The Serbian Trijumf Selection won the Grand Trophy for the best Balkan Wine

Triumph Selection from the Serbian winery Vinarija Aleksandrović was declared the best wine in the Balkans at the moment. The decision of the expert jury of the ninth Balkan International Wine Competition and Festival (BIWCF) became clear on the first day of the wine festival in Sofia. The traditional award ceremony, called “The Balkan Wine Oscars”, was held outdoors for the first time and was open to all visitors to the wine town in front of the National Palace of Culture.

The new rotation system of the host countries, announced last year, debuted in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. The 15 judges from 11 countries chose the winners in all categories among the record 230 participants. The chairman of the jury for the ninth time was the first Master of Wine in the Balkans – Konstantinos Lazarakis.

The next country to host the competition will be North Macedonia. This was announced by Galina Niforou, director of BIWCF, from the festival.

The official award ceremony was opened by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food and Forestry Dr. Lozana Vasileva. She also gave the Grand Trophy to the Serbian winery Vinarija Aleksandrović.

“This is a forum with traditions, which gives the opportunity to Bulgarian wine producers and those from the Balkans to show the quality and specifics of wine produced in our region. I congratulate the organizers of this festival and the Association of Wine Producers and Exporters for this wonderful event for the opportunity to show what high quality wines we produce here in the Balkans”, said Vasileva.

The Turkish Suvla winery was awarded with the “Best Cellar in the Balkans” Trophy.

The Balkans Wine Festival lasts until September 19 and welcomes the residents and guests of Sofia in a specially built Wine Town in the park in front of the National Palace of Culture. In addition to getting acquainted with some of the most interesting wineries in Bulgaria and the Balkans, wine lovers will have the opportunity to taste the award-winning wines in a special Golden Tent.

Here is the complete list of trophy holders in the different categories:

Best White Wine Trophy – Trijumf Selection, Vinarija Aleksandrović, Serbia
Best Red Wine Trophy – Cabernet Sauvignon, Vinarija Radlović, Serbia
Best Rose Wine Trophy – Epic Pinot Noir Rose, Staro Oryahovo Winery, Bulgaria
Best Sparkling Wine Trophy – Brut Rose, Edoardo Miroglio, Bulgaria
Best Orange Wine Trophy – Tri Morave reserve white, Vinarija Temet, Serbia
Best Sweet Wine Trophy – Sigalas Vinsanto, Domaine Sigalas, Greece
Best Best Indigenous White variety Trophy – Santorini Skitali, Hatzidakis Winery, Greece
Best Indigenous Red variety Trophy – Barovo Red, Tikves Chateaux & Domaines 1885, North Macedonia
Best Indigenous Sweet wine Trophy – Malvasia, Monemvasia Winery, Greece
Best Label Design Trophy – Vinarija Jungic, Bosnia and Herzegovina

The other participants in the contested race shared double gold, gold, silver and bronze medals. The awards for the best wine by country – Best of Show – were announced after the end of the competition in Belgrade, and during the official “Balkan Wine Oscars” the winners received their statuettes.

Here are the awarded Best of Show wines by countries:

Albania – Belba winery, Chardonnay, 2019
Bosnia and Herzegovina – 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

“Last week, the competition was held for the first time in Serbia and was extremely successful. I thank the jury from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful work. This year, the judges chose the winners from a record number of participants”, said Galina Niforou, director of BIWCF. She invited Elena Mladenovska, president of the Wines of Macedonia Association, to the festival stage.

“We in the Balkans should not only drink good wine and praise our wines, but also trust each other and support each other,” Elena Mladenovska said in her speech.

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, Apollowine.com, Autentika, Turističke priče, Vinopedia, In your pocket, Visitskopje, Sofiaadventures, Vino.mk, Exotic Wine Travel, Vin2.ro, Winepeople.ro.