For some, this has been some of the most anticipated news. Today, the Decanter World Wine Awards have been finally revealed, and Slovenia has scored a record 13 gold medals, including the only Best in Show in the Balkans.
Looking at the totals this year, Slovenia has a total of 211 entries, which is slightly less than last year’s 224. One Slovenian wine was awarded Best in Show, a distinction last achieved in 2020. No Platinum scores this year, as opposed to 1 last year. 13 wines were awarded gold, compared to the previous year’s 5. We observe a decline in silver awards, with 75 this year compared to 100 last year, and a slight increase in bronze awards, with 122 compared to 118 the previous year.
Amber Muscat, no one has heard of
The Best in Show award comes as a surprise for many, even the CEO of Slovene Istra’s biggest producer Vinakoper – Borut Fakin. Only a couple of barrels were produced with a macerated, dry version of yellow muscat (Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains). It is a 2015 vintage, and grapes came from a single plot – Purissima. As Boštjan Zidar – Vinakoper’s main oenologist explains: “It was a great vintage. The must underwent a 2-day cold maceration in stainless vats and was then poured into used barriques, where it fermented. The wine then rested in a used tonneau for almost 10 years and was bottled this January.”
Vinakoper also scored a total of 12 awards, including a gold with 96 points for their new red cuvée, Capo d’Istria 1072, which I had the pleasure of tasting with Boštjan Zidar, and I immediately said, “You have a champion here!”
Klet Brda – the most awarded cooperative cellar
Klet Brda undoubtedly holds the record this year with 21 awards, including 5 golds, which seems a milestone never achieved by anyone in Slovenia. We need to mention that 2 of those have a Value for Money mention costing under £ 14.99, and both are Pinot Blanc. The tandem of father-son oenologists Darinko and Luka Ribolica is confirming the fantastic job they do in the winery. All other golds were reds from the vintage 2019 – one for the history for sure.
The highlights
Best in Show
Capris Orange Rumeni Muškat 2015, Vinakoper: 97 pointsGold
- DP Brut N.V., Dveri Pax: 96 points
- Single Vineyard Merlot DeBaguer 2019, Klet Brda: 96 points
- Pinot Blanc Spatlese 1983, Jeruzalem Ormož – Puklavec Family wines: 96 points
- Capo d’Istria 1072 2022, Vinakoper: 96 points
- Rose Brut N.V., Bjana: 95 points
- Edvard XXI 2021, Edvard Wines: 95 points
- Cuvee Natura Extra Brut 2020, Istenič: 95 points
- A Plus Special Selection DeBaguer 2019, Klet Brda: 95 points
- DeBaguer Merlot – Cabernet Franc 2019, Klet Brda: 95 points
- Pinot Bianco Krasno 2024, Klet Brda: 95 points, Value for Money
- Pinot Bianco Quercus 2024, Klet Brda: 95 points, Value for Money
- Zelen 2023, Rouna: 95 points
- Renski Rizling 2023, Vina Kotolenko: 95 points
The newcomers
The list of wineries that are new to this list in comparison to the previous year is quite long.
From Goriška Brda: Alfonz, Moro with two entries, Moulin, Norma and Jure Štekar.
From Slovene Istria: Besednjak with two entries and Pribac.
From Karst: Štoka
From Vipava Valley: Fornazarič with two silver awards, Guerila – the biodynamic legends of Vipava Valley with four entries, Koglot with Marselan, Lisjak, Pasji Rep with two entries, Posestvo Berce with two entries, Rouna with two entries, Založnik with three entries and Zrzinko.
From Bizeljsko-Sremič: Istenič with three entries,
From Štajerska Slovenia: Edvard Wines with the golden Edvard XXI,Franc Kačičnik, Herga from Podravje with five entries, Joannes protner from Podravje with two entries, Pungračič with three entries, Sisi, Jaunik, Sisi and Zorenč-Hohnjec.
The pannel
Robert Gorjak is a renowned wine connoisseur, critic, lecturer and teacher of WSET courses. He has been the sole Slovene judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards for 20 years. The regional chairs were Caroline Gilby MW, Simon J. Woolf and Dr. Wojciech Bońkowski MW.
Most awarded in region – Croatia
The most awarded country in the Balkans region was Croatia, with a total of 386 awards, including 1 Platinum, 14 Gold, 115 Silver, and 256 Bronze.