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 93to 95.99 points out of 100

The WineHunter Award PLATINUM 96 points out of 100

The WineHunter Award PLATINUM

STEP 1>

Selection of the Platinum Nominees with a temporary score of 95/100

STEP 2>

Re-tasting of the Platinum Nominees by the end of October 2023. Definitiv assignment of The WineHunter Award PLATINUM or GOLD

WINE

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.

WINE

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:

WINE

Assessment criteria

WINE

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.

FOOD – SPIRITS – BEER

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.

FOOD – SPIRITS – BEER

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.

FOOD – SPIRITS – BEER

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.

The assigned The WineHunter Award ROSSO or GOLD is valid for two years
(only if there is no change in production, also referring to raw materials).trong>assegnato a un prodotto ha validità di due anni (qualora non vi sia un cambio di produzione riferito anche alle materie prime),
AFTER TWO YEARS, THE PRODUCT HAS TO BE SENT IN AGAIN IN ORDER TO BE RE-TASTED.

Only olive oil is tasted at an annually basis.

The WineHunter Award Platinum

The Award PLATINUM is valid for one year and is validated with The WineHunter Award GOLD at the end of the year.

The product will go directly into the selection of Platinum Candidates, if it is sent in for tasting the year after an assignment of the PLATINUM.

Reasons why you should apply

Being rewarded with The WineHunter Award means:

• PROMOTION through the communication channels of The WineHunter and on the online guide award.winehunter.it

• ACCESS to the selection of the Merano WineFestival and its Anteprimas

• PARTICIPATE in the WineHunter events all over the world

• 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