Romanian wines, in the world charts. More than 500 medals won by producers in 2023, at international competitions

According to the data collected by Wines of Romania, a platform dedicated exclusively to the promotion of Romanian wine, local wines have won over 500 medals at international competitions held this year, of which more than 300 are gold, double gold, or diamond. Romanian producers managed to impress the judges from over 40 competitions in Europe, North America, and Asia.

Budureasca, Jidvei and Grupul Vintruvian (Crama DeMatei / Caii de la Letea) are among the most awarded local producers, each of them winning over 50 international medals this year. Crama Gîrboiu, Cramele Recaș, Domeniul Coroanei Segarcea and Domeniile Sâmburești have each obtained over 25 medals. Also, other producers such as Viile Metamorfosis, Domaine Bogdan, SERVE and Domaineile Averești also climbed the world podiums this year.

„The image of Romanian wine is being built step by step, and international competitions are a good way to reach the attention of experts and experienced players on the market. Medals are not only a recognition of quality, but also an important tool, which helps to list on the markets of the country where the competition is held, and then becomes a selling point to the final consumer. The more producers from Romania participate, in as many international competitions as possible, the faster we will enter the consciousness of the whole world as a country recognized for its wines. Because, currently, we must admit that only a small part of wine lovers know that Romania is a producer, even a top one”, says Marinela Ardelean, founder of the Wines of Romania platform, wine critic and, in turn, juror in several international wine competitions.

A significant presence of Romania was registered this year at Mundus Vini, the most important profile competition in Germany, where Romanian wines obtained, in the two tasting sessions, a total of 78 medals, of which 56 gold and a big gold medal for Diamond Selection Fetească Neagră Barrique from Domeniile Averești. Moreover, Rhein Riesling Finca Theresia 2018, from Vinul Partium (Carastelec) obtained the title of Best of Riesling. The other medals went to Crama Gîrboiu, Iconic Estate, SERVE, Crama DeMatei, Budureasca, Jidvei, Rasova Wine, Cramele Recaş, Domaineile Alexandrion Rhein 1892, Crama La Salina, Carl Reh Winery, Domaine Vinarte, Viticola Corcova, Unicom Production, Via Viticola, Averești Domains, Strunga Winery, Silvania Podgoria, Sâmburești Vineyards and Blaga Domains.

At the largest wine competition in North America, Selections Mondiales des Vins, held in Canada, Romania won 24 medals, and two of the wines were included in the top 50 wines in the competition (out of a total of over 1,500), both produced by the Vintruvian group – Patima after Matei Fetească Neagră and Epiphanie Fetească Neagră, the latter being designated the best Romanian wine entered in the competition.

Moreover, at the International Wine Challenge Bucharest / Vinarium, the most important profile competition in Romania, Romanian wines represented 59% of the 1,311 participating samples, and the number of medals obtained was 225, of which 6 large gold medals. A total of 419 wines from 23 countries were awarded.

Another competition with remarkable results was Femmes et Vins du Monde, an annual competition held in Monaco, whose peculiarity is, as in the case of the Sakura competition (Japan), that the jury is made up entirely of women specialized in oenology, technology, sommelier, wine critic or specialist trade. Here, the Grand Prix and highest score was achieved by Owner’s Choice Ana Sauvignon Blanc from Jidvei, with 93 points, and no less than eight wines won the highest distinction, Nova de Diamant, out of a total of 17 such awards. In total, Romania won 19 awards at this competition, the medals going to wines produced by Jidvei, Navigo and Domeniul Coroanei Segarcea.

Romania also managed to make a good impression at the Sakura Japan’s Women Wine Awards, obtaining 14 medals (including a double gold and eight gold) for the wines from Budureasca, Cramele Recaș, Avincis, Vinarte, Domeniul Coroanei Segarcea and Lacerta Winery. Last but not least, at the International Wine Challenge, Romania obtained 23 medals for the wines produced by Jidvei, Cramele Recaș and Alira, and the Concours Mondial du Bruxelles added another 28 medals to its balance sheet, including 15 gold and two Grand Medals Gold.