On the 4th and 5th April 2008 the Second Edition of Femmes et Vins du Monde (Women and Wines of the World) Concours International (International Competition) Monaco took place in the newly opened Novotel Monte-Carlo hotel, in the Boulevard Princesse Charlotte.

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 Radomil Baloun of Velké Pavlovice and one silver to Znovín Znojmo (the Baloun winery 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 a Coltibuono, Marqués de Cáceres, Ribera del Duero, Bandol or Quinta Nova de Nossa Senhora de Carmo, the Grüner Veltliner, Riesling 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.

Apart from this success, I was enormously pleased of the Nova prize for life-long achievements in the field of wine awarded to my friend María-Isabel Mijares y García-Pelayo, with whom I have recently participated in the official opening of a Spanish oeno-gastro project "Bueno" in the centre of Prague.

More on:   http://www.femmesetvinsdumonde.com

The First Edition in 2007 - Hotel de Paris, Monte-Carlo

Moravian wines get amongst the tops in Monaco

Between 19th and 20th April 2007 the first ever edition of the international Femmes et Vins du Monde (Women and Wines of the World Competition) took place in the renowned Hôtel de Paris - Monte Carlo.  As is inherent in its title the task of this event was to highlight the important role played by women in the wonderful world of wine.  Three women were awarded the "Nova Encouragement Prizes" during the celebration awards ceremony for their services in a variety of disciplines (vineyard studies and enology, wine production and marketing):  Irina Iavoreschi from Moldova, student in her 2nd.year of enology at the University in Montpellier, Annie Staron from Domaine de Bourganel for her wine collection "Les vins au Féminin" and Coraline de Wurstemberger, the head of IAWIW (International Association of Women in Wine non-profit organisation), for their investment in the wine world at an international level.

Parallel to this an interantional wine competition was taking place whose juries were made up entirely of women.  Tasters from France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, Australia, Austria, Poland and Ukraine judged a hundred samples sent in from four continents and 10 countriers (Australia, Chile, Czech Republic, France, Italy, South Africa, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland) and awarded a total of 8 gold and 17 silver medals - NOVA Awards.  Next to such high-sounding names as Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Charbonnieres, Ropiteau Meursault Les Rougeots or Vintage port from the legendary year 1963 can be found wines made by Radomil Baloun from Velké Pavlovice - Merlot auslese 2006 and Veltlínské zelené late harvest (Grüner Veltliner late harvest) 2006 - awarded gold and silver respectively.  A further phenomenal success for wines from the Czech Republic on the international scene - and especially from the stable of this charismatic winemaker!