Phenomenal Success for Moravian Wines Among the Greats of the World in Monte-Carlo

As suggested by its title, only women are eligible to judge in this prestigious contest. The juries were divided into five categories: Oenology (jury president), Production, Distribution-PR Marketing, Formation-Information and Amateur-Oenophiles.
Tasters were drawn from four continents and 15 nationalities (Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, China, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine). They judged around 150 samples from 12 countries (mainly from Australia, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Switzerland) and awarded a total of 41 medals, of which 3 were diamond, 8 gold and 30 silver. It is true to say I was surprised and pleased to be able to find out from the official results, that three gold and four silver medals were awarded to the Czech Republic, of which 3 golds and a 3 silvers went to Vinařství Baloun of Velké Pavlovice and one silver to Znovín Znojmo (Vinařství Baloun is no newcomer to this competition - just last year he obtained a gold and a silver medal!) - and that one must take into account the fact that judging was extremely strict, for instance, Committee No. 2, in which I sat, was presided over by an oenologist from France, and it did not award a single medal during the entire proceedings!
Amidst such resonant names as Badia and Coltibuono, Marqués de Cáceres, Ribera del Duero, Bandol or Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora de Carmo, the Grüner Veltliner, Resling and Welschriesling from charismatic winemaker Radomil Baloun took gold medals, while the Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer and Merlot from the same stable were awarded silvers, as well as the silver that went to Znovín Znojmo for their Pálava. Every participating wine from the Czech Republic was vintage 2007 and adds up to yet another phenomenal success for our wines on the international stage.

{fotogalerie foto_aktuality_1165}