At Asia’s largest international wine competition, the SAKURA WOMEN’S WINE AWARDS 2026, Klet Brda once again achieved outstanding success. At this prestigious event, where 430 active female wine professionals from across Japan evaluate wines, three Klet Brda wines received high distinctions, further strengthening the winery’s reputation in one of the most demanding Asian markets.

The following wines were awarded:

Quercus Pinot Grigio 2025 – Double Gold: An exceptional distinction awarded only to wines that impress the jury with outstanding harmony, purity, and elegance.

Quercus Rebula 2025 – Gold: A confirmation that the freshness, minerality, and distinctive aromatic profile of Rebula strongly appeal to Japanese tastes.

Bagueri Rebula 2021 – Gold: A more mature and complex interpretation of Rebula, praised for its depth and refinement.

A Key Marketing Reference in Japan

The Sakura Awards, officially known as the Sakura Japan Women’s Wine Awards, are the largest women-only wine competition in the world. The medals enjoy high recognition in Japan and significantly influence purchasing decisions. For producers, they represent an important marketing tool, enhancing credibility, facilitating market entry, and helping wines stand out in a highly competitive environment.

Japan is considered one of Asia’s most sophisticated and quality-oriented wine markets. Consumers value clear origin, authenticity, consistency, and a compelling winemaking story. At the same time, the market is highly competitive, with long-established presence of leading wine-producing countries. In such an environment, internationally recognized awards play a crucial role in building trust with importers, distributors, and end customers.

Wine in Japan is often purchased as a gift, making packaging, visual identity, and overall prestige especially important. Medal stickers on bottles further increase visibility and provide additional assurance of quality. As the Sakura jury frequently rewards wines that pair well with Japanese cuisine, the medals also confirm the suitability of Klet Brda wines for local tastes.

Strengthening Klet Brda’s Presence in Asia

These new recognitions confirm Klet Brda’s consistent quality and its ability to successfully address the preferences of the Japanese market. The Sakura medals represent a significant competitive advantage and contribute to stronger brand positioning not only in Japan but also across other Asian markets.

With this achievement, Klet Brda continues to reinforce its reputation as a producer of internationally recognized, high-quality wines that combine tradition, elegance, and contemporary appeal.

The most influential American wine and gastronomy platform, JamesSuckling.com, has once again recognized the exceptional quality of wines from the Klet Brda Cellar and the de Baguer Cellar. All evaluated wines received over 92 points, with three earning 94 points. By invitation from James Suckling, both wineries will be showcased in March 2026 at the prestigious Great Wines World event in New York, as well as at follow-up shows in Miami and San Francisco. Such high scores and participation in Suckling’s events serve as an important endorsement, particularly for American distributors and buyers.

The wines were evaluated by Aldo Fiordelli, Senior Editor at JamesSuckling.com responsible for Italy and France:

“Whenever I visit Brda, I am consistently impressed by the quality of the wines and the dedication of the winemakers. Their passion shines through in every bottle. I believe Brda wines are now far more consistent than in the past, both in viticulture and winemaking, and the region’s identity in the global wine market will only grow stronger. Among Klet Brda wines, I was particularly struck by the Bagueri Sauvignon Blanc. While reference Sauvignon Blancs typically come from the Loire or New Zealand, this wine stands out with its own distinctive character – exceptionally clean, fruity, and multi-layered. I was equally impressed by Krasno Ribolla Gialla, which showcases the mineral character typical of the region, paired with a silky texture and a precise, elegant finish.”

Klet Brda Cellar:

Bagueri Rebula and Bagueri Merlot, both from the 2021 vintage, each received 92 points. Krasno Rebula 2023 earned 93 points, while the standout from the Kleti Brda portfolio was Bagueri Sauvignon Blanc 2021, which achieved an impressive 94 points.

de Baguer Cellar:

de Baguer Chardonnay-Sauvignon Blanc 2020 and A Plus Belo 2020 each earned 92 points, while de Baguer Merlot-Cabernet Franc 2019 and A Plus Rdeče 2019 were rated an impressive 94 points.

The U.S. market, where Klet Brda has been present for 40 years, remains one of the winery’s most important export destinations, historically accounting for half of its exports. Today, the wines are available in 42 states. Over time, the brand has established a strong presence in the mid-price segment, while the higher-end and premium segment is expanding with de Baguer Cellar wines. In this top tier, price is no barrier for consumers, making premiumization a key focus for the U.S. portfolio.

Maintaining top quality and consistency is fundamental. High scores from respected wine critics make the wines especially attractive to leading American distributors and discerning buyers. In the premium segment, there is also less price sensitivity—a factor of growing importance given recent changes in U.S. customs regulations. Ratings from the influential wine and gastronomy platform JamesSuckling.com provide a strong boost to sales, with wines scoring over 90 points in 2023 and 2024 selling out quickly at Klet Brda.

Read Aldo Fiordelli’s article at the following link: Ode to Freshness: A New Chapter for Brda’s Cool-Climate Wines | JamesSuckling.com

Renowned Italian publication Gambero Rosso, a leading authority in the world of Italian wine and gastronomy, has for the first time included Klet Brda in its prestigious wine guide, Vini d’Italia—the most influential wine guide in Italy. The wine Bagueri Chardonnay Superior 2021 was awarded the top accolade of “Tre Bicchieri”, while Krasno Rebula 2022 earned “Due Bicchieri Rossi”, marking it as a finalist for the highest distinction.

The official awards ceremony took place on October 12, 2025, in Rome.

Italy represents a key export market for Klet Brda, generating over half a million euros in annual revenue. Being featured in Vini d’Italia is a milestone achievement and a prestigious reference that significantly strengthens the winery’s reputation and visibility in the Italian market—particularly in the premium price segment.

At the prestigious 32nd edition of the Chardonnay du Monde international wine tasting in France, Klet Brda’s Bagueri Chardonnay was awarded a silver medal, standing out among 518 samples from 34 countries, judged by 200 international wine experts. Of the 171 medals awarded this year, Klet Brda was the only Slovenian winery to receive recognition.

The Chardonnay du Monde tasting is regarded as one of the world’s leading benchmarks in the wine industry. Klet Brda’s Chardonnays have been consistently recognized at this event, maintaining a tradition of excellence. This year Klet Brda marks a significant milestone – 30 years since first participation and first silver medal at Chardonnay du monde. Since then, Klet Brda has collected 29 medals, proving the consistent excellence of its Chardonnays.

Chardonnay is a grape variety cultivated almost all over the world, known for its remarkable ability to adapt to various climates, terrains, and winemaking techniques. However, the best Chardonnays can only be produced in special terroirs. As British wine expert Dr. Caroline Gilby also emphasizes, the Bagueri Chardonnay from Klet Brda confirms that the hilly vineyards of Brda offer the perfect conditions for producing top-quality Chardonnays.