10 “Best of Show” Awards Celebrated the Best Wines on the Balkans
The 9th edition of The Balkans International Wine Competition held an unprecedented “wine rivalry” in the Serbian capital – Belgrade, on Friday evening. Nearly 200 wineries took part, presenting their best wines.
The Best of Show awards were given for the first time last year at the 8th edition of the Competition. Their national value was regarded as important and therefore this year BIWC awarded again the best wine per country.
“Who could tell that I wasn’t with you this week?”, the chairman of the judging panel Konstantinos Lazarakis MW said at the beginning of his recorded video message for the BIWC participants. He was impeded to attend the long-awaited event due to the coronavirus situation. However, his presence was tangible and his message added fresh spirit to the participants.
“Remember – go back home and just think about your experience in Serbia. The Serbian wine producers are some of the most amazing ones in Europe”, he added.
Here are the awarded Best of Show wines by countries:
- Albania – Belba winery, Chardonnay, 2019
- Bosnia and Hertzegovina – Vinarija Jungic, Tamjanika Premium, 2018
- Bulgaria – Villa Melnik, Rare Varieties Melnik 13 Jubilee, 2017
- Croatia – Caric winery, Plovac Ploski Barrique 2013
- Greece – Estate Argyros Vinsanto 20 years Barrel Aged, 1996 f
- Montenegro – Plantaze, Stari Podrum Marcelan & Petit Verdot & Merlot, 2013
- North Macedonia – Chateau Kamnik, Terroir Vranec Grand Reserve, 2015
- Romania – Familia Vladoi, Ravak White, 2019
- Serbia – Vinarija Veritas, Momentum Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
- Turkey – Suvla winery, Karasakis Reserve, 2017
“Being finally in Belgrade and having The Balkans International Wine Competition for the first time abroad – in the hospitable Serbian capital – is a real success that I celebrate with joy and gratitude! It was a challenge to organise an event of such rank in a year as complicated as 2020 is. But we succeeded and showed that the Balkan region is strong and united and the connecting entity is the amazing wine”, said Galina Niforou, director of BIWCF.
The history of the Competition began in 2012, when Galina Niforou and her team met in person the wine producers to convince them to participate. They were also attracted by the name of Konstantinos Lazarakis – the first Master of Wine in the Balkans who took over the chairmanship of the jury. Today, BIWC is a guarantee of quality, and wine makers highly value the medals and trophies awarded by the prestigious international jury.
An integral part of the competition is the Festival. It traditionally stays in Sofia. The ninth edition will be opened on September 17 and will run until September 19. Then the awards in the other categories will be announced, the grand trophy for the best wine in the Balkans and the country that will host the jubilee tenth edition will be announced.
The judging panel consisted of renowned experts: Rod Smith MW (UK/France), Katia Iontcheva (Bulgaria), Đurđa Katić (Serbia), Horia Hasnas (Romania), Ivana Simjanovska (North Macedonia), Tomislav Ivanovic (Serbia), Dashamir Elezi (Albania), Prof. dr Vesna Maras (Montenegro), Fabiola G. Rios (Mexico, Czech Republic), Alexander Matejic (Serbia), Zvonko Herceg (North Macedonia), Michaela Kapickova (North Macedonia), Róbert Csévári (Serbia), Vihren Velkov (Bulgaria) and Vuk Stefanovic (Serbia).
The Balkans International Wine Competition And Festival 2020 is taking place with the support of Sofia Municipality, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Bulgarian-Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SAVEZ – Association of the Serbian Wine Producers, SERSA – Organization of the Serbian Sommeliers, as well as with the media partnership of БНР, our main partner in Serbia – Vino & Fino magazine, Oinohoos magazine, Manager magazine, Moto Pfohe Rent a Car, Exporter.bg, Мама Нинджа, Hit-bg.com, WineBG.info, списание Твоят бизнес, b2b media.bg, Exporter.bg, InFoodVeritas.com, ExpoWorld.bg, Agro TV, Стандарт, PROGRESSIVE magazine, White Water, Аз чета, Жената днес, Winetours.bg, Wineo.bg, Bulgaria Wine Тours, Арт Идея Бг, Bulgaria Wine Тours, Fresh Cuts of Life, предаването “Винена одисея” on Balgare TV, wineo.bg, WineTourMaker.com, Autentika, Turističke priče, Vinopedia, In your pocket, Visitskopje, Sofiaadventures, Vino.mk, Exotic Wine Travel, Vin2.ro, Winepeople.ro.
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For more information:
Dilyana Deneva, BookMark
dilyana@bookmark.bg
0899 190 284