Kozlović’s 2018 Santa Lucia named world’s best Malvasia

World of Malvasia (Photo: Neven Jurjak)

Istrians have excelled at Vinistra’s international evaluation of wine and alcoholic beverages and the 13th World of Malvasia. Along with the well-known Kozlović, small family wineries also won championship titles

POREČ, 13 April 2022 – Kozlović’s 2018 Santa Lucia has won two titles at the 13th World of Malvasia, held last week at the Parentium Plava Laguna Hotel in Poreč.

The wine was declared the best Malvasia in the world in the new Best in Show category, as well as the champion in the Aged Malvasia category. 

Along with this well-known Istrian name from Momjan, the Dešković family from Kostanjica near Grožnjan also celebrated. Their wine was declared the champion in the Fresh Malvasia category.

World of Malvasia (Photo: Neven Jurjak)

“There is a lot of effort behind this title. Every detail in the vineyard and in the cellar must be taken care of, and the most important thing is that you never give up and never leave work for tomorrow. Although we won gold in this evaluation last year, I was not expecting this title. Tears came to my eyes when they called. This is certainly an incentive to continue in the same direction,” pointed out Franco Dešković, who runs the family winery together with his brothers Đulijan and Maurizio.

World of Malvasia (Photo: Neven Jurjak)

Platinum medals are a novelty of Vinistra’s evaluation

Kozlović Winery also won the award for the best young Teran, while in the category of mature Teran, Buzet winery Vina Agapito received the most points for their 2018 Teran.

Slovenian winery Vinakoper with their Capo d ‘Istria wine from 2018 confirmed last year’s title in the category of the best mature Refosco, and for the first time this year, platinum medals were awarded for wines that got 95 and more points.

World of Malvasia (Photo: Neven Jurjak)

As many as four platinum medals went to Vižinada: Bruno Ferenac for Istrian Malvasia 2021, Pilate for Malvasia sur lie 2018 and Serafin 2018, and the winery of recently deceased Marijan Arman for their Malvasia Grand Cru.

San Salvatore Muscat 2017 from Benvenuti wines from Motovun, Italian Le Solane 2008, wineries Mossi 1558 and Slovenian Capris Refošk 2020 Vinakoper were also decorated with this medal.

World of Malvasia (Photo: Neven Jurjak)

In addition to seven platinum medals, 152 gold and 36 silver medals were won, while other producers will receive diplomas.

Another 16 gold medals were won for spirits and alcoholic beverages, and this year 25 Malvasia winemakers (2021 vintage) and seven Teran winemakers (2019 vintage) were awarded the IQ – Istrian quality.

World of Malvasia (Photo: Neven Jurjak)

A record number of Malvasia and judges

Records were broken again at Vinistra’s evaluation. A record 273 Malvasia samples from ten countries (Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Greece, Spain, Germany, USA, Portugal, Montenegro and Serbia) were evaluated by a record number of 70 from 15 countries.

World of Malvasia (Photo: Neven Jurjak)

35 samples of spirits arrived in Poreč, also the largest number so far. With Malvasia and spirits, a total of 565 samples arrived at Vinistra’s international evaluation.

World of Malvasia (Photo: Neven Jurjak)

“It is a great pleasure to see that in addition to established winemakers, new young names who insist on quality have won championship titles. Vinistra’s evaluation, but also the wine exhibition itself is a stepping stone,” points out Nikola Benvenuti, president of Vinistra – the association of winemakers and winegrowers of Istria.

World of Malvasia (Photo: Neven Jurjak)

World of Malvasia (Photo: Neven Jurjak)

Benvenuti, adds that these excellent results of Istrian winemakers are the best announcement of the 28th Vinistra, which will be held from 6 to 8 May in the Žatika hall in Poreč.