The Greek Cuvee Monsignori Santorini 2017 Was Awarded the Grand Trophy at the Balkan International Wine Competition and Festival
Cuvee Monsignori Santorini 2017 from the Greek winery Estate Argyros is currently the best Balkan wine. This was the jury’s decision at the prestigious Balkan International Wine Competition and Festival 2019 (BIWCF). The winner was announced during a gorgeous gala dinner called “Balkan Wine Oscars” in Hilton Hotel on Friday. The organisers said that in 2020 the competition’s host will be in Serbia. At the end of the working week the festival commenced in the open air – it will gather wine lovers on Saturday and Sunday as well from 12 pm to 10 pm at the special wine town next to the National Palace of Culture.
The eighth edition of the most prestigious Balkan wine competition introduced a new category. In addition to the traditional awards and the Grand Trophy for the best Balkan wine, the Best of Show awards were given for the first time – praising the best wine from each country.
The trophy “Best Winery on the Balkans” was split between the Bulgarian Edoardo Miroglio and the Turkish Chamlija Winery due to their equal points received at the competition. The jury’s chairman Konstantinos Lazarakis MW said that this is the first such case in the competition’s history.
Here’s the full list of the awarded in all categories:
- White Wine Trophy – Cuvee Monsignori Santorini 2017 from Estate Argyros, Greece
- Red Wine Trophy – Kremen Kamen 2016 from Matalj, Serbia
- Rose Wine Trophy – Rose Pinot Noir from Zelanos, Bulgaria
- Sparkling Wine Trophy – pinot noir from Yalovo, Bulgaria
- Sweet Wine Trophy – Monemvasia-Malvasia 2012 from Monemvasia Winery, Greece
- Orange Wine Trophy (awarded for the first time) – Uncensored 2017 from Bikicki, Serbia
- Best Indigenous White variety Trophy – Kydonitsa 2018 from Monemvasia Winery, Greece
- Best Indigenous Red variety Trophy – Mavrud Elenovo 2018 from Edoardo Miroglio, Bulgaria
- Best Indigenous White variety Trophy for sweet wine – Domenii-Grasa 2014 from Casa de Vinuri Cotnari, Romania
The Best of Show awards were given in alphabetical order. However, not all participating countries were awarded. “In order to get that award, the wine from the particular country needs to have received at least one medal”, explained Konstantinos Lazarakis. The Best of Show Bulgarian award was given to Katarzyna Estate for their Katarzyna Reserve 2012.
Here’s the awarded Best of Show wines by countries:
- Albania for Merlot Menea 2/2 2011 from Korca 2000
- Bosnia and Herzegovina for Chardonnay 2018 from Pajic Vinarija
- Bulgaria for Katarzyna Reserve 2012 from Katarzyna Estate
- Czech Republic for Sauvignon suche (batch, n. 8335) from Znovin Znojmo
- Croatia for white Bogdanusa 2018 from Caric
- Georgia for white Tsolikouri 2016 from Burjanadze-Shanidze Wine Cellar – Qvibari
- Greece for Ktima Gerovassiliou Sauvignon Blanc 2018 from Ktima Gerovassiliou
- Kosovo for Chardonnay 2018 from Daka Winery
- Montenegro for red Tellus 2016 from Lipovac
- North Macedonia for red Cabernet & Merlot Oak Edition 2017 from Tikves
- Romania for Traminer 2014 from Crama Ratesti
- Serbia for merlot from Vinarija Rnjak 2015
- Turkey for Албариньо from Chamlija 2017
Galina Niforou, Director of the Balkan Wine Competition and Festival, revealed some more great news. From 2020 onwards the competition part will be split from the festival one – the latter remains in Sofia, whereas the former will be held in different Balkan countries. The first host after the Bulgarian capital is Belgrade, Serbia.
“The BIWC is the most influential and I’m sure it is the best wine competition in this part of the world. I’m really proud and very happy that Serbia will be the next host. It was quite difficult to decide to do this because it is not so simple – there are lots of logistics to be solved. But i think it’s a good step and in this way we can include more energy, more people, more wine makers – to pay more attention in the whole Balkan region. So I hope I will see all of you next year in Belgrade and I promise you will spend great time there!”, said the Serbian jury member Igor Lukovic from the stage, right after the announcement.
The Balkans International Wine Competition And Festival 2019 is taking place with the support of Sofia Municipality and Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as with the media partnership of Стандарт, Exporter.bg, Hit-bg.com, WineBG.info, списание Твоят бизнес, ExpoWorld.bg, Момичетата от града, ApolloWine.com, The Wine Inside, Sommelier.bg, Agro TV, Novini.bg, Sportal, Woman.bg, Eating, Gardening & Living in Bulgaria, “Аз чета”, Sommelier.bg, Agro TV, Novini.bg, Manager.bg, Enosiasti, Fresh Cuts of Life, Enjoy Wine, Businessnews.bg, Explorerbg.bg, Maiko Mila,Tialoto.bg, Az-jenata.bg, Jenatadnes.com, Vino & Fino, In Food Veritas, АИДБ, Арт идея БГ, Winetours.bg, Oinohoos, vin2.ro, Exotic Wine Travel, vino.mk, hedonistmagazin.net, sofiaadventures.com et al.
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