Wine Competitions -

Fourth Edition of Wine Vision by Open Balkan Affirms the Quality of Balkan Wines

Belgrade once claimed its place as the wine capital for all the right wine reasons – the fourth edition of Wine Vision by Open Balkan—an event that, year after year, grows not only in scale but in quality of the programme and exhibitors. From November 22 to 25, the Belgrade Fair transformed into a vibrant crossroads of wine, food, and travel, welcoming hundreds of wineries, distilleries, artisanal producers, tourism boards, and HoReCa professionals. What is to be appreciated most about this fair is its balance: a serious B2B platform on one side, and on the other, an inviting stage for wine lovers eager to taste, learn, and explore.

Wine Vision by Open Balkan has been officially recognized as a UFI Approved Event by UFI—The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, the world’s most important organization in the exhibition sector. With this recognition, this fair becomes the first and only wine, food, and tourism fair in Serbia and the Western Balkans to hold the UFI Approved Event status, underlining its role as the central marketplace and networking hub for the wine, rakija, and gastronomy industries in this part of Europe.

Ahead of the fair itself, an international wine competition was held were a distinguished jury—featuring five Masters of Wine among its members—evaluated more than 880 labels. This year marked an important milestone: alongside Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania, wines from a wider circle of Balkan countries entered the competition for the first time, enriching the regional narrative with new voices and terroirs.

NATIONAL TROPHY – SERBIA
Krunski dokaz Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Winery Despotika, SERBIA

NATIONAL TROPHY – NORTH MACEDONIA
Lepovo Chardonnay 2023
Winery Tikveš, NORTH MACEDONIA

NATIONAL TROPHY – ALBANIA
Kabernelo Rezerva Cuvee 2019
Kantina Faba, ALBANIA

BEST WHITE WINE
Chardonnay Signum 2023
Winery Frug, SERBIA

BEST RED WINE
Rodoslov Grand Reserve 2019
Winery Aleksandrović, SERBIA

BEST WHITE AUTOCHTONOUS
Grašac Zaravan 2023
Winery Vinčić, SERBIA

BEST RED AUTOCHTONOUS
Kratoshija 2021
Chateau Kamnik, NORTH MACEDONIA

BEST ROSE
Estia Shesh i Zi 2024
Kantina Arianti, ALBANIA

BEST ORANGE
Tri Morave Bela Rezerva 2021
Winery Temet, SERBIA

BEST FORTIFIED WINE
Biser Bermet Crveni 2024
Winery Verus Kiš, SERBIA

BEST SWEET WINE
Orean Traminac 2023
Winery Imperator, SERBIA

BEST SPARKLING
The – Blanc de Blanc 2023
The Spakling winery, SERBIA

Complete list of winners:
https://winevisionfair.com/wine/the-trophies-are-here-and-these-are-the-winners-of-the-open-balkan-wine-trophy/

Macedonian Wineries at Wine Vision 2025

Platinum medals for red Macedonian wines were awarded to Chateau Kamnik winery for Kratoshija 2021, Wine Cellar Popovi for their Dark Horse Vranec Barrique 2022 & Vranec Disan 2023, Venec winery for Orle 2021 & Cabernet Sauvignon Single Block 2022 & Tikvesh for their Bela Voda Red 2022. Tikves winery won the only platinum for a Macedonian white for their Lepovo Chardonnay 2023.
In addition to the the medals awarded to Macedonian wines, the family winery Wine Cellar Popovi’s rakija Bistra Voda received the trophy for best grape brandy on at Wine Vision.

Citadelles du Vin 2025

Citadelles du Vin 2025
Honoured and privileged to have become Citadelles du Vin competition’s Brand Ambassador for the Balkans!
The competition, held yearly in Bourg-sur Gironde in the heart of the Bordeaux vineyards, remains faithful to its main mission to showcase wines and brandies from around the world.

And on that note, the next edition of the Citadelles du Vin will take place on 30 March 2025 and the registrations are already open until 28th Feb 2025.

The 25th edition will demonstrate its ability to renew itself to better adjust to consumer tastes with the introduction of new categories: spirits, sakes, no/low, ciders and perries.