It seems this season the prestigious wine rating Decanter has rained awards on Croatian wineries and winemakers. One of those who certainly deserve them (not to suggest the others don’t) are certainly the agile Istrian brothers Benvenuti.
Their champion quality was proven additionally by the fact they are the first Croatian winery to win the highest awards at two of the largest global wine competitions in the same year. Malvazija Anno Domini 2015 won a trophy for the best wine in its category and a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge and their 2013 Teran was given a Platinum award – Best in Category at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
Winning gold at both of these extremely esteemed competitions is no easy task, as to achieve this it was necessary to win at least 95 points out of a 100. The trophy or platinum mark is given to the best of the best, wines picked from gold medallists, in repeated tastings.
To celebrate all the awards, the Benvenuti family presented their awarded wines at the Zagreb restaurant Boban, along with other chosen labels. New harvests were represented by the Rosé 2016 and Malvazija 2016, followed by the IWC awarded Malvazija Anno Domini 2015 wine. Next came the novel Caldierosso 2015 – an interesting coupage of four varieties: Teran, Merlot, Nebbiola and Tempranilo, all grown in the family vineyard Santa Elizabeta at 350 metres above sea level.
Caldierosso’s first edition has already won a gold medal at this year’s Vinistra and shown it is truly an exceptional wine. Guests tasted the Decanter awarded Teran 2013 wine, followed by the dessert wine Corona Grande 2015, also a gold winner at Vinistra and silver winner at IWC. In the end we were served the Malvazija San Salvatore 2013.
The awards are another testament of excellence of the wine production of the Benvenuti family. It is worth remembering the Benvenuti Muškat San Salvatore 2011 won a gold last year and the national trophy at the International Wine Challenge. The recognition turned into an invitation to participate at the Wine Vision conference in California at the end of last year, together with one hundred other best wineries of the world.
