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.

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.

Klet Brda proudly takes on the role of exclusive wine supplier of the Slovenian House at the largest winter sports event of the year. This prestigious partnership highlights a shared commitment to excellence, as the Slovenian House will not only welcome fans and elite athletes, but also serve as a vibrant hub for international networking, business and bilateral meetings, presentations, and a wide range of formal and informal events.

“Passion for excellence, respect for tradition and innovation, collaboration, and openness to the world.” These shared values unite the Slovenian House and Klet Brda. As Slovenia’s largest wine exporter—present in an impressive 27 markets worldwide—Klet Brda proudly joins the Slovenian House in showcasing the authentic beauty, culture, and renowned hospitality of Slovenia to an international audience.

For decades, Klet Brda has also embodied the spirit of sport. A committed supporter of sporting events across Slovenia, it is the long-standing organizer of the iconic Heroes of the Vineyards Cycling Marathon from Ljubljana to the home of Klet Brda in Dobrovo (Brda), which celebrates its landmark 30th edition this year. Over the years, the event has played a key role in promoting cycling and inspiring people to experience nature through active, authentic enjoyment.

Visit us and taste excellence! You are warmly invited to experience Slovenian hospitality at the Slovenian House, located at Bar Janbo, Via della Stazione 5, 32043 Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Free admission.

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.

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.