Trophies and Grand Trophy winners for the Balkans in 2016

During the two days of judging I had the chance to taste approximately 120 wines and I have to say I was really impressed by the freshness, the vivacity and the tension in the whites. Reds however did not show a similar restrained profile based on fruit purity and they were at a significant extent luxuriously treated with oak. I am quite concerned that still many producers favour overipeness and vanilla or toasty aromas over elegance and silkiness meaning that there is a lot of work in getting out the proper word. 

Overall 41 Gold medals were awarded - 14 for Bulgaria, 9 for Greece, 1 Israel, 2 for FYROM, 1 for Montenegro, 4 for Romania , 8 for Serbia and 2 for Turkey. 

For 2016 the Grand Trophy winner (best in show) is a sweet wine from Santorini, Greece the Sigalas Vinsanto 2006!

The other Trophy winners per categories are:

Trophy for white wine - Domain Marash, Lenea Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Bulgaria

Trophy for red wine - Ktima Pavlidis Emphasis, Tempranillo 2012, Greece

Trophy for rosé - Vinum Rosé 2015, Serbia

Trophy for sparkling wine - Plantaze Montenegrin Val 2012, Montenegro

Trophy for dessert wine - Sigalas Vinsanto, 2006 Santorini, Greece

Τhere were also trophies for wines from local varieties as below:

Trophy for best white wine from indigenous variety - Posip Volarevic 2015, Croatia

Trophy for best red wine from indigenous variety - Xinomavro, Ramnista 2012, Kir Yanni, Greece

Trophy for best dessert wine from indigenous variety - Grasa de Kotnari 2000 Cotnari, Romania

A personal note on the wines from indigenous varieties is that I would like to see in the upcoming competitions a more solid and stronger take - home message with less emphasis on wines from international varieties. There are many reasons for that as one may understand, showing the Balkans' heritage being the most important.