The Benchmark of Regional Wine Quality

Producers from the Open Balkan countries — Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania — as well as the wider region are invited to enter their wines in the competition.

The Open Balkan Wine Trophy has become a respected platform for promoting the region’s finest wines. The judges evaluate wines according to the systems and standards applied at the world’s leading competitions.

The aim of the Trophy is to give due recognition to the continuous rise in standards, quality and winemaking excellence brought by wineries from Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania. More than 1,600 wines from Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania have taken part in the Open Balkan Wine Trophy to date. Awards are presented in nine wine-style categories: white, red, sparkling, fortified, orange, sweet and rosé wines, with special awards for the best white and red wines made from indigenous Balkan varieties.

The Open Balkan Wine Trophy judging panel comprises renowned international professionals, including seven esteemed Masters of Wine. Evaluating entries under the highest global competition standards, the jury is presided over by Caroline Gilby MW, a leading authority on Balkan and Southeast European wines. Driven by this unparalleled credibility and surging interest, we remain committed to elevating the event and showcasing world-class wines in the years to come.

How it works

The Formula for Wine Success

How we build the region’s premier trophy through an elite jury, distinguished categories, and the backing of the Association.

Categories of excellence
Three national and nine varietal categories form the twelve distinct segments of the Open Balkan Wine Trophy.
Medals that stand for quality
Four shining labels that only the finest wines can achieve.
Expertise of the best
True recognition of quality requires expert opinions. Masters of Wine — defining greatness!
The pillar of the Wine Trophy
The Association of Winemakers and Winegrowers of Serbia — shaping the Wine Trophy for five consecutive years!