The Balkans’ Finest Wines Honored in a Spectacular Ceremony in Transylvania

For the twelfth consecutive year, the Best of Show wines in the Balkans were awarded in the prestigious contest The Balkans International Wine Competition (BIWC). This year it was held in the emblematic Transylvania, and a record number of participants took part in the competition – more than 1,200 wines and 300 wineries. At an official ceremony and gala dinner in Metropolis Hotel, Bistrita, Romania, the prestigious international jury announced the host country of the next edition of the Competition. For the first time the Competition will be split in two countries – Bulgaria and Turkey! In June 2024, L’Ambassade de Katarzyna, will be the main host of the 13th edition of the BIWC.

The biggest prize in the competition – the Grand Trophy for the “Best Wine in the Balkans”, the winery 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 15 at 8 p.m. in the Wine Town in front of the National Palace of Culture.

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. Here are the winners:

Best of Show Albania

Kabernelo Reserva 2019, Kantina Faba

Best of Show Bulgaria

Zornitza Family Estate 2020, Zornitza estate

Best of Show Croatia

Nedija, 2021, Caric winery

Best of Show Greece

Malvasia dessert wine 2011, Monemvasia winery

Best of Show Italy

Gianni Masciarelli Trebbiano d’Abruzzo DOC 2020, Masciarelli

Best of Show Hungary

Teleki Vilanyi Olaszrizling 2022, Scanyi winery

Best of Show Kosovo

Vranac Teranda 2015, Suhareka Verani winery

Best of Show Montenegro

Vranac Barrique 2018, 13 Jul. Plantaze winery

Best of Show Moldova

Individo Merlot & Cabernet Sauvignon 2020, Chateau Vertely

Best of Show North Macedonia

Dark Horse Organic 2020, Goce Popov/ Wine cellar Popovi

Best of Show Romania

Negru De Dragasani 2019, Avincis winery

Best of Show Serbia

Grasac 2020, Vincic winery

Best of Show Turkey

Iyiki Karasakiz white sparkling 2019, Suvla winery 

Best of Show Ukraine

Odessos Merlot 2019, Odessos winery

The award ceremony was hosted by Galina Niforou, BIWC’s director and  Igor Lukovic,  BIWC president. “I am really impressed by the warmth and professionalism of the hosts from Transylvania. 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.

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 twelve edition of BIWCF!

If you want to be accredited for the festival, please register in the website of BIWCF – https://balkanswine.eu/registration-journalists/

Journalists who are accredited will be able to take their pass only on the first day of the festival – June 15 from 17:00 to 22:00.