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.

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.

On June 12, 2025, Klet Brda had the honour of participating in the New York edition of Great Wines World 2025, one of the most prominent global wine events, held under the patronage of internationally acclaimed wine critic James Suckling. The event brought together 380 leading wine producers from 55 renowned wine regions and featured over 800 wines. Among the Slovenian representatives were Klet Brda, Marjan Simčič Domaine, and Movia.

James Suckling and his team were particularly impressed during their visit to Brda by the consistent quality across the entire Klet Brda and De Baguer portfolio. Two wines stood out in particular — de Baguer Single Vineyard Motnik 2017 and de Baguer Merlot Single Vineyard Vrh 2019 — both earning an outstanding 94 points. It was precisely this unwavering commitment to excellence that led James Suckling to extend a personal invitation to Klet Brda to present at this prestigious event.

The sold-out tasting, attended by 5,500 guests, was described on JamesSuckling.com as “one of biggest New York editions ever and a huge platform for wine lovers and trade to meet with people shaping the wine world today.”

“James Suckling is unquestionably one of the most influential voices in the world of wine, particularly in the United States — our key export market,” said Darinko Ribolica, Chief Winemaker at Klet Brda. “His high ratings significantly strengthen our presence in the U.S. market. Following such recognition, our wines attract attention from the country’s most prestigious buyers and distributors. The inclusion of three Slovenian wineries at this year’s event also positions Slovenia as one of the top-performing wine-producing countries from the former ‘Eastern bloc’. Based on the response from trade professionals, and despite looming tariff concerns, we anticipate a substantial boost in our North American sales.”

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.