From March 2 to 8, 2026, Klet Brda will participate in one of the most influential wine showcases in the world. At all three editions of Great Wines World 2026 – in New York, Miami and San Francisco – organized by leading American wine critic James Suckling, Klet Brda will once again contribute to positioning Slovenia on the global wine map, alongside the wineries Marjan Simčič Domaine and Ferdinand.

Participation in the Great Wines World events is by invitation only, based on strict selection criteria. This year, 350 selected wineries from around the world will present their wines in both New York and Miami, while 200 will take part in San Francisco. Klet Brda is proud to be included in this distinguished group for the second consecutive year, confirming the consistent quality and international recognition of its wines.

The renewed invitation and participation in all three editions provide direct access to a global community of premium buyers, distributors and influential wine professionals. Klet Brda has been present in the United States for many years, operating its own distribution through Laureate Imports and collaborating with an extensive network of 39 distributors nationwide. Suckling’s ratings and the invitation to Great Wines World 2026 represent strong support for the winery’s long-term strategic development and further expansion in the U.S. market.

Strengthening the international visibility of Goriška Brda and Slovenia

Beyond the presentation of wines, participation in Great Wines World serves as a highly visible international platform for promoting the unique story of the Brda terroir and Slovenia as a distinctive wine-producing country. The presence of Brda wineries at this prestigious event was first established by Marjan Simčič Domaine, Ferdinand, and Movia, and Klet Brda is proud to continue this shared effort for the second consecutive year.

Together, these wineries are strengthening Slovenia’s recognition on the global wine map and reinforcing the role of Rebula as a key ambassador of the region’s historic winegrowing heritage. With the support of an influential critic such as James Suckling, Slovenian wines are gaining visibility and credibility among the most demanding international markets, contributing to the long-term development and reputation of the country’s wine sector.

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

The prestigious Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA), organized by the UK’s leading wine magazine Decanter, has once again confirmed the exceptional quality of Slovenian wines. Now in its 22nd year, this is the world’s largest and most influential wine competition, judged by nearly 250 top wine experts, including 72 Masters of Wine and 22 Master Sommeliers.

This year’s edition also marked the 50th anniversary of Decanter magazine, celebrating five decades of global influence in wine education and appreciation. Trusted by both wine professionals and consumers around the world, DWWA results have become a vital benchmark for quality and consistency in the global wine market.

Slovenia Among the World’s Top Wine Regions

Slovenia stood out once again this year, securing 211 medals, including 13 gold and 75 silver, placing the country among the top 15 nations in the competition.

A significant share of those medals went to Klet Brda and De Baguer Cellar, who together won an impressive 17 medals, the most of any Slovenian winery. These results highlight their consistent quality over the years.

5 Gold Medals for Klet Brda and De Baguer – No Other Winery Did Better

An outstanding 5 out of Slovenia’s 13 gold medals were awarded to wines from these two cellars:

• De Baguer Single Vineyard Merlot 2019 – 96 points
• A Plus Red Special Selection 2019 – 95 points
• De Baguer Merlot – Cabernet Franc 2019 – 95 points
• Krasno Pinot Bianco 2024 – 95 points
• Quercus Pinot Bianco 2024 – 95 points

The De Baguer Single Vineyard Merlot 2019 was also the highest-rated wine from the Brda region. In total, 11 wines from these wineries scored 90 points or more, reinforcing their reputation for top-tier quality.

High Praise for the Quercus Line

The Quercus line, known for its fresh, approachable wines, also made a strong impression. After last year’s Quercus Pinot Grigio 2023 was featured on the Value Gold list (highlighting great wines at accessible prices), this year’s Quercus Pinot Bianco 2024 earned the same distinction – proof that high quality doesn’t have to come at a high price.

“Decanter is one of the world’s most important wine competitions – with more than 17,000 entries, global visibility, and strong influence, especially in English-speaking countries, Western Europe, and the U.S.,” says Darinko Ribolica, Chief Winemaker at Klet Brda. “To receive five gold medals – more than any other winery in the world – is a huge honor. It proves we’ve become a truly respected and prestigious winery. That’s something we’ve worked toward for many years, and we’re proud to maintain that reputation.“

He attributes the success to a combination of key factors: “The Brda terroir is perfect. Our winegrowers are dedicated. The grapes are outstanding. And in the cellar, we know how to bring out their full potential. It’s all about teamwork – from the vineyard to the bottle.“

The list of award-winning wines is available: HERE.

The exceptional quality of wines from Klet Brda and de Baguer wine cellar has been further validated by Falstaff, the leading wine and gastronomy media in the German-speaking world. Peter Moser, the editor-in-chief for Austria and Bordeaux, rated three of our Rebula wines: Krasno Ribolla gialla 2022, Bagueri Rebula 2020, and de Baguer Motnik Single Vineyard 2017.

Krasno Ribolla gialla 2022, part of the gastronomically curated Krasno line, received an impressive 92 points. This Falstaff rating is further supported by 90 points of Decanter World Wine Awards 2024 and 93 points of JamesSuckling.com.

Bagueri Rebula 2020, from the Bagueri line, which carries a 30-year tradition of selected quality, earned 93 points. This same wine also received 91 points in Decanter World Wine Awards 2024.

De Baguer Motnik Single Vineyard 2017, produced at de Baguer wine cellar in the Dobrovo Castle, where the finest wines are aged, was honoured with 94 points, echoing the high rating previously given by Suckling. The wine also received an outstanding 95 points in Decanter World Wine Awards 2024.

In 2023, Falstaff also awarded our wines with 93 points, a mark that places them in the elite category of exceptional wines. Peter Moser, the same evaluator, gave to A Plus Red 2017 a rating of 94 points, while de Baguer Merlot-Cabernet Franc 2017 and A Plus White 2017 received 93 points.

We are delighted that also Falstaff confirm the consistent quality of Klet Brda wines, which have been present on the German market for many years. We began with fresh wines, and in recent years, we have been expanding our fresh wine lines. As our quality remains consistent, we are steadily advancing into higher price categories. Falstaff’s prestigious ratings play a significant role in enhancing the visibility of both Klet Brda and de Baguer wine cellar in the German-speaking market, strongly influencing the purchasing decisions of wine lovers of elite wines.