MUNDUS VINI at 25: A Landmark Year for Wine Travel Awards Nominees
Author Victoria Makarova
The international MUNDUS VINI Summer Tasting 2026, celebrating its 25th anniversary, once again brought together wine experts, sommeliers, media representatives and producers from across the globe in Neustadt-an-der-Weinstrasse. With 2,830 still and sparkling wines entered from Europe, the New World and beyond, the competition reaffirmed its status as one of the most influential tasting platforms in the wine world.
For the Wine Travel Awards community, this year’s edition was particularly meaningful: MUNDUS VINI remains a long-standing partner of Drinks+ Media Group, and several WTA nominees once again demonstrated outstanding results.
WTA Nominees Among the Best of Show Winners, Silver, Gold, Grand Gold
- Best of Show Georgia – Salome 2020, Shumi. The Shumi Wine Company is likewise listed among the competition’s “Best Producers”, while Salome 2020 and Ilerco 2021 were both distinguished with Grand Gold.
- Best of Show Moldova and Gold – Castel Mimi Grand Reserve Negru de Bulboaca 2018, a wine from a producer that secured an additional seven gold medals.
- Best of Show Ukraine – Saperavi SHABO Reserve 2025, SHABO (also awarded Gold)
- Gold – Big Wines Big Art CABERNET SAUVIGNON OAKED 2024;
- Silver – Big Wines Big Art SUKHOLYMANSKYI 2025, BIG WINES (Kyiv region, Ukraine).
- Silver – 46 Parallel Wine (Odesa region, Ukraine), El Capitan 46 Parallel Pinot Gris 2025.
Judges’ Perspectives
Long-standing MUNDUS VINI judge Iryna Diachenkova, co-founder of Drinks+ Media Group, reflected on more than two decades of collaboration: “Our team is sincerely grateful to the organisers… We consider every invitation for a member of our group to join the international jury a great honour. It is always a pleasure to be part of a flawlessly organised tasting, to see the genuine respect shown to winemakers, exchange ideas with fellow judges from around the world…”
Her words highlight the professionalism, integrity and international spirit that define the competition.
Dr Matthew Horkey (USA) – certified wine expert, popular YouTube creator and judge of both MUNDUS VINI and the Wine Travel Awards – also shared his impressions: “There is definitely a sense of renewal… You see more young faces among the judges. Given MUNDUS VINI’s high standards, I have no doubt about their competence. I have never come across an inexperienced taster here – unlike at some other competitions.”
He emphasised that MUNDUS VINI medals increasingly help small and medium-sized producers gain visibility and recognition on the global stage.
A Recommendation for Wine Travellers
For travellers exploring the wine roads of Europe and beyond, we warmly encourage you to visit the distinguished wineries whose bottles shone at this year’s anniversary edition of MUNDUS VINI. These estates – part of the carefully curated circle of Wine Travel Awards nominees – offer not only exemplary wines recognised by the jury, but also memorable experiences that reveal the character, culture and craftsmanship of their regions.
Tasting the very wines honoured at MUNDUS VINI is one of the finest ways to understand why these producers continue to earn international acclaim.
Photo: Ad Lumina, Victoria Makarova, Iryna Diachenkova
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