Alongside continuous innovation, however, the foundations of VinAgora’s professional credibility remained unchanged: internationally recognised, objective judging, a commitment to quality, and respect for the values behind the wines. The modern technological background and the international expert environment together ensured that the most outstanding wines once again received the professional recognition they deserved.
Wine competitions play a defining role in the development of the sector. On the one hand, they provide wineries with professional feedback and prestigious recognition, while on the other, they help consumers navigate the selection of high-quality wines. International competitions are of particular value, as they offer wineries the opportunity to present themselves on an international stage and strengthen their market presence. VinAgora is an internationally recognised wine competition held under the aegis of VINOFED, using the 100-point evaluation system accepted by the OIV, and is Hungary’s only officially accredited international wine competition. Prior to this year’s event, Hungary also hosted the annual general assembly of VINOFED, where representatives of member competitions discussed the future of wine competitions, the strengthening of professional cooperation, as well as the current challenges and development directions of the sector.
This year, the highly successful Variety in Focus programme continued at the VinAgora International Wine Competition. In 2026, Riesling and Merlot were placed at the centre of attention. The initiative attracted a strong number of entries: a total of 64 Rieslings and 59 Merlots competed. Among the wines assessed with special professional attention, a TOP 25 list was created in both categories, presenting the most outstanding wines of each variety. The aim of the programme remains to draw attention to the diversity, character and quality potential of grape varieties that are also significant on an international level, while providing professional inspiration and broader visibility for wineries.
In 2026, VinAgora expanded its award system with a new special award: the Commended recognition. This provides official feedback to outstanding quality wines that, due to the strict international rules on medal allocation, could not previously receive an award. VinAgora continues to operate in accordance with OIV regulations, which limit the number of medals to a maximum of 30% of the entered wines. At the same time, the new Commended category creates an opportunity for further high-quality wines to receive the attention they deserve. The special award typically recognises wines scoring above 85 points, representing above-average quality and standing out through their character, style and value for money. The awarded wines may also use the official VinAgora Commended sticker, which provides credible professional feedback and helps consumers find their way in the wine market.
International expertise and a precise judging system at VinAgora
One of the most important foundations of the Wine Competition’s success is its high-level professional background and carefully structured judging system. Behind every bottle entered in the competition stands the work, experience and professional passion of dedicated winemakers, which the members of the international jury approached with the utmost respect and attention. This year’s 76-member judging panel consisted of recognised winemakers, sommeliers, educators, merchants and international experts who arrived in Budapest from numerous countries around the world, including Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Brazil, Greece, Slovakia and France. International presence is required by OIV regulations, but it also ensures that different wine cultures and consumer perspectives are represented during the evaluation process.
The organisation of the wine competition began weeks before the judging itself. When arranging the samples into series, the organisers took into account the character, colour, sugar content, vintage and ageing style of the wines. Sample preparation took place in a separate room, guaranteeing complete anonymity and an uninterrupted judging process, while the precise work of the coordinators continuously supported the panels. The modern technological background for the judges’ work was once again provided by WineCompass, the wine judging software developed by Borkult, enabling fast, accurate and transparent scoring. The system processed and compared data in real time, facilitating the formation of professional consensus while providing reliable support for the quick identification, analysis and evaluation of the samples. In accordance with OIV rules, a maximum of 30% of the entered samples could receive Grand Gold, Gold or Silver medals, meaning that this year’s awarded wines were once again selected from among the most outstanding entries in an exceptionally strong international field.
Let us look at the results
This year’s VinAgora Wine Competition presented its strongest field to date. A record number of 1,054 wines were entered from 17 countries around the world for the prestigious international competition. Although Hungarian wines accounted for 77% of all entries, the high number and diversity of international wines was particularly noteworthy.
This year, 239 foreign wines were entered, representing one of the strongest levels of international participation in recent years. The field offered a broad picture of the diversity of today’s wine world: samples arrived in Budapest from Spain to Brazil, from Lebanon to New Zealand and Argentina. The highest number of foreign entries came from Spain, with 89 wines, while Brazil also showed a strong presence with 35 wines. Alongside France, Croatia, Italy and Slovakia, distant wine-producing countries such as Australia were also represented.
More than half of the entered wines were white wines. Including sparkling wines and semi-sparkling wines, a total of 588 white wines were entered, representing 56% of all entries. Red wines accounted for 356 samples, or 34%, while 110 wines were entered in the rosé category, representing around 10%.
The sparkling categories continued to attract strong interest: 107 entries were submitted in the sparkling wine and traditional-method sparkling wine categories, while 28 samples were registered in the pearl wine category. The entry numbers clearly show that lighter, fresher wine styles remain highly popular.
At the same time, the competition also closely reflects changing wine consumption habits. In 2026, dealcoholised wines appeared as a new category, debuting immediately with 17 entries. This clearly indicates the strengthening of health-conscious and more mindful consumer trends on the international wine market.
Starting with the very best, this year’s Champion winners were announced in 8 categories, while 17 Grand Gold medals were awarded. The highest awards were earned by only 2% of the entered wines.
A total of 220 wines received Gold medals, representing more than one fifth of all entries, while 100 samples were awarded Silver medals. In addition, 315 wines received the Commended special award, given to wines that fell only slightly short of the increased Silver medal threshold, yet still clearly stood out from the field in terms of quality.
First, here are the best wines in the main categories, meaning the Champion award winners:
- Still white wines category: Dűne Borbirtok, Béla Borászat, Dűne Selection Rajnai Rizling 2023
- Still rosé wines category: Pécsinger Szőlőbirtok, Pannonhalmi Rosé First 2025
- Still red wines category: Günzer Roland, Hála 2023
- Sparkling wines category: Kreinbacher Birtok, Kreinbacher Prestige Brut Magnum 2019
- Natural sweet wine specialities category: Maison aux Pois, Késői szüret 2024
- Botrytised wines category: Grand Tokaj, Millieu Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos 2013
- Semi-sparkling wines category: Gál Szőlőbirtok és Pincészet, Gál Anna Rosa rosé semi-sparkling wine 2025
- Dealcoholised or partially dealcoholised wines category: Familia Torres, Natureo Muscat De-Alcoholised 0.0 2025
The winners of the Champion awards in the white, rosé and red wine categories are selected exclusively from dry wines, while in the sparkling wine category only brut wines made using the traditional method are eligible. The Champion award-winning wines are selected by the presidents of the judging committees during a parallel blind tasting. In each category, wines that have won at least a Gold medal compete for the title, with the top five highest-scoring wines eligible. This year, due to a tie in points, the absolute winners in the white wine and natural sweet wine specialities categories were selected from six wines in each category.
If at least 15 samples are entered from a given variety, the highest-scoring wine within that grape variety, provided it has won at least a Gold medal, receives the title of “VinAgora’s Best Hungarian Varietal Wine”, which is also indicated on the certificate. Only varietal wines may compete for this title if the winemaking technology does not override the characteristic features of the variety. For example, a Merlot rosé may be eligible for the title, while a Furmint aszú or a Pinot Noir-based sparkling wine may not compete for it.
This year’s best Hungarian varietal wines:
- Cabernet Franc: Günzer Tamás Pincészete, Bocor Villányi Franc 2023
- Kékfrankos 1: Streit-Zagonyi Borászat, Kékfrankos rosé 2025
- Kékfrankos 2: Szentpéteri Borpince, Kékfrankos rosé 2025
- Irsai Olivér 1: Tar Pincészet, Pannonhalmi Irsai Olivér 2025
- Irsai Olivér 2: Koronczai Pincészet, Irsai Olivér 2025
- Cabernet Sauvignon: Agárdi Csóbor Pincészet, Agárdi Örökláng 2021
- Olaszrizling: Dobosi Birtok, Bio 14.47 Olaszrizling 2023
- Chardonnay: Tar Pincészet, Pannonhalmi Chardonnay 2024
- Rajnai Rizling: Dűne Borbirtok, Béla Borászat, Dűne Selection Rajnai Rizling 2023
- Sauvignon Blanc: Vylyan Pincészet, Sauvignon Blanc 2025
- Syrah: Koch Borászat, Syrah 2022
- Pinot Noir: Pécsinger Szőlőbirtok, Pannonhalmi Rosé First 2025
- Furmint: Sike Balázs Pincéje, SBP Badacsonyi Furmint 2023
- Merlot: Haraszthy Pincészet, Alma Mater 2023
If at least 10 samples are entered from a foreign country, the highest-scoring Gold medal-winning wine among the submitted samples receives the Best of Country special award. This year, the following wines earned the title:
- Best of Brazil: Vinícola Campestre Ltda., Zanotto Malbec Reserva 2022
- Best of France: Château Plagnac, Doréan Brut Idylle NV
- Best of Italy: Coppi, Don Antonio Primitivo I.G.P. 2017
- Best of Slovakia: Chateau Grand Bari s.r.o., Tokajský výber 6-putňový 2019
- Best of Spain: J. García Carrión, Pata Negra Ribera Del Duero Roble 2023
- Best of Croatia: Vina Belje, Savoj Orange 2024
A number of special awards were also presented at the 27th VinAgora International Wine Competition:
- Csonka és Fiai Kft. special award for the “Most Successful Family Winery”:
Gál Szőlőbirtok és Pincészet, Kunság wine region. From eleven entered wines, the winery won 1 Champion award, 4 Gold medals, 4 Silver medals and 2 Commended awards. - Vince Magazine special award for the “Discovery of VinAgora”:
Tar Pincészet, Pannonhalma wine region - Amorim Cork Hungary Zrt. special award for two wineries “Committed to Cork Closure”:
Vinatus Pincészet, Villány wine region
Grand Tokaj, Tokaj wine region - Molino Kft. special award for the “Most Successful Young Winemaker”:
Fodor Borbirtok, Balatonfüred-Csopak wine region - Evocask special award for the “Most Successful Innovatively Aged Wine”:
Maison aux Pois, Tokaj wine region - Shoprenter special award, “Harvest More Revenue Online”, awarded to:
Angyal Borászat, Tokaj wine region
Bock Borászat, Villány wine region
Csányi Pincészet, Villány wine region
Eszterbauer Borászat, Szekszárd wine region
Etyeki Kúria, Etyek-Buda wine region
Frittmann Borászat, Kunság wine region
Fritz Borház, Szekszárd wine region
Nimfeum Borászat, Badacsony wine region
Tringa Borpince, Szekszárd wine region
Varga Pincészet, Badacsony wine region
The Prix VINOFED special award is granted by the World Federation of Major International Wine and Spirits Competitions in four categories, based on a unified set of rules across all competitions held by its member organisations. The award follows the criteria of VinAgora’s Champion selection, meaning that wines winning the Champion title in the categories of still dry white, red and rosé wines, as well as brut sparkling wines, automatically receive the VINOFED special award.
- Prix VINOFED, still dry white wine:
Dűne Borbirtok, Béla Borászat, Dűne Selection Rajnai Rizling 2023 - Prix VINOFED, still dry red wine:
Günzer Roland, Hála 2023 - Prix VINOFED, still dry rosé:
Pécsinger Szőlőbirtok, Pannonhalmi Rosé First 2025 - Prix VINOFED, brut sparkling wine made using the traditional method:
Kreinbacher Birtok, Kreinbacher Prestige Brut Magnum 2019
Those to whom we owe our thanks
The realisation of the 27th VinAgora International Wine Competition was once again made possible by a number of committed partners and supporters, whose professional presence and contributions raised the standard of the competition. The event was once again hosted by the Budapest Congress Center, providing a professional environment worthy of international judging. The detailed results of the competition will be published in the VinAgora supplement of the June issue of Vince Magazine.
Molino Kft., a key player in the printing and promotional materials sector, recognised the work of a winery owner with a special award, offering a custom beach flag and roll-up display. Amorim Cork Hungary, as a key partner of the competition, provided 1,000 premium-quality corks each to two selected wineries. Evocask recognised outstanding performance in the field of innovative ageing technologies, offering an ageing tank worth more than HUF 1 million as a special award. Shoprenter provided ten wineries with Silver packages worth HUF 200,000 each, including one year of webshop platform rental and online sales support.
During the judging, Culinaris provided naturally pure Szigetközi mineral water, contributing to the sensory refreshment of the jury, and also supported the competition with a special award. The premium, lead-free crystal tasting glasses were provided by Csonkagroup, greatly supporting the precise and nuanced evaluation of the wines. The company also awarded a winery with a special prize and a Beezer rapid cooler worth EUR 590. The impeccable cleanliness of the glasses was ensured by Winterhalter’s professional dishwashing systems, providing a high-quality technical background for the judging process.
Students of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences contributed conscientiously to the preparation of the wines, while professional service was provided by students of the Soós István Wine Technology Secondary School and Vocational School.
Professional supervision of the competition was carried out by the delegated experts of the two patron organisations, Marina Garcia Gonzalez for VINOFED and Dr Reinhard Eder for OIV, who found the organisation and professional standard of the competition impeccable in every respect.
The Gold medal-winning wines of the VinAgora International Wine Competition will be presented to the public on 22 May at VinAgora Prestige, a walk-around tasting of medal-winning wines held at the Winehub Wine Centre. What makes the event special is that, alongside the Gold medal-winning wines, wines awarded VinAgora’s new Commended recognition will also be presented.
VinAgora Prestige offers a unique opportunity for visitors to taste the competition’s most outstanding wines in one place. Most of these wines will also remain available on the shelves of the Winehub Wine Centre for 60 days following the event.
Further information is available at the following link:
https://vinagora.hu/hu/hirek/vinagora-prestige-ermes-borok-kostoloja-a-winehubban
More information and the full list of results can be found on the official VinAgora website:
Further information:
Organiser: Borkult, Magyar Szőlő- és Borkultúra Nonprofit Kft.
Zoltán Zilai, Director of the Wine Competition
info@borkulturakft.com
Rita Oláh, Press Relations
olah.rita@borkulturakft.com
Photos from the wine competition:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/aborfesztival/albums/72177720325096099/