Frasdorf, February 2024 - In the context of declining wine sales figures, the topics of quality documentation and wine optimisation are becoming increasingly important in many countries. It is in this environment that WINE SYSTEM has established its position - with differentiated quality tests that make precisely this possible. The first award of the year, the WINE AWARD INTERNATIONAL, was held last weekend and the PAR®-certified jury identified two clear currents: Wines that are fruity, clear and brilliant, characterised by reductive stylistics and modern winemaking, and the still growing trend of orange, natural and unsulphured wines. The overall winner of the tasting with 124 wines from 9 countries was the 2018 SER BALDUZIO from the Italian winery Fiorano di Stracci Adriana in the Marche region with 98 points and Grand Gold. Also noteworthy is the Swedish winery Vejby Vingård from the Skane region, which achieved four 96-point scores and Grand Gold with its red PIWI cuvées in the Qvevri category. The complete ranking with all sensory profiles is available at winesystem.de/en.
Reduced sulphur use and climate stress
In addition to the aforementioned major stylistic trends, the jury also noted a significant reduction in the use of sulphur in modern wines. It was also interesting to note the sometimes different perspectives on the subject: those jury members with a strong international expertise often reacted with incomprehension to the occasionally high sulphur levels in German wines. According to their assessment, their quality "could have been ensured with less SO2". Another topic of discussion was the challenges posed by climate change, as acidification and stress due to a lack of water resources were not only a feature of wines from the classic "hot climates" at this tasting.
Free debriefing for participants and Award ceremony at ProWein 2024
As is standard practice at WINE SYSTEM, participants are invited to discuss their results with a member of the PAR Certified Master Jury during an individual video call. This is to ensure that the generated PAR® sheets with the sensory data can be used in the best possible way to optimise quality. The WINE AWARD INTERNATIONAL 2024 certificates will be presented at this year's ProWein in Düsseldorf.
The top scores per category
Red wine:
- 2018 SER BALDUZIO from Az.Agr. Fiorano di Stracci Adriana in the Marche region, IT - 98 points, Grand Gold
- 2020 ARZUAGA RESERVA from Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro in the Castilla-Léon region, ES - 96 points, Grand Gold
White wine:
- 2023 Terre Siciliane Igt Sauvignon Blanc - vino biologico - from Cantine Volpi in Sicily, IT - 97 points, Grand Gold
- 2022 Sauvignon blanc Fumé from the Schneider-Pfefferle winery in Markgräflerland, DE - 96 points, Grand Gold
- 2023 Welschriesling (kosher/organic) by Hafner Family Estate in Burgenland, AT - 96 points, Grand Gold
Qvevri:
- 2022 Artisan Qvevri Kraken Cuvée MMXXIVG from Vejby Vingård in the Skane region, SE - 96 points, Grand Gold
- 2022 Artisan Qvevri Val Cuvée MMXXIVC from Vejby Vingård - 96 points, Grand Gold
- 2022 Artisan Qvevri Ren Cuvée MMXXIVH from Vejby Vingård - 96 points, Grand Gold
- 2022 Artisan Qvevri Runt Egg Cuvée MMXXIVB from Vejby Vingård - 96 points, Grand Gold
Sparkling wine:
- 2022 Frizzante N.2 by La Villa Mergo in the Marche region, IT - 96 points, Grand Gold
- Cava 1+1=3 Brut Rosé Pinot Noir by U MES U in Catalonia, ES - 96 points, Grand Gold
The top ratings in all other categories
Sweet wine:
- 2022 Gewürztraminer Spätlese by Gebrüder Anselmann in the Pfalz region, DE - 95 points, Gold
Rosé:
- 2022 Rosato N.1 by La Villa Mergo in the Marche region, IT - 92 points, Gold
Top wine from Switzerland is the 2023 Chardonnay from Biovin Martin with 95 points and gold. Best-placed from Portugal is the 2022 Soalheiro Clássico by the Soalheiro winery with 93 points and gold. The highest score from Greece goes to the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc from Terra Divino Winery of Crete with 92 points and gold, and the best position from Croatia goes to the 2020 Desertno vino SV. NEDIJA from the Gospoja winery with 90 points and gold.
Note to editors: Representatives of the media are cordially invited to have the scoring of their wine of choice from the tasting and the jury's procedure explained to them. Dispatch of a sample wine and appointment on request at awards@winesystem.de.
WINE SYSTEM - Trust your Senses stands for professionally sound quality assessments and Wine Awards since 1999, as well as for training in the field of wine and sensorics and consulting for wineries. In striving for quality, appreciation for people and craftsmanship is the company's guiding star in all three business areas. The PAR® sensory testing system, with its analytical and strictly documentary approach, is both the working basis and the expression of this philosophy. It enables the PAR® Certified Master Jury in the WINE SYSTEM tastings to make valid, detailed and comprehensible assessments and provides the necessary expertise in training to understand, trace and predict sensory processes in their entirety. Thus, more and more winemakers use the informative tasting data from the awards for the qualitative development of their wines.
WINE SYSTEM - Trust your Senses has been under the management of board members Brigitte Wüstinger and Martin Darting since 2019. Current awards are ORGANIC WINE AWARD INTERNATIONAL, WINE AWARD INTERNATIONAL and PIWI WINE AWARD INTERNATIONAL. winesystem.com/en
Contact
WINE SYSTEM - TRUST YOUR SENSES
Brigitte Wüstinger and Martin Darting
Daxa 8
83112 Frasdorf
Phone +49 8032-91633-20
office@winesystem.de
Media Contact
WINE SYSTEM - TRUST YOUR SENSES
Sonja Hartung
Daxa 8
83112 Frasdorf
Phone +49 8032-91633-0
hartung@winesystem.de