New wine competition format wein.plus launches
"GOLDEN GRAPE AWARDS"

A new wine competition format is being launched with the " GOLDEN GRAPE AWARDS". Winemakers from German-speaking countries can boost confidence in their wines by winning attractive awards in five grape variety competitions.

Falling demand, low harvests, image problems for alcoholic beverages, uncertainty, restraint: the wine industry is going through difficult times. Nevertheless, or perhaps precisely because of this, a new wine competition format is being launched this year with the "GOLDEN GRAPE AWARDS". Five individual competitions for wines from German-speaking countries are planned over the next few months, centred on grape varieties: Silvaner, Grüner Veltliner, Riesling, Pinot varieties and Blaufränkisch or Lemberger. The organiser is the media house wein.plus in Erlangen.

The "GOLDEN GRAPE AWARDS" are open to all wines that meet the respective varietal requirements of the competitions, regardless of quality level, designation of origin, vintage or flavour. The jury is made up of the proven, independent and professional tasting team from wein.plus under the direction of Marcus Hofschuster. He is one of the most experienced wine critics in Europe and has judged almost 170,000 wines in the more than 25 years of wein.plus 's history.

Each competition comprises various categories, differentiated according to quality class (basic, upper class, premium), residual sugar content, quality level and, if applicable, colour or rating. All wines submitted are judged blind and under standardised laboratory conditions in Erlangen. Hofschuster thus ensures that every participant has the same opportunities.

The best-rated wines receive awards in four categories: Grand Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze. The award winners will be published with international coverage in the print and online media of wein.plus before the award ceremony takes place in Berlin on 7 February 2025.

"Successful marketing is particularly important in economically challenging times. We want to actively support producers with this new format," explains Alexander Schreck, Managing Director of wein.plus. "Our awards create confidence in the quality of the wines and attract attention in sales."

Registration for the "GOLDEN GRAPE AWARDS" competitions is now open. Further information on the conditions and the competition procedure as well as the online registration forms can be found at www.gga.wine.