Vinibuoni d’Italia: best 300 wines selected

On September 12 and 13, the Aminess Maestral Hotel in Novigrad hosted the final stage of the Vinibuoni d’Italia guide’s selection process. The guide Vinibuoni d’Italia focuses on indigenous grape wines and Metodo Classico sparkling wines.

This special edition, making its international debut, strengthened the connection with Croatia’s Istria region. Vinibuoni d’Italia has featured Istria in its guide since 2011 with a curated selection of local wines.

Mario Busso, the National Curator, praised the Istrian Tourist Board’s exceptional hospitality and seamless organization.

This event underscores the remarkable efforts to showcase a region that has not only highlighted its natural beauty but has also successfully attracted a growing and discerning audience, thanks to its diverse culinary offerings. This transformation into an export powerhouse for regional products has successfully introduced these treasures to millions of global visitors. We extend our deepest gratitude to Director Denis Ivošević, Marko Markovic for their flawless management of our presence in Istria. A special thanks also to the Aminess Maestral Hotel staff, and the Hrvatski Sommelier Klub for their invaluable support.

Denis Ivošević, Mario Busso, Chiara Busso, Alessandro Scorsone and Marko Markovic
From left: Denis Ivošević, Mario Busso, Chiara Busso, Alessandro Scorsone and Marko Markovic

The Night of the Crowns

The final evening, dubbed the Night of the Crowns, celebrated the region’s gastronomic heritage with a dinner that paired Istrian cuisine with the awarded wines. The event featured a welcome toast in collaboration with the Consorzio per la Tutela dell’Asti Docg and Moscato d’Asti Docg, the Consorzio Tutela Vini d’Acqui, and Caviar Giaveri’s esteemed Siberian Classic Caviar.

Over the two days of tastings, national curators Mario Busso and Alessandro Scorsone selected the TOP 300 wines from a pool of 726 finalists. Meanwhile, Italian, Slovenian, and Croatian journalists, along with wine critics and sommeliers from the ‘Oggi le Corone le decido io’ committees, sampled the wines and subsequently awarded 418 prizes. These winners will feature prominently in the new guide edition.

Here are the regions that stood out the most in the “Oggi le Corone le decido io” section:

  • Tuscany 57 crowns
  • Piedmont 54 crowns
  • Veneto 46 crowns
  • Friuli Venezia Giulia 37 crowns

The Aosta Valley had the highest percentage of awarded wines relative to finalists, boasting 83% of crowns, with Istria and Molise close behind at 75%.

Chiara Busso, Vinibuoni d’Italia’s Events Manager, who coordinates the finals annually, expressed her satisfaction:

We’re thrilled to have shared the results from our regional coordinators with the international judges in the ‘Oggi le Corone le decido io’ committees. The enthusiastic response motivates us to continue our year-round promotional activities, including showcasing our Enoteca Italia tasting stand at Wine Paris and our regular participation in major industry fairs across Italy.

Key Statistics of the Guide Vinibuoni d’Italia

  • Over 35,000 samples received
  • More than 700 wines awarded the “Corona” (with a minimum score of 91 points)

To view the awarded wines, visit: https://vinibuoni.it/