The Awards Ceremony for the 12th edition of the Wines of Portugal Challenge, organised by Wines of Portugal, revealed the year's big winners on an evening celebrating the best of what Portugal produces. The Gala Dinner took place this Friday, 9 May, at the emblematic ‘Mercado 2 de Maio’, where the ‘Best of the Year’ distinctions were awarded to the wines that stood out the most among the more than 1,300 references in competition. In all, 356 medals were awarded: 33 Grand Gold, 65 Gold and 258 Silver - a reflection of the diversity and quality of the national references.
During three days of technical tastings (5, 6 and 7 May), 155 national experts, 24 of them international, including winemakers, sommeliers, journalists and wine educators, carefully assessed the wines in competition. The samples honoured with a Gold Medal underwent a new assessment by the Grand Jury, made up of Bento Amaral, Dirceu Júnior MW, Evan Goldstein MS, Luís Lopes, Manuel Lobo de Vasconcellos and Kenichi Ohashi MW, who selected the Best of the Year and the Great Gold Medals.
In this edition, the most honoured region was the Douro and Porto, with a total of 115 medals.
The Best of the Year were chosen in the following categories:
- Best of the Year - Quinta do Crasto - Touriga Nacional - Red 2020
- Best Fortified Wine of the Year - Kopke Colheita 1966 Tawny, 1966
- Best Red Varietal of the Year - Quinta do Crasto - Touriga Nacional - Red 2020
- Best White Varietal of the Year - Villa Oliveira Encruzado - White 2022
- Best Red Wine of the Year (Blend) - Chryseia - Red 2022
- Best White Wine of the Year (Blend) - Quinta do Sobreiró de Cima Grande Reserva - White 2022
- Best Sparkling Wine of the Year - Quinta d'Aguieira Espumante Millésime, 2017
The full list of winners can be consulted on the Wines of Portugal Challenge website at: https://concursovinhosdeportugal.pt/.
‘The Wines of Portugal Challenge is, above all, a showcase for the quality and diversity of our wines. Year after year, we bring together experts from all over the world to taste and recognise the best that our country has to offer. This is also a unique opportunity to give international visibility to Portuguese producers, promoting Portuguese wines as ambassadors for our territory and our culture,’ says Frederico Falcão, Wines of Portugal Chairman.
The wines awarded Great Gold and Gold medals are guaranteed a presence at international events organised by Wines of Portugal throughout the year, which reinforces the Competition's role as a strategic platform for international promotion.
The Wines of Portugal Challenge is a benchmark event in the sector and, at the same time, a meeting point for producers, specialists, sommeliers and national and international influencers who share their experiences during these days. The initiative also reinforces Portugal's position in foreign markets as a country of excellence in wine production.
