Gastronomy and Wine Portal

At the end of June, Drinks+ participated in a truly historic event – the first Ukrainian regional wine competition, Silver Lands Wines 2024, held in Mukachevo according to OIV international standards.

The forum, which combined the competition and the conference, was organized by the NGO “Association of Grape Growers, Winemakers, and Distillers of Transcarpathia” in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Union project “Institutional and Political Reform of Small-Scale Agriculture in Ukraine” (IPRSA). The team comprised the country’s most experienced specialists: competition director Professor Nataliya Kameneva of Odesa National Technological University; international observer (FAO representative) Dr. Oksana Tkachenko, head of the Department of Wine Technology and Sensory Analysis at Odesa National Technological University; Oleksandr Garnovdiy, head of the “Association of Grape Growers, Winemakers, and Distillers of Transcarpathia”; and Ivan Bachurin, president of the Ukrainian Sommeliers Association, who oversaw the work of the tasting commissions.

Drinks+ communication media group acted as the international information partner for the event.

Silver Lands Wines represents a unique terroir in Ukraine. The primary goal of the association members is to create a comprehensive portrait of the wine-growing region, defining wine styles, descriptors, and ultimately the image of the territory. To achieve this, the organizers undertook extensive efforts to collect samples, code them, and invite both national and international experts to participate in the tasting commissions. According to observers and participants, the competition adhered to the highest standards. Tasters used the Gustos.Life software, which operates on a blockchain basis. Ten wine professionals from Ukraine and Hungary evaluated 113 samples from 32 producers.

The commission on red wines was chaired by Olga Pinevich-Todoriuk, the editor-in-chief of Drinks+ magazine, who shared her thoughts on the event:

“Honestly, I am impressed by the fact that in Ukraine, every year, despite the challenges we face together, new wine pearls are discovered. The wines from craft producers in Transcarpathia, which have enormous potential both domestically and internationally, were a revelation for me. With my many years of experience in judging international wine competitions like Mundus Vini and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, I can responsibly claim that these wines truly looked impressive and, most importantly, promising. Despite the challenging role I had, where the style of the white Silver Lands Wines is already well-defined, the red wines are still in the formative stage – a sketch, so to speak. Winemakers are exploring, selecting potential varieties and technologies suitable for the terroir. Of the 57 samples in my commission, only four were removed due to deficiencies, and another 10-12 percent received low scores. However, the majority passed the test, receiving high marks and awards – considering that OIV standards dictate strict quantitative limits for winners. Unlike most world competitions, where up to 80% of submitted samples can win medals, OIV standards involve a very critical selection, awarding only up to 30% of the declared titles. Notably, out of 19 gold medalists, only eight were red, indicating room for growth.

Yes, perhaps the economic situation is not favorable for experiments at the moment. Ukrainians and their businesses now need to survive. But I see a clear and bright future for Silver Lands Wines, not only for the whites, which are already demonstrating a high level, but also for the reds. They have everything needed to develop their own distinctive style. Of course, this is the domain of the technologists. However, based on my experience and intuition, I would suggest experimenting with aging, including the use of different containers such as cement and amphorae. It might be wise to move away from trying to imitate Bordeaux and instead seek inspiration from regions like Austria or Hungary. One of my Hungarian colleagues even noted a resemblance to wines from the vicinity of Sopron among the Mukachevo samples. Considering the climate, it might even be worth looking to Burgundy as a model. I am confident that Silver Lands Wines will find their unique identity in the next 3-5 years and become elegant, light-style wines.”

And even today, it is essential to focus on selling Pet Nats and ciders – trendy, low-alcohol drinks with significant demand, especially in the summer. Therefore, the palette with which the portraits of Silver Lands Wines will be painted is very wide and bright.

My personal favorites from the competition include:

• Chateau Pauk, “Cahor” dessert (Cabernet): Berry notes in the aroma, with chocolate, coffee, and cream notes in the taste. A perfectly balanced, elegant wine with a truly dry finish.
• “Shalanky Agro Invest”, “Merlot” 2017: Structured with fairly strong tannins, well-balanced, and featuring aromas of elegant spices, cooked berries, and herbs.
• Urst Family Cellar: Dornfelder 2018 and Cabernet/Shiraz 2018.
• KOVACH WINERY: As always, at the top with their unforgettable, elegant, and light Zweigelt 2019, which is still tannic and strong. By the way, wines from the Zweigelt variety are a serious contender from winemakers. In addition to the well-known Kovacs, I’d like to highlight the producer Vasyl Lendiel with his “Zweigelt” 2021.

Philosophy Through the Prism of History

The second day of the event was dedicated to the conference “Silver Lands Wines: Philosophy, Strategy, and Tactics of Geographical Indication Development.” The discussion centered on developing and popularizing the winemaking tradition of Transcarpathia by strengthening and promoting the geographical indication of the Silver Lands Wines.

The presentation topics were aptly chosen:

• ” Silver Lands Wines: History and Traditions”
• “Development of the Grape and Wine Industry During the Formation of Geographical Indications”
• “Grapes, Winemaker, Wine: Legislative Regulation and Market Needs”
• “Technical Varieties of the Transcarpathian Region: Past and Future”
• “Comprehensive Ecological Searches of the Territory: A Component of Developing the Specification of Products from Geographical Indications”
• “Tasting Competition: A Tool for the Development of Geographical Indications. General Impressions of the Current State of the Quality of Regional Wines”
• “Geographical Indication as a Tool for the Development of Agrotourism. Presentation of the Concept of the Wine, Honey, and Bryndza Route in the Transcarpathian Region”

You can watch the video of the presentations here.

The list of winners is here.

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D+ File

The awards for the Silver Lands Wines competition were distributed as follows:

• GRAND PRIX: Wine category over 96 points.
• GOLD MEDAL: 88-95.9 points.
• SILVER MEDAL: 82-87.99 points.
• BRONZE MEDAL: 78-81.99 points.

Winemaker Roman Mushka received the highest award with the 2002 “Rose” wine, scoring 97.8 points and earning the Grand Prix.

In total, 19 wines were awarded gold medals, 32 received silver medals, and 37 were honored with bronze medals.

At the end of June, Drinks+ participated in a truly historic event – the first Ukrainian regional wine competition, Silver Lands Wines 2024, held in Mukachevo according to OIV international standards. The forum, which combined the competition and the conference, was organized by the NGO “Association of Grape Growers, Winemakers, and Distillers of Transcarpathia” in […]

The south of Ukraine, Odessa, despite the war, is turning into a Klondike for the modern gourmet. Here you can find both expressive wines and the unique Odessa cuisine, which has absorbed the brightest flavors of the traditional tables of various peoples who have lived on these lands since time immemorial. The fame of the Odessa cuisine is spreading around the world: it is natural that Ukrainian Bessarabia’s Wine and Taste Route was the best in the Region of the year category of the international Wine Travel Awards 2022-2023.

And, perhaps, there is no Odessa dish which is more interesting, ancient and cosmopolitan than holubtsi, or dolma, as they are called in some countries. There are several versions that explain the origin of holubtsi – Turkish, Chinese, German, French and Greek. In an Aristophanes` comedy one of the heroes asks to serve him cabbage leaves with pork – and that gourmet, let me remind you, made his order as far back as in 425 BC.

In 2023 holubtsi recipes were included in the National list of the non-material cultural heritage elements of Ukraine. This June the Club of wine fans “Vintage” and the project “Gastro Bessarabia”, the founders of which are Yulia Sushchenko and Olga Klymenko, jointly decided to pay tribute to this dish and organize a holubtsi festival. And in order to demonstrate all the variety of the dish, they arranged a bright “parade of holubtsi “.

It turns out that there are so many recipes for holubtsi that even the most dedicated researchers of the  world gastronomy have not heard of some of them. So, at first the guests tasted holubtsi with fish, where the dish is wrapped in a grape leaf; then – holubtsi with beef, where the minced meat is “dressed” in beet leaves, stewed with beets and in beet kvass. Next, the housewives surprised us with incredible holubtsi with cheese in a linden leaf, and for dessert they served “sweet holubtsi ” – ice cream in a “ship” made of zucchini and baked zucchini flowers. And all this is accompanied by various sauces, which emphasized the taste qualities of each dish.

The south of Ukraine, Odessa, despite the war, is turning into a Klondike for the modern gourmet. Here you can find both expressive wines and the unique Odessa cuisine, which has absorbed the brightest flavors of the traditional tables of various peoples who have lived on these lands since time immemorial. The fame of the […]

Coolness in the heat – the nominee of the Wine Travel Awards 2023-2024 has presented a new summer cocktail – RUTA TONIC.

Some time ago TM RUTA together with OTB Studio organized an all-Ukrainian cocktail competition using RUTA balm – Ruta Cocktail Challenge 2024. With incredible creativity, the participants demonstrated that local drinks are tasty, cool and fashionable.

And now RUTA offers summer in a glass, a cocktail that promises to become a favorite of all those who prefer a natural product, local drinks and simplicity of execution. Summer cocktails should be light and juicy, which is exactly what RUTA TONIC is.

For its preparation, you will need 45 ml of craft RUTA balm, 120 ml of dry tonic and a slice of lemon. Everything is very simple! This is the best summer cocktail.

Coolness in the heat – the nominee of the Wine Travel Awards 2023-2024 has presented a new summer cocktail – RUTA TONIC. Some time ago TM RUTA together with OTB Studio organized an all-Ukrainian cocktail competition using RUTA balm – Ruta Cocktail Challenge 2024. With incredible creativity, the participants demonstrated that local drinks are tasty, […]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo: concoursmondial.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

General impression

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Competition Highlights and Results

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Enchanting evening and more…

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

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

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

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

Viva la Mexico!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So June 29, Briones, Nacional 232.

Come to a free open day.

Vivanco Museum is 20 years old!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

D+ Dossier

• Maison de Cognac Camus

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

• Camus-Yuanliu

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

• Camus Holding Group

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why is this project extremely rich for Ukrainian winemaking? 

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

Who are Masters of Wine? 

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

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

Sarah Abbott MW, United Kingdom

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

Richard Bampfield MW, United Kingdom

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

Wojciech Bonkowski MW, Poland

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

Cees van Casteren MW, Netherlands 

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

Caro Maurer MW, Germany

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

Heidi Mäkinen MW, Finland

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

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

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

Here are 3 immediate steps:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo: Oleg Savka

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