Moravian Wines Triumphed in Four of Seven Welschriesling Categories at International GROW du Monde Competition
On Friday, 5 June, the organisers officially announced the results of the international GROW du Monde competition during the Welschriesling Without Borders Festival held at Mikulov Castle. The fifth edition of this prestigious competition, hosted in the Czech Republic for the first time in its history, brought remarkable success for Moravian winemakers. Competing against strong international competition, they secured victory in four of the seven categories. In addition, Czech producers, including several wineries from the Mikulov wine region, were awarded 14 Platinum Medals along with numerous other distinctions.
Moravian wines captured four of the seven category titles at this year's GROW du Monde competition.
The Czech winners were Vinařství MiQueen with its Welschriesling 2023 (Late Harvest) in the Mature Dry Wines category, Vinařství No.44 with Welschriesling 2025 (Selection of Grapes) in the Young Dry Wines category, Martin Šebesta with Ice Wine 2023 in the Sweet Wines category, and Vinařství Volařík with Welschriesling 2023 (Selection of Grapes) in the Off-Dry Wines category.
The remaining three champion titles went abroad. In the Sparkling Wines category, the winner was Serbian producer Winery Đurđić with its 2021 vintage. The title of Best Orange Wine was awarded to Orange Wine Vučurević 2022 from Serbian winery Vinarija Vučurević, while the champion of the Cuvée category was Folly Arborétum from Hungary for its wine Cédrus 2024.
"I am delighted that this year’s edition of GROW du Monde was brought to the Czech Republic. The initiative is much more than a competition; it encompasses a wide range of activities dedicated to promoting Welschriesling internationally. Following the outstanding success of Moravian wines in previous editions, fellow judges and wine professionals from around the world arrived eager to discover the vineyards and winemakers behind these exceptional wines," said Michal Šetka, Editor-in-Chief of WINE & Degustation magazine and President of GROW du Monde 2026.
"I am convinced that the Mikulov wine region offers some of the finest terroirs for Welschriesling, particularly for the production of dry wines. This year's results, together with the number of medals awarded to Czech producers, once again confirm that potential. Equally encouraging are the enthusiastic reactions of international experts who, after visiting the vineyards of Pálava and the Dunajovské Hills, speak highly of the region, its wines and its winemakers."
The champion in the Young Dry Wines category was Vinařství No.44 with its Welschriesling 2025 (Selection of Grapes).
"We are incredibly proud that our Welschriesling from the Bergrus vineyard succeeded in such a prestigious competition," said Eliška Becková of Vinařství No.44. "The Bergrus vineyard is one of the most highly regarded sites in the village of Perná within the Mikulov wine sub-region, located in the heart of the Pálava Protected Landscape Area. The site is renowned for producing premium wines with a distinctive mineral profile derived from its limestone soils. Despite the relative youth of some vineyard plantings, the wines demonstrate outstanding potential."
In the Mature Dry Wines category, Vinařství MiQueen claimed the title with its Welschriesling 2023 (Late Harvest).
"Our wine comes from the Za Cihelnou vineyard in Mikulov, cultivated under organic farming practices. It beautifully expresses the character of Mikulov Welschriesling through its freshness, vibrant acidity, mineral backbone and pure varietal expression," said Michal Rovenský, Managing Director of Vinařství MiQueen. "We are proud to demonstrate that organically grown Welschriesling from Moravia can compete at the highest international level and become the best wine in its category."
A total of 20 wines received Platinum Medals, with 14 awarded to Czech producers. The recipients included Vinařství Volařík, Bio vinařství Víno Marcinčák Mikulov, Vinařství Mikrosvín Mikulov, Vinařství Švásta a Kadlec, Zámecké vinařství Bzenec, Vinařství Vajbar, Vinařství Kamil Prokeš, Vinařství MiQueen, Vinařství Tichý, Vinařství Vinofol, Vinařství Mlýnek and Vinařství No.44.
The announcement of the results marked the highlight of the fifth edition of GROW du Monde. Friday morning was dedicated to wine professionals attending a Masterclass focused on international trends and developments in Welschriesling. In the afternoon, the Upper Courtyard of Mikulov Castle hosted the Welschriesling Without Borders Festival, where wine enthusiasts and visitors were able to taste more than 200 Welschriesling wines and compare Moravian examples with international counterparts.
