The most important International Wine Contest in Eastern Europe

The 23rd edition of the VINARIUM International Wine Contest took place from 28-31 May 2026 in Ploiesti, Romania, confirming its position as the most important international wine competition in Eastern Europe. The event was organized by ASER Consulting & Management in partnership with the Association of Authorized Tasters Romania (ADAR), under the patronage of the OIV and VINOFED, with FIJEV as partner.

Main figures
A total of 1,346 wine samples from 20 countries were evaluated, submitted by 233 producers and operators. International participation accounted for 35.4% of entries. The competition included still wines, sparkling wines and spirits.

Jury
The evaluation was conducted by 41 international judges from 16 countries, organized into 7 tasting panels. All samples were scored using a consensus-based methodology.

Results
The competition awarded:
21 Grand Gold Medals
376 Gold Medals
19 Silver Medals

Only 30% of entries received medals, in accordance with OIV regulations. The final medal threshold was 88.67 points.

Highlights
A key moment of the 2026 edition was the official twinning between Tinutul Vinului Prahova and the Echansonnerie des Papes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Romanian Pelinuri were also evaluated hors concours as part of a special study on aromatized wine-based beverages.

ENOVART - Wine Label Contest
The ENOVART by VINARIUM selected 21 finalist label designs, with winners announced on 15 June 2026. The initiative highlights the importance of packaging and visual identity in premium wine positioning.

More information: iwcb.ro

Full results: here