The final leg of the annual competition "Stories of Romanian Wines", organized by BASF Romania, has announced the winners in wine categories – white, red, rosé, and sparkling – as well as for its special categories – the best catalog cover and the most beautiful wine label.
Hamangia Winery, Darie Winery, Aristitei Estate, and Darabont Family Winery were the winners of the ninth edition of the traditional competition, while Elena Andris won the prize for the best cover, and the public voted the "Bob de Luna" label from Enocrama Winery as the most beautiful label of the year.
Find below the BASF press release:
BASF Romania presents the winners of the "Stories with Romanian Wines" competition – 9th Edition
Approximately 145 wineries and 435 wines and sparkling wines entered the 2024 edition;
Hamangia Winery – Sauvignon Blanc, dry, 2023, Darie Winery – Syrah + Merlot, dry, 2023, Aristitei Estate, Cabernet Franc + Cabernet Sauvignon, dry, 2021, and Darabont Winery – white, brut – the best wines and sparkling wines of this edition;
Bucharest, March 11, 2024
BASF Agricultural Solutions Romania, one of the largest suppliers in the local market of plant protection products, announces the winners of the ninth edition of the "Stories of Romanian Wines" competition, held from February 8 to March 7, 2024, nationwide.
The competition is addressed to small and medium-sized vine growers from all over the country, with cultivated areas of up to 100 hectares, as well as sparkling wine cellars, which are judged only in the final stage of the competition.
During the four regional stages for the Moldova, Oltenia and Prahova, Banat and Transylvania, and Dobrogea and Buzau regions, the juries, made up of members of the Association of Authorized Tasters of Romania (ADAR), designated the 3 finalist wines for each category (red, white, and rosé wines). The national final, held on March 7, included 36 wines, to which 26 sparkling wines were added.
Thus, for the current edition, the four winners who received the trophy of the competition, as well as the grand prize worth 5,000 euros, were:
- White wines – Hamangia Winery – Sauvignon Blanc, dry, 2023,
- Rosé wines – Darie Winery – Syrah + Merlot, dry, 2023,
- Red wines – Aristitei Estate, Cabernet Franc + Cabernet Sauvignon, dry, 2021,
- Sparkling wines category – Darabont Winery, white, brut.
"We are pleased that this initiative has become a well-established competition, and the interest is growing every year. It was a remarkable event, and the judging was conducted, as always, according to international OIVV standards," said Robert BAicoianu, Sales Manager for horticultural crops at BASF Agricultural Solutions Romania.
In the nine years of organizing the "Stories of Romanian Wines" competition, over 3,250 wines and sparkling wines have been entered, from all targeted categories, while the value of the prizes has reached a total of 149,000 euros, from 2016 to present.
"An exceptional competition! And the beauty of the stories in the glasses is actually a delight for us, the judges. Fortunately, it was very difficult for us because the wines were at a very high level, and their ranking was difficult, but that only makes us happy. The quality of Romanian wine is continuously improving, and this can be seen in the official figures, which demonstrate the increasing interest in this nectar, not only at national level but also abroad, where we compete with the world’s major producers," said Georgel Costache, Vice President of ADAR and President of the "Stories of Romanian Wines" Jury.
The most creative cover of the "Stories with Romanian Wines 2024" catalog
For the second consecutive year, alongside the jury composed of Matei Sandu – Professor at the National University of Arts in Bucharest, Sorin Sorasan – Illustrator, and Alexandru Malaescu – Creative Partner Long Shot Creative Shop, BASF Romania organized the competition dedicated to young students passionate about drawing and art.
The creativity and design competition gathered approximately 750 works, which reached the specialized jury’s table. The winner of the competition and the grand prize, worth 2,000 euros, is Elena Andris, a graduate of the master’s program in advertising and book graphics at the Faculty of Arts and Design of the West University, Timisoara.
The BASF community voted for the most beautiful wine label
As every year, the fans of the company’s Facebook page could vote for the most beautiful label of a wine bottle. This competition has also become a tradition, both for producers and for users of social media platforms, who want to discover the novelties presented by their favorite wineries each year.
This year, the online community prize was awarded to the label belonging to the "Bob de Luna" wine, from Enocrama Winery.
"We are pleased to observe an increasing interest in this field. We see small but ambitious viticulturists, we see a constant increase in quality, and we are proud to be part of this effort to support Romanian farmers. We can say that the "Stories of Romanian Wines" initiative is a traditional competition that can be a good support for wineries at the beginning of their journey, bringing quality wines into the spotlight, worthy of being known by the Romanian public and beyond," concluded Mario Tomšić, Country Manager of BASF Agricultural Solutions Romania..
About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Over 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in almost all sectors and in almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care, and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of 68.9 billion euros in 2023. BASF shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. For more information, visit www.basf.com.
About BASF Agricultural Solutions
Agriculture is essential to provide a rapidly growing population with sufficient, healthy, and affordable food, while reducing environmental impacts. By collaborating with partners and experts in agriculture and integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers have a positive impact for sustainable agriculture. Therefore, we continuously invest in research and development, connecting innovative thinking with practical field actions.
Our portfolio includes specially selected plant seeds and genetic traits, chemical and biological solutions for crop protection, soil management solutions, plant health, pest control, and digital agriculture. With expert teams in laboratories, fields, offices, and production units, we strive to find the right balance for the success of farmers, agriculture, and future generations.
In 2023, our division generated sales of 10.1 billion euros. For more information, visit www.agriculture.basf.com or any of our social media channels.
