My fourth year as a member of the jury of BIWC
makes me feel a bit of a veteran at this wine competition. Being given the
privilege to be part of the jury for four consecutive years, provides
me with the much needed introspective of the Balkan wines year after year. Not to
mention that to my benefit, I have been able to follow the progress of the quality of the wines,
changing of the wine making philosophy in some of the wineries, following
trends, styles, yet
trying to remain faithful to the tradition.
Behind
the Curtains
Three
tasting panels, four members in each, one panel judge, using the 20 points
Australian Show Model way of scoring the wines and quite a lot of wines to
taste. A great jury and three MW’s- Konstantinos Lazarakis ( Greece- president
of the jury), Julia Harding (UK) and Rod Smith (UK), as well as Igor Lukovic
(Serbia), Paul Robert Bloom (The Netherlands), Jasen Zahariev (Bulgaria),
Tzveta Tanevska (Bulgaria), Elissaveta Zaharieva (Bulgaria), Mari V. Ardelean
(Romania/Italy), Bartolomeo Roberto Lepori (Italy), Sasa Spiranec (Croatia), Bruno Gabershek (Slovenia) and myself.
Two
days of judging went smooth, the quality of the entered samples seems to be
higher year after year, the better from the best easily surfaced. Yet, for the
first time at BIWC the scores at the grand
finale while searching for the Grand trophy were even. We as
judges were unanimous in our decision- at two attempts in a row.
BIWC- The
Wine Festival
The
two days of wine competition were followed by a wine festival, reserved to all
those who want to
discover some of the best wines from the Balkans- wine distributors,
journalists, tasters, bloggers etc.
The Balkans has been an emerging wine region
just as of recently, though with rich winemaking history and the fifth biggest
in the world. Known as powder keg, due to its ardent political history, its
wine future seems unpredictable as well.
So much to taste- Bulgarian Gamza,
enjoyed the indigenous Turkish grape varieties Narince, Papaskarasi, some of my
favourite wine producers from Greece and the indigenous grape varieties to
Greece- Assyrtiko, Savatiano, Agiroghitiko, Malagouzia, and some truthful
expressions of the varietal characteristics in many of the other wines from
Romania, Croatia, Macedonia etc.
It is more than obvious- expression of
the terroir, main focus on the varietal characteristics without any further
interventions in the cellar is the new wave on the Balkans.
Who are
the guys that keep wining all the time & why
The
Bulgarian king of sparkling wines, Edoardo Miroglio, and the many times awarded
Matalj Winery from Serbia, shared the Grand Trophy for best wine at the BIIWC
2015. The
winners were the
sparkling wine Special Selection Pinot Noir & Chardonnay 2005 by Edoardo
Miroglio and the red Kremen Kamen Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 by Matalj Winery.
Edoardo
Miroglio’s success is not only due to the fact that he has mastered the
sparkling wine production, but also due to the fact that he has no competition
on the Balkans. And though many winemakers might feel discouraged, they should
in fact strive to come closer to his achievmements.
Following
world wine trends and styles is somewhat of a must when it comes to being a
part of the wine world. Being a good enologist is not only about knowing to
tame the tannins, get that gripping acidity at a just level, it’s also about
being “fashionable”. The
young and talented Mladen Dragoljovic is the new wine guru- he has proved it many
times before at Decanter, vino.rs competition and so
on. Not to mention that the wine that won the White Wine Trophy is also his
work.
The other winners are the following:
White
wine Trophy
Serbia, Podrum Janko, white, Sauvignon Blanc
100%, Vrtlog 2013
Red wine
Trophy
Serbia, Matalj Winery, red, Kremen Karmen
Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Rose Wine
Trophy
Bulgaria, Uva Nestum, rose, Syrah, Uva Nestum Rose 2014
Sparkling
wine Trophy
Bulgaria, Edoardo Miroglio,sparkling, Pinot Noir
& Chardonnay Special Edition 2005
Sweet Wine
Trophy
Romania, Cotnari, sweet, Grasa de Cotnari, Cotnari 1984
Best
White Dry Wine from indigenous variety/ies
Greece, Sigalas, white, Assyrtiko 100%,
Santorini Assyrtiko Barrel Sigalas 2014
Best Red
Dry Wine from indigenous variety/ies
Greece, Monemvassia Winery, red, Agiorgitiko 70%
& Mavroudi 30%, “300” Red 2006
Best
Sweet Wine from indigenous variety/ies
Romania, Cotnari, sweet, Grasa de Cotnari,
Cotnari 1984
For the second time this year, awards were given
to the best wine label designs. Stefan Bozhkov, chairman of the commission,
together with the members Emanuela Kovac and Emil Maslarski, has given his
assessment of best wine label design. The Trophy is dedicated to the memory of
the Bulgarian artist Kolio Karamfilov, who is the designer of the BIWC Grand
Trophy.
Trophy
for the best wine label design
Despotika Winery, family labels, Serbia
Gold medal
Villa Yustina, Bulgaria
Silver
medals
Betterhalf, family labels, Bulgaria
33 Rajkovic, Serbia
Bronze
medals
Avantis Estate, Greece
Crama Ratesti, Romania
