Six Croatian wineries win nine awards in Texas

by Srecko Mavrek

The Croatian Wine Alliance, a group of global and US based teams promoting Croatian wines, proudly shared news yesterday that Croatian winemakers received totally nine awards at TEXSOM Awards, judging for which took place in May of this year.

Only nine Croatian wineries submitted wines, but six of them received a total of nine awards, showcasing consistent quality of Croatian winemaking.

“We are thrilled that the judges at TEXSOM are recognizing the quality of Croatian winemaking and we look forward to showcasing these indigenous varieties at TEXSOM Expo in August,” said Mirena Bagur, founder of Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc., an importer and online retailer with 70+ Croatian wines shipped to most US states, and leader of the Croatian Wine Alliance. “The Croatian Wine Alliance of importers, distributors and winemakers works together to spread knowledge about Croatian indigenous varieties, many of which were represented at TEXSOM, and are obviously being well-received by the American judges. In addition, Americans while travelling to Croatia taste the local wines, so naturally there is an increased interest in continuing to sip them at home.”

The wineries and the awards are:

Judges’ Selection: Fakin Winery, Istria for Malvasia Istriana 2020

Silver:

Rizman Winery, Komarna: for Tribidrag 2017 (aka Zinfandel)

2 to Saints Hills: Komarna, Dingač:  Black Plavac Mali 2017; Posh 2019

Terra Madre Winery, Komarna for Plavac Mali Barrique 2016

Bronze:

Black Island Winery, Korčula for Merga Victa Pošip 2019

2 Saints Hills: Mala Nevina 2021, Istria; Sv Roko Plavac Mali 2016, Komarna

Testament Winery, Šibenik: Dalmatian Dog Babić 2017

“We are honored that our Malvasia Istriana is awarded The Judges’ Selection at TEXSOM, and it is a great confirmation that our work with this local variety, with already high reputation in Europe, has finally crossed the ocean and affirmed its standing in United States,” said Marko Fakin, owner and winemaker of Fakin Winery, Motovun, Istria. “Croatian winemaking is at its best, and we invite American judges and sommeliers to get familiar with many indigenous varieties from all Croatian wine regions.”

You can see the details on results:  https://texsom.com/results/

TEXSOM Awards and TEXSOM Retreat are a community making the event — with 40 judges, 29 TEXSOM Retreat members, 75 production team members, and 2,036 total entries, 2022 Awards became one of the most dynamic in the history of the competition. TEXSOM Awards arranges award entries by category of beverage, place of origin, and type. Medals are awarded on a merit basis as bronze, silver, gold, platinum, and Judges’ Selection.  Of the entries judged, the judges awarded 1,541 medals: 70 Judges’ Selection medals, 70 Platinum medals, 91 Gold medals, 608 Silver medals, and 702 Bronze medals.

Unique amongst all other wine and beverage competitions, the TEXSOM Awards holds behind the scenes opportunity called TEXSOM Retreat to uniquely market Award winners. Retreat participants are trade professionals selected by an application process, who receive mentorship from experienced writers and journalists on creating professional tasting notes that will showcase award-winning entrants in Featured Wine promotions on the TEXSOM website and social media feeds throughout the year. By entering submissions in the TEXSOM Awards, entrants support the education and growth of these future tastemakers and benefit from increased exposure to this key audience. A total of 45 participants were in attendance: 29 attendees from 17 states and 16 mentors.

About the Croatian Wine Alliance – a Public-Private Collaboration

Lead by Croatian Premium Wine Imports, Inc., an online store shipping 70+ indigenous Croatian wines in the US, this alliance of organizations around the globe are united in raising awareness of premium Croatian wines, including the Wines of Croatia, association within the Croatian Chamber of Commerce, Croatian National Tourist Board, and many importers and distributors in USA, Canada, Australia, and Europe, as well as Croatian wineries.