A lot of preparation, marketing, networking and effort. That’s what it took to make the first edition of the Turkish Wine Challenge happen. All took place in Istanbul on 15^th and 16^th October 2021, were 284 wines were judged.

I spoke to the proud founder and MD, Serhat Narsap about his experience of this first edition.

Congratulation on the outcome of the first edition! How were the preparations for this new competition in wines?

We started our journey with the aim of bringing a new spirit to the Turkish wine industry. TWC should become an important player and attract wine producers from Eastern Europe, Caucasus and the Middle East as well other international regions.

What are your goals and what makes this challenge unique from all the other?

We aim to create a long lasting synergy within the region. The competition will celebrate the highest quality wines with a team of world class judges in the field of wines. Lastly it will raise awareness of regional vineyards to the global market.

For this first edition you had a group of international judges, could you tell me more about this?

Yes, for this first edition I invited 14 judges, 7 women and 7 men giving a 50:50 gender split. I’m very proud of this balance in these modern times! The origin of the judges was very diverse, from Austria, Georgia, Germany, Lebanon, The Netherlands, Romania, Spain, the UK, the USA and Turkey. All wine professionals that had the opportunity to network with the wine producers enhancing relationship.

With this first edition you set an expectation for the near future, your aim is clearly a broad international scope?

In this first edition we are excited to welcome all of the countries joining the competition: Argentina, France, Georgia, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Spain, Turkey and the UK. Which indicates that our focus is 100% international!

Could you tell me more about the results?

The quality of the entered wines were very high of quality. We awarded 3 Grand Gold, 23 Gold and 83 Silver medals. We also gave awards for best white, best red and a trophy, this are the winners.

TWC 2021 Best White winner – Assyrtiko 2017 by Estate Argyros, Greece

TWC 2021 Best Red winner – SO 2013 by Urla Sarapcilik, Turkey

TWC 2021 Trophy winner – SO 2013 by Urla Sarapcilik, Turkey

For more details on this wine challenge and the results in detail see https://www.turkishwinechallenge.org/

Thanks Serhat for your time and hope to see you again soon and to catch up in person!

For more than 15 years now, a special wine competition has been organized in and around the northern Italian city of Bergamo.

‘Emozioni dal Mondo Merlot e Cabernet Insieme’ – translated as ‘Emotions of the world Merlot and Cabernet together’. All the wines are mono-cepages or blends of the world famous almost inseparable duo Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc). The competition has been lawfully recognized by OIV (Organisation International de la Vigne et du Vin) since its very first edition and uses the 100 points method.

Wineries could apply with there wines in the following categories; still dry wines, sparkling wines and sweet and liqueur wines all of Merlot and/or Cabernet or crossings of Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc.

And very important is that wine should have a minimum percentage content of 60%. the presence of only one or both the above-mentioned varieties.

And now the results are in!

More than 55 judges from 22 various countries judges the wines at the beautiful location of Castello Degli Angeli, a wonderful location build in the middle ages.

In total 220 wine samples from 18 various countries were tasted. The field of entrees was enormously as countries as Australia, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Peru, Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary participated for the medals!

In accordance with the OIV regulations only 30% of the participants could win a gold medals, as this rules is one of the quality boosters the competition between the wines was difficult and exciting.

At the end of the competition the winners of the gold medals were announced, for 66 golden medals in total!

From which counties and production area’s are the winners?

Also 15 PRESS PRIZES ‘ROBERTO VITALI‘ were given. ”The mentions of the Press Prize has been attributed from commission of journalists. The mentions are former-aequo and have been attributed one for each nation, with a highest score and however equal to the medal points.”

For all the winners, names, vintages and points see here

.