at the North entrance next to halls 7.0 and 9.

The web version of the catalog will be posted on the Digital: online trade press stand – the online platform at prowein.com, a new digital offering from Messe Düsseldorf. This format allows to expand the presence of the Wine Travel Awards Guide among professionals in the alcohol market. The online press stand is available a few days before the exhibition and is open for three months after the end of ProWein 2022.

In addition, the ProWein 2022 visitors will be able to scan the catalog, using the QR-code on Wine Travel Awards posters that will be placed in different areas of the exhibition. Our readers can already see the catalog here.

Wine enthusiasts and professionals read the WTA Guide for keeping abreast of new trends, established and growing producers and regions, brands, as well as wine tourism offers around the world.

This year’s WTA Guide will also be distributed at the world’s leading WTA exhibitions and events, such as the London Wine Fair, Bordeaux Wine Week and the Balkans International Wine Competition.

We remind you that the WTA winners will be officially announced and awarded at the Wine Travel Awards Ceremony at the London Wine Fair 2022, which will take place at the Industry Briefing Room on June 8, 2022 at 12.30-14.30.

As part of the event, the Drinks + and Wine Travel Awards teams are organizing a walk-around tasting of nominees and WTA partners from around the world, including Ukraine. The wine tasting will be accompanied by the buffet presentation of Ukrainian cuisine from the famous chef, gastronomist and TV presenter Yurii Kovryzhenko.

If you would like to attend the First WTA Ceremony in London, please follow the registration form here.

The Wine Travel Awards Guide 2021-2022 will be presented for the first time at ProWein 2022.