From the 30th of June to the 2nd of July, at the 59th International Wine Competition - Vino Ljubljana, 48 tasters from 15 countries selected five world champions out of 430 samples from 19 countries. This year the number of both, the samples and the tasters exceeded last year's, explained Mr. Matjaž Kovačič, the head of the team Vino Ljubljana.

As mentioned, the Kobal Sauvignon was the best among white dry still wines. Among the natural sweet still wines, the title of the Champion was awarded to the Sämling 88, vintage 2013, from Weingut Hermann Fink Winery from Austria.

The Busuioaca Domenii wine, vintage 2016, filled by the Casa de Vinuri Cotnari took the Champion title to Romania in the category of rosé still wines.

The title of the Champion among the red dry wines was awarded to the Macedonian Domaine Lepovo Grand Cuvee, vintage 2015.

The Czechs got the title of the Champion among the sparkling wines. The Bohemia Sekt Winery has filled the best sparkling wine called Bohemia Sekt Prestige Brut, vintage 2014.

The Vino Ljubljana is one of the 10 most elite competitions in the world. "This is the oldest competition in the world under the sponsorship of the International Organization for Vine and Wine from Paris (OIV), we do not emphasize that enough. The competition was started already in 1955, we were one of the first to begin with the evaluations. All being awarded here, can market it well, " Mr. Kovačič added.

This year's wine samples came from Argentina, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy, Japan, Canada, Luxembourg, Germany, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Spain, Uruguay and the United States.

The president of the evaluating was Mr. Iztok Klenar, and the professional international framework was represented by Mr. Zoltan Zilai from the World Federation of Wine Estates (Vinofed) and Mr. Guido Baldeschi, the OIV delegate.
The evaluating is carried out under the sponsorship of the most important global organizations responsible for the sensory analysis of wines. These are the OIV, the UIE and the Vinofed.

"The next year the evaluation will probably be held in April, because this 60th competition will surely be at an even higher level than this year," Mr. Kovačič explained.