The 12th edition of The Balkans International Wine Competition will be held between June 1 and 3 in Bistrica-Nassaud, Transylvania, Romania under the auspices of the Bistrica-Nassaud County, and the Balkans Wine Festival will once again be held outdoors in front of the NDK in Sofia, Bulgaria between June 15 and 17, 2023.

"Balkans International Wine Competition is the best proof of how dynamic the wine scene is in the Balkans and how high the quality of wines from the region really is.

This regionally important Competition has grown over the last decade along with the development of winemaking and the potential is still huge.

In recent years, it has become a rule for wines first recognized at the BIWC to later receive recognition from much larger world competitions and become iconic.

The reason for this lies in the dedicated work of the entire BIWC team, led by Galina Niforou, as well as in the careful selection of experienced and respected international wine judges from around the world.

It is a real honor for me to be the chairman of such a Competition.

This year BIWC is going to Romania for the first time, which I am sure

that it will contribute to the even better development of the Competition.

Good luck to Balkan wines at the 12th BIWC 2023!

" said BIWC Chairman Igor Lukovic of Serbia.

After the huge success of last year's 11th edition on the historic island of Salamis, Greece, BIWC will continue the rotation of hosting the Competition and this year Romania will host the 12th edition.

The aim of this rotation of the most prestigious wine competition for Balkan wines is a better integration of wineries from all Balkan countries and a better representation of them in the region, in Europe and in the world.

"It is a great honor for us to have the opportunity to hold the 12th edition of BIWC in the mysterious Transylvania and more precisely in the city of Bistrica-Nassaud.

We are starting our new decade with a lot of optimism and energy to make Balkan wines even more recognizable and put them on more places on the world wine map.

Igor Lukovic's position as Chairman of the International Jury has brought BIWC new ideas and activities, and the whole team is grateful for that.

I wish all the participants of the 12th Balkan International Wine Competition and Festival a huge success!” said Galina Niforou, Managing Director of BIWCF.

BIWCF's main mission is to promote Balkan wines and wine culture to the world.

The Honorary Chairman of the Competition is Konstantinos Lazarakis MW, the first holder of the Master of Wine title in Greece and the Balkans, whose guidance and assistance is greatly appreciated by the entire team.

The best wine in the Balkans will be selected by a prestigious jury of 25 people, which this year will include 5 holders of the title Master of Wine and Master Sommelier from Japan, USA, Great Britain, France, Switzerland and famous wine personalities from different countries and the region .

After the competition, an exhibition will be organized on June 4 in the courtyard of the Complexul Muzeal Bistria-Nasaud, to which business representatives, sommeliers, distributors and wine lovers from Romania and abroad are invited.

With 11.5 million HL of wine per year, the Balkans are in 4th place in Europe, after the biggest wine producers - Italy, France and Spain.

The Balkans International Wine Competition is the event that brings together the world's wine elite to see, taste and discover the richness and diversity of Balkan wines.

The awards ceremony and gala dinner, known as the "Balkan Wine Oscars", will take place on June 3 at the breathtaking Teleki Castle in Pozmus, built in 1634, where the judging itself will take place.

Last year, the Grand Trophy for "Best Wine in the Balkans 2022" was awarded to Tikvesh Winery, North Macedonia for the white wine Bela Voda, 2020.

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