The best rated Croatian wine at the kind of world championship Portugieser de Monde in Hungarian Pečuh was the 2015 Purtugizec by Danijel Golubić of Plešivica. He won the gold medal as did a 2014 Purtugizec Rose champagne by Ivančić winery also from Plešivica as well as the 2015 Portugieser by Vinogradarstvo i podrumarstvo Mihalj from Kutjevo. Among 96 wines from nine countries silver was won by Plešivica winemakers Franjo Gregorić, OPG Vrbanek, Mladina, PZ Plešivica, Branko Pušćak and OPG Ciban. Since the word Portuguiser has been claimed by the Portuguese, Plešivica winemakers call it the Purtugizer.
Competition was divided in three categories. The best young Portugieser was the 2015 Portuguieser Selection by Tamas Lelovits from Villany. Among the aged, the champion title was split between the 2012 Portugieser Réserve Trocken of German Göhring winery and 2013 Oportone by Tamás Günzer from Villany, the origin of the best Portuguieser mix, the 2015 Neuperger Balázs Villányi cuvée.
It was shown once again the Portugieser shouldn’t be produced only as young wine, a custom in our region as such wines with pronounced freshness combine great with continental late autumn fatty foods and sauerkraut. Hungarians make the young Portugieser to be ready for spring anyway, and in good years as well as in reduced output, it can age finely for several years.
The judges from Hungary, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, South Korea and Spain had the opportunity during judging to taste eight Portugiesers aged between 13 and 19 years, donated by a Hungarian collector to competition organizer Zoltán Győrffy. Some f those wines weren’t prepared for aging, but forgotten in a basement so they lost freshness. However, the 1997 Tiffán Villány and Kékoportó 2000 by József Bock were excellent.
