Cuvée 2013 Ostrava

International Wine Competition of the Moravian-Silesian Region

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Cuvée 2013 Results
Press Release Cuvée 2013

The eleventh edition of this unique international competition of blends and branded wines was held on the 15^th and 25^th April by the Club of Ostrava’s Amateur Wine Evaluators, K.A.H.A.N. in conjunction with the Zámek Zábřeh Hotel in Ostrava and the National Wine Centre which is based in Valtice.

The event takes place with the support of the Wine Fund of the Czech Republic. The honorary president and spiritual father of the only wine contest of the Moravian-Silesian district is the guru of Czech and Moravian vini-viticulture Professor Vilém Kraus.

Czech and Moravian wine producers and foreign-wine importers entered into this year’s edition a total of 149 wines in six competition categories: 29 white dry wines (category A1), 22 white semi-dry and semi-sweet wines (A2), 65 red wines (B), 13 rosé wines (C), 8 sparkling wines (D) and 10 sweet and liqueur wines (E). A total of 8 countries sent their wines to this competition: Czech Republic (98 samples), Slovakia (16), Spain (13), Poland (11), France (4), Italy (3), Portugal (1) and Chile (1). Wines which fulfilled the conditions of the competition statutes were assessed in the tasting room of National Wine Centre in Château Valtice on 15^th April. A hundred-point system was used and only wines receiving 85 or more points were awarded a gold medal. Silver medals were given to wines receiving between 82 and 84.99 points. The organisers were bound by the rules not to award more than 30% of all the wines entered in the competition. The intensity and aromatic profiles for each wine formed part of the comprehensive evaluation of every sample (an average length of 6 minutes for each sample), which serves the producers as better feedback than the simple number of points received.

A quartet of specialised committees under the direction of Professor Fedor Malík, Josef Balík, Bronislav Pavelka and Helena Baker was composed of jurors coming from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Great Britain, who awarded 19 gold and 26 silver medals. Local Moravian wines received 11 gold and 14 silver medals. Most successful among the foreign participants were wines emanating from Slovakia (3 gold, 5 silver) and from Spain (3 gold, 2 silver). One gold apiece went to Italy and Chile, whilst two silver medals were received by France, as well as by the somewhat exotic Poland and one silver medal is on its way to Portugal.

The title of Champion among the white wines went to the blend of popular cultivars Chardonnay and Pálava entitled Cuvée Elen 2012 selection of grapes (Pavel Krška – Palavia Vinum, Pavlov) from the Mikulov wine sub-region. Champion in the red-wine category was the Slovak blend of Merlot with the new crossings of Dunaj and Alibernet under the titul of Veterlin 2011 (Elesko a.s., Bratislava). The prize for the highest-rated red wine of local provenence was granted to Bellegrado 2011 (František Zapletal, Břeclav), produced from Cabernet Sauvignon, Alibernet and Merlot grape varieties.

The victor in the other white wines category was the Grüner Veltliner-Traminer 2012 late harvest blend (Wine School and Horticultural College of Valtice). The highest rating in the rosé category was received by Cuvée rosé 2012 moravské zemské víno (Víno Holec, Dolní Dunajovice) made from the Zweigeltrebe, Saint Laurent and Cabernet Sauvignon. The winner in the sparkling-wine category was Znovín de Lux Brut 2009 (Znovín Znojmo, a.s.), Pinot Blanc and Welschriesling cuvée. The winner in the sweet and liqueur wines category was assemblage of Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Devín and Hetera Tré Ondré 2012 (Víno-Masaryk s.r.o.) from Slovakia. The best overall collection of wines went to the Wine School and Horticultural College of Valtice.

Concurrently with this contest was, for the seventh time, the PRIX FIJEV CZ (Special Prize of the International Federation of Journalists and Writers on Wine). Jurors from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland who are also members of FIJEV nominate those wines chosen from among the competing samples at Cuvée Ostrava that represent the best value for money, together with their intrinsic overall quality. The laureates of the 2013 edition were the Polish Rose Twelve 2012 (Winnica Płochockich, Daromin) made from the Maréchal Foch and Rondo hybrids, together with Italian blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon Umbria Tegolaro 2007 (Azienda Agraria Carini).

Notional medals and titles of Champions were also awarded at Zámek Zábřeh Hotel on 25^th April by the Lay public committee. These results permit wine producers and importers to compare the opinions of the specialists with those of wine aficionados. In total the lay public committee awarded 27 gold and 18 silver medals. The Champions were Cuvée 2009 Moravské land wine (Nesyt Lake Wines, Mikulov) a blend of white grape varieties in which the Pinot Blanc dominated and Chilean assemblage of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot Anke Blend 1 2008 Reserva (Santa Alicia / imported by Víno Hruška s.r.o.). The highest rated red wine of local provenance was Bellegrado 2011 jakostní (František Zapletal, Břeclav). Víctors in the individual categories were: Jurigov Ausbruch 2008 (Polnohospodárske družstvo Vajnory; the rosé blend of Saint Laurent and Lemberger Lázeňské cuvée 2012 (Patria Kobylí a.s.); Jaworek Miner 2011 (Winnice Jaworek, Miękinia), an off-dry brand wine from Poland made from the Traminer cultivars and the sparkling wine predominantly featuring the Pinot family bearing the name Charles Sealsfield Brut Klaret 2008 (Znovín Znojmo, a.s.). The best overall collection of wines according to the opinion of the public went to the Patria Kobylí, a.s..

The results from this, the one and only international wine competion taking place in Northern Moravia were made public on 26^th April 2013 at the Cuvée Ostrava Wine Exhibition in Zábřeh castle. Professor Fedor Malík inaugurated the accompanying programme for the general public with his traditional tutored tasting of “Slovak wines at 5 o‘clock“. Thereafter the wine exhibition was made accessible to the public to the accompaniment of Moravian dulcimer music and where visitors could sample not only the wines from the competition, but also varietal wines from those Moravian winemakers and importers of foreign wines who were present. The accompanying programme culminated with Joaquín Gay de Montellá Estany (Bodegas Torre del Veguer) and Bonfill Arché Pagès (Celler Arché Pagès) with their “Wines from the Land of Salvador Dalí“.

The presumptuous aim of the organisers of Cuvée Ostrava competition is to witness a renaissance of the good name of blends or brands and their return to the forefront of the products on offer from Czech and Moravian winemakers, as is customary in other major wine-producing countries. In the words of the spiritual father of the competition Professor Vilém Kraus: “There’s no Cuvée like a Cuvée” meaning that each and every blend is different.

Cuvée 2012 Ostrava

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Cuvée 2012 Results
Cuvée 2012 Press Release

The tenth anniversary edition of the singular international competition of blends and branded wines was held on 16^th and 26^th April by the Club of Ostrava’s Amateur Wine Evaluators, K.A.H.A.N. in conjunction with the Zámek Zábřeh Hotel in Ostrava and the National Wine Centre which is based in Valtice.

The event takes place with the support of the Wine Fund of the Czech Republic. The honorary president and spiritual father of the only wine contest of the Moravian-Silesian district is the guru of Czech and Moravian vini-viticulture Professor Vilém Kraus.

In all Czech and Moravian wine producers and foreign-wine importers entered a total of 99 individual wines in six competition categories: 21 white dry wines (category A1), 20 white semi-dry, semi-sweet and liqueur wines (A2 + E), 36 red wines (B), 13 rosé wines (C) and 9 sparkling wines (D). A total of 9 countries had wines in the competition: Czech Republic (67 samples), Spain (15), Slovakia (7), Poland (4), Denmark (2), France (1), Chile (1), Argentina (1) and South Africa (1). Wines which fulfilled the competition-statute conditions were assessed in the tasting room of National Wine Centre in Château Valtice on 16^th April. A hundred-point system was used and only wines receiving 85 or more points were entitled to a gold medal. Silver medals were awarded for wines receiving between 82 and 84.99 points. The organisers were bound by the rules not to award more than 30% of all the wines entered in the competition. This rule was applied within all categories. An absolute novelty was the depth and aromatic profiles of every wine, which served the winemakers as better feedback than the simple number of points received.

A trio of specialised committees under the direction of Professor Fedor Malík, Docent Josef Balík and Bronislav Pavelka was composed of jurors coming from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Spain, who conferred 18 gold and 12 silver medals. Local wines were awarded 9 gold and 6 silver medals. Most successful among the foreign participants were wines emanating from Spain (3 gold, 3 silver) and Slovakia (1 gold, 3 silver). One gold apiece went to France, Argentina, Chile, South Africa along with the somewhat exotic wine nation of Poland. The sample from Denmark, whose wines were being rated in Central Europe for the first time ever, likewise also received a gold medal.

The title of Champion among the white wines went to the Riesling and Traminer Cuvée Binder Elegance 2011 late harvest (Pavel Binder – Family Winery, Rakvice) from the Velké Pavlovice wine sub-region. Champion in the red-wine category was the Spanish blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Samsó Lavinyeta Puntiapart 2009 (Lavinyeta / importer vinoteka.es s.r.o.). The prize for the highest-rated red wine of local provenence was granted to Cuvée Morabernet 2011 Moravian Land Wine (Lukáš Hlinecký, Čejkovice), produced from Cabernet Moravia and Alibernet grapes.

The victor in the other white wines category was EGO No. 57 2011 quality wine (Zámecké vinařství Bzenec s.r.o.), a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. The highest rating in the rosé category was received by Grapes Pink 2011 Moravian Land Wine (Wine School and Horticultural College of Valtice) made from the Lemberger (Frankovka) and Blauer Portugieser grape varieties. The winner in the sparkling-wine category was Champagne Bernard Rémy Millésime 2002 (Bernard Rémy / importer Heros vino s.r.o.), a classic cuvée of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The best overall collection of wines went to the Wine School and Horticultural College of Valtice.

Concurrently with this contest was, for the sixth time, the PRIX FIJEV CZ (Special Prize of the International Federation of Journalists and Writers on Wine). Jurors from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland who were also members of FIJEV nominated one white and one red wine from among the competing samples at Cuvée Ostrava that represented the best value for money, together with their intrinsic overall quality. The 2012 laurels went jointly to the Danish sparkling wine DON´s Cuvée Brut 2010 (Skaersogaard Vin) made from the Solaris, Madeleine Angevine and Sylvaner, together with the Andalusian brand wine Acinipo 2003 (Bodega F. Schatz), made from Lemberger (Frankovka), for which cuvée the grapes grew not far from the city of Málaga.

A notional medal and title of Champion were also awarded at Zámek Zábřeh Hotel on 26^th April by the lay public committee. These results permit wine producers and importers to equate the opinions of the specialists with those of wine aficionados. In total the lay public committee awarded 17 gold and 13 silver medals. The Champions were the blend of Chardonnay and Sylvaner from Chasy Family Reserve 2005 (Vinařství Springer a.s.) and the Argentinian assemblage Malbec / Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Reserva (Pascual Toso / importer Jaroslav Kšána). The highest rated red wine of local provenance was Red Gentleman 2009 late harvest (Velkobílovická vína s.r.o.) produced from Cabernet Moravia and Zweigeltrebe.

The winners in the individual categories were according to the lay public Cuvée Golesz 2009 Likierowe (Roman Mysliwiec – Winnica Golesz), a coupage of the newly-developed Polish variety Jutrzenka and the American resistent cultivar Elmer (Swenson red), Rosálie 2011 late harvest (Martin Šebesta Family Winery), an assemblage of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zweigeltrebe, and Champagne Bernard Rémy Millésime 2002 (Bernard Rémy / importer Heros vino s.r.o.), which was the same as for the specialised committee. A matter of interest lay in the way the lay and specialised committees both awarded lower ratings for white wines with higher residual sugar levels.

The results from this one and only international wine competion taking place in Northern Moravia were made public on 26^th April at the Cuvée Ostrava Wine Exhibition in Zábřeh castle. Professor Fedor Malík inaugurated the accompanying programme for the general public with his traditional tutored tasting of “Slovak wines at 5 o‘clock“. Thereafter the wine exhibition was made accessible to the public to the accompaniment of Moravian dulcimer music where visitors could sample not only the wines from the competition, but also varietal wines from those Moravian winemakers and importers of foreign wines who were present. The accompanying programme culminated with Josep Serra Pla (Spain) and “Wines from the Land of Salvador Dalí“.

The presumptuous aim of the organisers of Cuvée Ostrava is to witness a renaissance of the good name of blends or brands and their return to the forefront of the products on offer from Czech and Moravian winemakers, as is customary in other major wine-producing countries. In the words of the spiritual father of the competition Professor Vilém Kraus “There’s no Cuvée like a Cuvée”.

Cuvée 2011 Ostrava

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Cuvée 2011 Press Release

The ninth edition of the singular international competition of coupage, assemblage, blends and branded wines was held on 18th and 28th April in the Club of Ostravan Wine Evaluators, K.AH.A.N., in conjunction with the Ostrava Clarion Congress Hotel and the National Wine Centre which is based in Valtice.

The event takes place under the support of the Wine Fund of the Czech Republic. The specialised warranter and spiritual father of the only wine contest of the Moravian-Silesian district is the guru of Czech and Moravian vini-viticulture Professor Vilém Kraus.

Producers and wine merchants entered a total of 102 individual wines in six competition categories: 21 white dry wines (category A1), 12 white semi-dry and semi-sweet wines (A2), 46 red wines (B), 5 rosé wines (C), 12 sparkling wines (D), 6 liqueur and sweet wines (E). A total of 7 countries had wines in the competition: Czech Republic (64 wines), Slovakia (17), Spain (14), Tunisia (3), Chile (2), France (1), South Africa (1).

Two Specialised Committees under the direction of Professor Fedor Malík and Doc. Miloš Michlovský awarded 10 gold and 20 silver medals. Wine from Moravia were honoured with 4 gold and 10 silver medals. Most successful among the foreign participants were wines from Slovakia (3 gold, 4 silver), followed by Spain (2 gold, 3 silver), Chile (1 gold, 1 silver) and Tunisia (2 silver). No medals were given to the representatives from France or South Africa. The best collection of wines was judged to be that of the Patria Kobylí a.s. winery (1 gold, 2 silver medals).

The title of Champion among the white wines was the Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc from Moravino Grand Cuvée 2009 late harvest (Moravino s.r.o.) from the Mikulov wine sub-region. The Champion in the red-wine category was the Chilean blend of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Tabalí Blends Reserva Especial 2007 (Tabalí / importer Heros Vino s.r.o.) and the prize for the highest-rated red wine of local provenence was Patria Cuvée 2007 special selection of berries (Patria Kobylí a.s.), made with Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.

The victor in the white semi-dry and semi-sweet category was Cuvée Klara 2010 Moravian Land Wine (Víno Holec) a coupage of Riesling and Moravian Muscat. The highest rating in the rosé category was received by the Catalan Capita Vidal Rosé Cuvée 2010 (Bodegas Capita Vidal S.L. / imported by vinoteka.es. s.r.o.) produced from the varieties Syrah, Merlot and Garnacha. The winner in the sparkling-wine category was the locally produced Grandioso Demi Sec 2006 (Vinné sklepy Valtice a.s.), from Chardonnay and Riesling grapes. The winner in the liqueur and sweet wine category was from Slovakia Tokaj Saturnia Cuvée 2009 straw wine (J&J Ostrožovič) made from Lipovina and Yellow Muscat.

Concurrently with this contest for the fifth time was the PRIX FIJEV CZ (Special Prize of the International Federation of Journalists and Writers about Wine). The laurels went to Cava Gran Reserva 2004 Fuchs Vidal Cuvée Especial (Bodegas Capita Vidal S.L. / imported by vinoteka.es s.r.o.) and the South African Bilton Sir Percy 2006 (Bilton Wines / importer Staba – Servis Anticor, spol. s.r.o.).

A notional medal and title of Champion was also awarded by the Public Committee. These results are not recognised by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, however, they do permit wine producers and importers to equate the opinions of the specialists with those of the lay public. In accord with the specialised juries, the Public Committee gave its prize to Moravino Grand Cuvée 2009 late harvest (Moravino s.r.o.) and Tabalí Blends Reserva Especial 2007 (Tabalí / importer Heros Vino s.r.o.). As a point of interest sparkling wines received higher marks overall here (the Public Committee awarded 3 gold medals, the special juries gave none) while liqueur and sweet wines on the other hand were less well received by the Public Committee.

The presumptuous aim of the organisers of Cuvée Ostrava is to witness a renaissance of the good name of blends or coupages and their return to the forefront of the products on offer from Czech and Moravian winemakers, similar to the situation in other mature wine-producing nations. In the words of the spiritual father of the competition Professor Vilém Kraus “There’s no Cuvée like a Cuvée”.

Vinoforum 2010 Ostrava

19th Edition of the International Wine Competition
Ostrava 3rd – 5th June 2010

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Vinoforum 2010 Results
Vinoforum 2010 Press Release

The 19th edition of the international wine competition VINOFORUM, founded by the former Minister of Agriculture of Slovenia Jože Protner and the Slovak professor of oenology Fedor Malík in 1991, took place in the principal metropolis of the Moravian-Silesian region of the Czech Republic. Since its founding, VINOFORUM has been hosted on more than one occasion by such Central European countries as Slovenia, the Slovak Republic, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Austria, while for the first time the baton will be taken by Poland next year. VINOFORUM has as its goal to equate the quality of wines from the Central European regions with those from the rest of the world and beyond that to widen wine culture not only in those places that are firmly wedded to its traditions.

VINOFORUM 2010 OSTRAVA was organised with the support of the Wine Fund of the Czech Republic and the co-operation of the Clarion Congress Hotel Ostrava, the Union of Vintners of the Czech Republic and the National Wine Centre by the K.A.H.A.N. association (the Civic Association of Ostrava Wine Aficionados), known above all for being behind the unique international competition featuring blended wines, assemblage of two or more grape varieties, as well as branded wines, CUVÉE OSTRAVA, whose current edition took place under the auspices of VINOFORUM 2010 OSTRAVA (for the first time in the history of VINOFORUM the title of champion was awarded to a blend, whilst the best rated blends in individual categories also received a special Category Winner award for CUVÉE 2010 OSTRAVA).

The total of 476 wines from 15 countries, including such exotic wine-making nations as Poland and the Netherlands, were entered into the VINOFORUM 2010 competition, which took place on 3rd and 4th June in the Clarion Congress Hotel Ostrava. The international jury was composed of tasters from 10 countries (among others South Africa, Israel and Great Britain) and presided over by Fedor Malík. Individual five-member committees chaired by Jože Protner, Stanka Herjavec, Julij Nemanič, Rupert Hochegger, Pavel Vajčner, Miloš Michlovský and Jaroslav Hlaváč bestowed a total of 156 medals.

The titles of champion in individual categoriers were awarded as follows: In the dry white wine category to the cuvée Pinot Blanc/Sauvignon Blanc 2009 (Vinařství Josef Valihrach, Krumvíř) from Southern Moravia), in the semi-dry/semi-sweet and sweet white wine category to Rumeni Muskat 2006 (Kmetijska Zadruga Metlika) from Slovenia, in the dry red wine category to Tabalí Blends Reserva Especial 2006 (importer Heros Vino s.r.o.) from Chile. The winner of the sparkling-wine category was Château Bzenec Brut (Château Bzenec, spol. s r.o.), the best rosé award went to Frankovka 2009 (Víno-vín Morava s.r.o.) and finally the best liqueur wine was, perhaps surprisingly, Jutrzenka 2009 (Winnica Golesz) of Poland.

The two annual F.I.J.E.V. prizes awarded by the international organisation of wine writers and journalists (Fédération Internationale de Journalistes et Écrivains des Vins et Spiritueux) went to Theo´s Witte Cabernet Blanc 2009 (Leon Beyer, Netherlands) for white and to Phant Cabernet Sauvignon (Phant House of Wine, South Africa) for red wine. At the same time a Diploma of Honorary Membership to F.I.J.E.V. was given to Professor Vilém Kraus.

The presentation of wines to the general public and the ceremonial announcement of the results took place inside the Silesian-Ostrava Castle on Saturday, 5th June.