Bucharest, March 13, 2024 – RBJ – BASF Agricultural Solutions Romania, one of the biggest suppliers of plant protection products on the local market, announces the winners of the 9th edition of the “Romanian Wine Stories” (Povești cu vinuri românești) contest, organized on national level, from February 8 to March 7, 2024. The contest is addressed to small and medium-sized winegrowers from all over the country, with cultivated areas of up to 100 hectares, but also to sparkling wine cellars, which are judged only in the final stage of the competition.
In the four regional stages for the areas of Moldova, Oltenia and Prahova, Banat and Transylvania and Dobrogea and Buzau, the jury, consisting of members of the Association of Authorized Tasters from Romania (ADAR), designated the 3 finalist wines for each category (red wines, white and rosé). The national final, which took place on March 7 this year, included 36 wines, to which 26 sparkling wines were added.
Thus, for the current edition, the four winners who obtained the competition trophy, as well as the grand prize worth 5,000 euros, were:
White wines category – Hamangia Winery – Sauvignon Blanc, dry, 2023,
Rosé wines category – Darie Winery – Syrah + Merlot, dry, 2023,
Red wines category – Aristiței Domain, Cabernet Franc + Cabernet Sauvignon, dry, 2021,
Sparkling wines category – Darabont Winery, white, dry.
“We are glad that this initiative has already become a well-established competition and the interest is growing from year to year. It was a remarkable event, and the judging was carried out, as always, according to OIVV international standards”, said Robert Băicoianu, Sales Manager horticultural crops, BASF Agricultural Solutions Romania.
During the nine years of organizing the “Romanian wine stories” (Povești cu vinuri românești) contest, more than 3,250 distinct wines and sparkling wines enrolled the competition, from all the targeted categories, while the value of the prizes reached a total of 149,000 euros, from 2016 until now.
“An exceptional contest! And the beauty of the stories in the glasses is, in fact, a delight for those of us who are judging them. Fortunately, it was very difficult for us, because the wines were at a very high level and ranking them was difficult, but that only made us happy. The quality of Romanian wine is in continuous development, and this can also be seen in the official figures, which demonstrate the ever-increasing interest in this liqueur, not only at national level, but also abroad, where we are fighting with the great wine producers of the world”, said Georgel Costache, Vice-President of ADAR and President of the Jury “Romanian Wine Stories” (Povești cu vinuri românești).
The most creative cover of the catalog “Romanian Wine Stories 2024” (Povești cu Vinuri Românești 2024)
For the second consecutive year, together with the jury formed by Matei Sandu – Professor at the National University of Arts in Bucharest, Sorin Sorașan – Illustrator, and Alexandru Mălăescu – Creative Partner Long Shot Creative Shop, BASF Romania organized the competition dedicated to young students passionate about drawing and art.
The creativity and design competition collected approximately 750 art works, which reached the table of the specialized jury. The winner of the contest and of the grand prize, worth 2,000 euros, is Elena Andriș, graduate of the master’s degree in advertising and book graphics at the Faculty of Arts and Design of the University of West, Timișoara.
BASF community voted the most beautiful wine label
Just like every year, the fans of the company’s Facebook page could vote the most beautiful label on a bottle of wine. This competition has also become a tradition, both for the producers and for the users of social media platforms, who want to discover the novelties presented by their favorite wineries every year.
The award of the online community was won this year by the label belonging to “Bob de Luna” wine of Enocrama Winery.
“We are glad to see a growing interest in this field. We see small but ambitious winegrowers, we notice a constant increase in quality and we are proud to be part of this effort to support Romanian farmers. We can say that the initiative “Romanian wine stories” (Povești cu vinuri românești) is a competition with tradition, which can be a reliable support for early stages wineries, bringing into the spotlight quality wines, which deserve to be known by the Romanian public and beyond”, concluded Mario Tomšić, Country Manager BASF Agricultural Solutions Romania.
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At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 112,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €68.9 billion in 2023. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States.
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Farming is fundamental to provide enough healthy and affordable food for a rapidly growing population while reducing environmental impacts. Working with partners and agricultural experts and by integrating sustainability criteria into all business decisions, we help farmers to create a positive impact on sustainable agriculture. That’s why we invest in a strong R&D pipeline, connecting innovative thinking with practical action in the field. Our portfolio comprises seeds and specifically selected plant traits, chemical and biological crop protection, solutions for soil management, plant health, pest control and digital farming. With expert teams in the lab, field, office and in production, we strive to find the right balance for success – for farmers, agriculture and future generations. In 2023, our division generated sales of €10.1 billion.
