RESULTS OF THE INTERNATIONAL WINE CONTEST “BLACK SEA WINES 2018”

The results of the International Wine Contest “Black Sea Wines 2018” were announced during the closing ceremony of the V Black Sea Winemaking Forum on 29 June 2018 in the hall with the symbolic name “Dionysus” in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Varna – Golden Sands.

The Contest is traditionally popular among the winemakers of the region. It was held on the sidelines of the V Black Sea Winemaking Forum in Varna (Bulgaria) on 24-26 June 2018.

The producers of the wines and spirituous beverages of vitivinicultural origin competed for the awards in accordance with the OIV (International Organization of Vine and Wine) standards; the sum of all the medals awarded to the samples did not exceed 30% of the total of samples presented at the category. The Contest was held in 11 categories and in 2 special nominations.

The Degustation Commission of the Contest consisted of the leading experts from the countries of the region: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Georgia, Greece, Russia, Turkey.

302 samples from 48 companies were submitted to the Contest from 13 countries: Balkans, Caucasus, Russia. 84 medals were awarded.

RESULTS OF THE “BLACK SEA WINES 2018” CONTEST

Still White Wines, The Vintage 2016 or Younger
THE BEST Côte du Danube Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Burgozone, Bulgaria
GOLD GP Golden Rhythm Chardonnay 2016, Black Sea Gold Pomorie, Bulgaria
GOLD Kutjevo Graševina High Quality 2017, Kutjevo, Croatia
GOLD Rigid Elm Chardonnay 2016, Wine Union-Nissovo, Bulgaria
GOLD Sauvignon 2016, Tiraspol Winery and Distillery KVINT, Moldova
GOLD LS Chardonnay 2017, Lovico Lozari, Bulgaria
GOLD Château Burgozone Chardonnay 2017, Burgozone, Bulgaria
GOLD Traminer Targovishte 2017, LVK-Vinprom, Bulgaria
GOLD Château Burgozone Viognier 2017, Burgozone, Bulgaria
GOLD Rkatsiteli 2017, Vinprom Ludogorie, Bulgaria
GOLD Nissovo Muscat 2017, Wine Union-Nissovo, Bulgaria
GOLD Sauvignon Blanc 2017, DK-Intertrade (Dionis Group), Moldova
GOLD Tamianka 2017, Kaynardzha Winery, Bulgaria
GOLD Viorica 2016, Tiraspol Winery and Distillery KVINT, Moldova
GOLD Sauvignon Blanc 2017, Griffin Ivančić, Croatia
GOLD Alb de Onițcani Classic 2017, Tartcomvin, Moldova
SILVER Chardonnay Limited 2016, Tartcomvin, Moldova

Still White Wines, The Vintage 2015 or Older
THE BEST Vera Terra Chardonnay 2015, Black Sea Gold Pomorie, Bulgaria
GOLD Chardonnay Barrel Aged 2015, Salla Estate, Bulgaria
GOLD Anguri 2012, Qimerioni, Georgia
SILVER Alaverdi Tradition 2014, Badagoni, Georgia

Still Red Wines, The Vintage 2016 or Younger
THE BEST Mukuzani Alexandrov Wine Collection 2016, Georgian Wine House, Georgia
GOLD Dissan Barrique 2016, Bovin Winery, Macedonia
GOLD Côte du Danube Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Burgozone, Bulgaria
GOLD Orbelus 2016, Orbelus Organic Winery, Bulgaria
GOLD Merlot Special Reserve Stamp Collection 2016, Black Sea Gold Pomorie, Bulgaria
GOLD Cabernet Tamanskaya Marka 2016, Kubanskaya Loza Russia
GOLD Rigid Elm Mavrud 2016, Wine Union-Nissovo, Bulgaria
GOLD Horse Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, Wine Union-Nissovo, Bulgaria
SILVER Côte du Danube Merlot & Cabernet 2016, Burgozone Bulgaria

Still Red Wines, The Vintage 2015 or Older
THE BEST A'gupka 2012, Bovin Winery, Macedonia
GOLD Saperavi Kartuli Vazi 2005, Tifliski Vini Pogreb, Georgia
GOLD Dom Zaharinyh 2014, Dom Zaharinyh, Russia
GOLD Bugeac Merlo 2009, Tomai Vinex, Moldova
GOLD Rigid Elm Barrel Reserve 2014, Wine Union-Nissovo, Bulgaria
GOLD Korlat Syrah 2014, Badel 1862, Croatia
GOLD Bugeac Cabernet 2009, Tomai Vinex, Moldova
GOLD Cabernet Sauvignon Baqqal Su 2015, Dom Zaharinyh, Russia
GOLD Alaverdi Tradition 2013, Badagoni, Georgia
GOLD Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Kaynardzha Winery, Bulgaria
GOLD Mukuzani Kartuli Vazi 2014, Tifliski Vini Pogreb, Georgia
GOLD Suvla Reserve 2015, Suvla, Turkey
GOLD Ashta Lasha 2015, Wines and Beverages of Abkhazia
SILVER Imperator 2015, Bovin Winery, Macedonia
SILVER Atauad Gumista Ashta 2015, Wines and Beverages of Abkhazia
SILVER Château Teleki Villányi Franc 2015, Csányi Winery, Hungary

Rosé Wines
THE BEST Salty Hills Rose 2017, Black Sea Gold Pomorie, Bulgaria
GOLD Kutjevo Rose 2017, Kutjevo, Croatia
GOLD 242 Rose 2017, Tiraspol Winery and Distillery KVINT, Moldova
GOLD Pentagram Rose Syrah 2017, Black Sea Gold Pomorie, Bulgaria
SILVER Gumista Ashta 2017, Wines and Beverages of Abkhazia
SILVER Côte du Danube Rose 2017, Burgozone, Bulgaria

Sparkling Wines, Classical Method
THE BEST Griffin Brut, Griffin Ivančić, Croatia
THE BEST Novy Svet Pinot Gris Millesime, Novy Svet, Russia
GOLD Griffin Dark Side, Griffin Ivančić, Croatia
GOLD Griffin Zero, Griffin Ivančić, Croatia

Sparkling Wines, Reservoir Method
THE BEST Rosu de Nisporeni 2016, DK-Intertrade (Dionis Group), Moldova
GOLD Balaklava Brut Rose Reserve, Zolotaya Balka, Russia
GOLD Kokur Brut 2017, Dom Zaharinyh, Russia
GOLD Kuban Novorossiysk Semi-dry Pink Myshako 2017 Myskhako, Russia
SILVER Balaklava Brut Reserve, Zolotaya Balka, Russia
SILVER Kuban Novorossiysk Brut White Myshako 2017, Myskhako, Russia

Naturally Sweet and Naturally Semi-Sweet Wines
THE BEST Traminer selective berry of dried berries 2015, OPG Đurinski, Croatia
GOLD Traminer Ice Wine 2012, OPG Đurinski, Croatia
GOLD Graševina selective berry of dried berries 2015, OPG Đurinski, Croatia
GOLD Traminac selected berry harvest 2015, Iločki Podrumi, Croatia
SILVER Kindzmarauli Alexandrov Wine Collection 2017, Georgian Wine House, Georgia
SILVER Kindzmarauli Kartuli Vazi 2017, Tifliski Vini Pogreb, Georgia

Liqueur (Fortified) Wines
THE BEST Kagor Pastoral 2016, DK-Intertrade (Dionis Group), Moldova
GOLD Kagor Blagovest 2016, Black Sea Gold Pomorie, Bulgaria

Spirituous Beverages of Vitivinicultural Origin aged less than 6 years
THE BEST SILVER Rakia Burgas 63 Special Selection - 20th Anniversary, Black Sea Gold Pomorie, Bulgaria
SILVER Brandy “Araget” 3 years, Arcon Trade, Armenia
SILVER Anniversary Muscat Brandy 5 years, LVK-Vinprom, Bulgaria
SILVER Chacha Oak Fusion, Bolero & Company, Georgia

Spirituous Beverages of Vitivinicultural Origin aged at least 6 years
THE BEST Brandy “Tsar Tigran” 30 years, Great Valley, Armenia
GOLD Brandy “Bagration” 20 years, Kizlyar Brandy Factory, Russia
GOLD Brandy “Petr Velikiy” 25 years, Kizlyar Brandy Factory, Russia
GOLD Brandy “Tsar Tigran” 25 years, Great Valley, Armenia
GOLD Brandy “Arjevan” 25 years, Arcon Trade, Armenia
GOLD Brandy “Russia” 15 years, Kizlyar Brandy Factory, Russia
GOLD Divin KVINT aged 14 years, Tiraspol Winery and Distillery KVINT, Moldova

The Breakthrough of the Year
GOLD Salla Estate, Bulgaria
This special nomination award is presented to the newly established company (no more than 10 years), which takes part in the Black Sea Wines contest for the first time

The Choice of Customers
GOLD Badagoni, Georgia
SILVER Georgian Wine House, Georgia
This special nomination award is presented to the company according to the following formula: total score of the three best wines of the company, submitted to the Black Sea Wines contest, multiplied by the number of liters of these wines sold and divided by the sum of the EW prices of these wines

INTERNATIONAL WINE CONTEST “BLACK SEA WINES 2018”

On the sidelines of the Forum the traditionally popular among the winemakers of the region International Wine Contest “Black Sea Wines” will also be held. The producers of the wines, brandies and spirituous beverages of vitivinicultural origin will compete for the awards in accordance with the OIV (International Organization of Vine and Wine) standards.

The Jury of the Contest consists of the leading experts from the countries of the region – Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Croatia, Moldova, Georgia, Greece, Russia, Turkey. Chairman of the Jury is Stanimir Stoyanov (Chairman of the Union of Bulgarian Enologists).

The “Black Sea Wines” Contest supports the principle of the regional representation priority. The judges for the Contest are traditionally invited from the Black Sea Region and Balkans.

The judges for the Contest have an extensive international experience in judging of the world and regional most known wine contests such as International Wine and Spirit Competition, Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine Challenge, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, Mundus Vini, Muvina, Chisinau Wines and Spirits Сontest, Georgia International Wine Award, Vinagora, International Wine Contest Bucharest, Vinaria, Vino Balkanika, Bacchus, Grands Сoncours du Monde, Vinandino, Tempranillos al Mundo, National Cyprus Wine Competition, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Spirits Selection, Oenoforum and others.

The Contest is an independent platform for the Black Sea Region and Western Balkans wines international evaluation. The results of the Contest are particularly important for the consumers from the Russian speaking world, who are in general cannot follow the usual world known English ratings.

The International Wine Contest “Black Sea Wines 2018” will be held in the following 11 categories (in accordance with the OIV standards on the resolution 332A/2009):

1) Still White Wines, The Vintage 2016 or Younger

2) Still White Wines, The Vintage 2015 or Older

3) Still Red Wines, The Vintage 2016 or Younger

4) Still Red Wines, The Vintage 2015 or Older

5) Rosé Wines

6) Sparkling Wines (White, Rosé, Red), Classical Method

7) Sparkling Wines (White, Rosé, Red), Reservoir Method

8) Naturally Sweet and Naturally Semi-Sweet Wines (White, Rosé, Red)

9) Liqueur (Fortified) Wines (White, Rosé, Red): Port Wine, Jerez, Madera, Malaga, Marsala, Kagor, and others

10) Spirituous Beverages of Vitivinicultural Origin (aged less than 6 years): Brandy, Divin, Metaxa, Cognac, Rakia, Chacha, Palinka, Grappa and others

11) Spirituous Beverages of Vitivinicultural Origin (aged at least 6 years): Brandy, Divin, Metaxa, Cognac, Rakia, Chacha, Palinka, Grappa and others

The Contest will be based on the blind tasting procedure according to the OIV standards. The Jury will use the 100 point evaluation system. According to the OIV standards only 30% of the wines or spiritual beverages in each category will be awarded.

Award level categories (in accordance with the standards of the OIV):

Grand gold medal: at least 92 points;

Gold medal: 85 - 91,99 points;

Silver medal: 82 - 84,99 points;

Bronze medal: 80 - 81,99 points.

Participation in the “Black Sea Wines 2018” Contest is free for the V Black Sea Winemaking Forum participants. The companies which do not take part in the Forum can submit the samples for the Contest in absentia paying the following fees for the samples, the prices can be received from the organizers (e-mail: blackseawinemaking@gmail.com).

Companies wishing to submit their winemaking products for the Contest must register each sample separately using the registration form on the Black Sea Winemaking Forum site until 12 June 2018.

The product samples (each sample in the volume not less than 3 bottles for 0,75L or equivalent for wines, 2 bottles for 0,5L or equivalent for brandies and other spirituous beverages of vitivinicultural origin) have to be submitted upon registration.

The samples sent have to be accompanied by an analysis certificate drawn up by an accredited laboratory or by other competent laboratory in conformity with the laws of the country or certified by an oenologist or employee with a similar position in charge of the winery. The most minimal list of the specifications to be provided is indicated in the OIV Standards (Annex II, p.14).

The samples must be destined for sale and must be from a homogeneous batch of at least 1000 liters. On an exceptional basis, a reduced volume, of at least 100 liters, may be admitted upon justification of a particularly low production. All the samples must be presented with labels and commercial presentation. If the product was packaged specifically for the competition, the sample shall be accompanied by explanatory documents justifying the status.

The Jury of the Contest will be working on 23-25 June 2018. Awards Ceremony will take place on 29 June 2018 during the official reception of the V Black Sea Winemaking Forum.

OIV STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT LISTS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS CONTESTS