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.
