The assessment of the 32nd Vinex Grand Prix took place on 29 and 30 April. The competition attracted 861 wines from 11 countries, including e.g. also Argentina. Traditionally, the Czech Republic had the largest representation, but the jury also evaluated wines from Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, France and Italy. Despite the increase in the points limit for the grand gold medal, over 60 wines reached this point.
The jury was made up of renowned tasters from five countries – this year the jury included experts from Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Australia and, after many years, Poland. The evaluation was carried out via the ELWIS electronic system developed by the National Wine Centre.
After a year’s break, the title of champion was once again awarded to the winery Ing. Miroslav Volařík from Mikulov, for the wine Pálava 2023 selection of grapes, which also won in the category of white semi-dry wines. Ondřej Tichý, the winery’s oenologist, added: “Pálava from Pálava is a wine of this Pálava variety in our Terroir range, from the U Venuše vineyard in Horní Věstonice. The purpose of this series and this wine is its uniqueness, the connection of a unique location with a profiling variety. Many will be surprised by the technological path of the wine itself, which runs exclusively through a wooden barrel, including fermentation. And it will probably also be surprising that Pálava has stood up to such great competition from all the Rieslings, Vetlins, Pinots, etc. Perhaps all the more reason to rejoice – a variety that is beginning to identify us beyond the regions has scored.” Volařík Winery also won the award for the best wine collection.
This year the competition brought several new features. In response to the growing interest in varieties suitable for organic cultivation, the so-called PIWI varieties, which are increasingly gaining ground in both domestic and foreign vineyards, this year for the first time the Association of Winegrowers of the Czech Republic, the co-organizer of the competition, will present its prize to the best-rated dry wine from a PIWI variety. For the first time ever, it was awarded to Hibernal 2024 from winemaker Pavel Tomanovský from Petrov. Another significant change was the increase of the point threshold for the award of the Grand Gold Medal from 90 to 92 points. Despite the stricter criteria, a total of 66 wines received this prestigious award. The high quality of the samples submitted was once again confirmed. In addition to the above awards, the jury also selected the category winners, the national winners and the best wine collection.
The Champion, the best-rated collection and the category winners receive prestigious prizes in the form of awards designed by Jiří Matela, a pupil of the world-famous designer Bořek Šípek. The wine producer with the title “Champion” will receive a wine cellar from the competition partner, Haier. The tasters received gifts from another partner of the competition – the advertising agency Asalonta.
The patronage of the 32nd edition of the international wine competition GRAND PRIX VINEX was taken over by the Minister of Agriculture Mgr. Marek Výborný, the Governor of the South Moravian Region Mgr. Jan Grolich and the Mayor of the Statutory City of Brno JUDr. Markéta Vaňková.
The award ceremony and public tasting of the winning wines will take place on 29 May 2025 in the Mendel Greenhouse in Brno. Tickets can be purchased online at www.vstupenky.vinarskecentrum.cz (in Czech only).
Overview of the three main awards:
- Champion of the competition & winner of category A2 (semi-dry white wines):
Pálava 2023 selection from grapes – Vinařství Ing. Miroslav Volařík, Mikulov - Best collection:
Vinařství Ing. Miroslav Volařík, Mikulov - Best PIWI wine:
Hibernal 2024 – Ing. Pavel Tomanovský, Petrov
Other awards in the Results section.
