The WineHunter Award
What is The WineHunter Award?
The WineHunter Award is the award that is annually assigned to excellences
of high quality wine, culinary products, distillates and craft beer.
The award guarantees the product’s superior quality. It is conferred to Italian and international products that reach the minimum score of 90 out of 100, after a careful evaluation process.
How does the assessment system work?
The WineHunter Award is divided into 3 categories:
-
The WineHunter Award ROSSO
from 90 to 92.99 points out of 100
-
The WineHunter Award GOLD
from 93 to 95.99 points out of 100
-
The WineHunter Award PLATINUM
96 points out of 100
The WineHunter Award PLATINUM
-
1
STEP 1
Selection of the Platinum Nominees with a temporary score of 95/100
-
2
STEP 2
Re-tasting of the Platinum Nominees by the end of October 2026. Definitive assignment of The WineHunter Award PLATINUM or GOLD
Who are the tasting committees?
8 tasting committees led by The WineHunter Helmuth Köcher
EACH COMMITTEE IS COMPOSED BY AT LEAST
three members, of which experts in the field, sommeliers, bartenders, journalists or wine lovers.
THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF MERANO IS COMPOSED BY
The WineHunter Helmuth Köcher and two more members.
Who are the tasting committees?
There is a tasting committee for distillates, one for craft beers and one for culinary specialties.
The tasting commissions are organized and coordinated by Helmuth Koecher with the support of Masterchef Bruno Cicolini.
The head of each commission is an expert of the sector – that is beer sommelier, chef, taster of distillates and aquavitae – and the other two members are restaurant owners, bar men and/or specialists in the sector.
How do we taste the products?
Each tasting round evaluates no more than 40 wines, with A MAXIMUM OF 5 DIFFERENT WINES.
The bottles are opened at least two hours before the tasting.
During the tastings the committee members are only provided the following information:
- grape variety
- vinification
- vintage
- AREA OF ORIGIN
How do we taste the products?
After the online registration it is necessary to send a tasting sample for each product with a maximum of 5.
The tasting rounds are prepared according to the typology of the product (oil, cured meats, cheese, etc.) with a maximum of 10 products per tasting round.
Assessment criteria
- Intensity
- Complexity
- Elegance
- Extraordinary character
- Raw material
- Tradition
- Sustainability
- Professionalism
- Artisan production
- Native grape varieties
- Territoriality
Based on the criteria set by the
UIOE International Union of Oenologists – OIV International Organisation of Vine and Wine
Assessment criteria
- Intensity
- Complexity
- Extraordinary character
- Raw material
- Tradition
- Sustainability
- Professionalism
- Artisan production
- Regional products
- Territoriality
The applied evaluation methods refer to the general criteria of the different associations..
Deadlines
31st of May
Deadline to send in wines or products to participate in the Merano WineFestival
Publication of the results:
> 16th of Augustfor all products sent in before the 31st of May
> After the 16th of August: monthly updates of the online guide with the newly awarded wines and products that are sent in after the 31st of May. Published at the end of each month from May onwards.
Deadlines
31st of May
Deadline to send in wines or products to participate in the Merano WineFestival
Publication of the results:
> 16th of Augustfor all products sent in before the 31st of May
> After the 16th of August: monthly updates of the online guide with the newly awarded wines and products that are sent in after the 31st of May. Published at the end of each month from May onwards.
Reasons why you should apply
Being rewarded with The WineHunter Award means:
-
01
PROMOTION through the communication channels of The WineHunter and on the online guide award.winehunter.it
-
02
ACCESS to the selection of the Merano WineFestival and its Anteprimas
-
03
PARTICIPATE in the WineHunter events all over the world
-
04
MARKET the product with The WineHunter Award certificate
and its official vignette in print or digital format (requests via email: event[at]meranowinefestival.com) possible for award-winning products only
OUR PROMOTIONAL CHANNELS: WEBSITES, EVENTS CATALOGUE, SOCIAL MEDIA, NATIONAL PRESS OFFICE AND MORE