Entries for the 11th edition of the Wines of Portugal Challenge are now closed. This year, there will be more than 1,300 national references in the running for the Best Wines of the Year. The wines entered will be assessed by experts in the sector and the winners will be revealed at the Awards Dinner and Ceremony on 3 May in Alcobaça.
The first phase of the Wines of Portugal Competition takes place on 29, 30 April and 1 May at CNEMA in Santarém, where there will be a series of technical tasting sessions from 9am to 1pm. During this period, the national references entered will be submitted for assessment by the Regular Jury, made up of 132 leading specialists in the sector, 108 national and 24 international judges, including oenologists, sommeliers, journalists, wine educators and others.
The international judges include Sebastian Bordthäuser, Sommelier and Journalist from Germany; Thomas Götz, Wine Journalist, Blogger and Wine Educater specialising in Iberian Wines from Germany; Thea Cipido, Sommelier and Journalist from Belgium; Janet Dorozynski, Wine Journalist and Wine Educator from Canada; Marshall Chen, founder and principal trainer at Domaine, the largest wine education institute in south-west China; Malene Smidt Hertz, Wine Educater from Denmark; Cynthia Leung, certified Wine Educator and WSET Diploma holder from Hong Kong; Kateryna Yuschenko, CEO and Wine Educator at WSET Ukraine and Mirell Riviello Wine educator and Sommelier from Mexico.
On 2 and 3 May, the Grand Jury will meet for the 2nd phase of the Competition, when they will choose the Great Golds and the Best of the Year, which will be revealed at the Awards Dinner and Ceremony.
For the 11th year running, ViniPortugal's initiative will recognise the best Portuguese wines for their diversity and quality, guiding and motivating producers to launch distinctive wines of excellence that also help position Portugal as a benchmark producer in export markets. Participation in the Wines of Portugal Challenge provides producers with a platform for international promotion, since the wines honoured with the Grand Gold and Gold Medals will be guaranteed a place at some renowned international events later this year.
For more information on the Wines of Portugal Challenge and the full list of judges, click here.
