Bononia Gomotartzi Chardonnay 2019 among the top 10 Chardonnay du Moon

When we talk about the Chardonnay du Monde, which means Chardonnays of the World, we are talking about an extremely prestigious and yet somewhat unusual wine competition. This is not because, analogous to the title, only wines from the Chardonnay grape variety are permitted. Rather, it is not only the wineries that eagerly await the results of their nominated wines. For the more than 700 international jurors, too, the Chardonnay du Monde is, so to speak, the long-awaited masterpiece. Here, they can show what they have learned during the training at the highly honorable Paul Bocuse Institute, which was specially designed for this tasting.

Since 1993, the Chardonnay du Monde has been held at the Chateau des Ravatys estate. This is one of the most important wineries in Beaujolais. As is well known, white wines hardly play a role in Beaujolais, with a share of only about one percent. However, these are almost exclusively Chardonnay wines. Even more important is the fact that Beaujolais is an independent wine-growing region. Geographically, however, it belongs to Burgundy. This is also the home of the Chardonnay grape variety. The Burgundy type goes back to a natural crossing involving the Heunisch grape varieties as well as an undefined Pinot. For many decades, by the way, Chateau des Ravatys was owned by the famous Pasteur Institute. However, at the end of 2020, it was sold to the Lavorel family. She comes from nearby Lyon and wants to continue the traditions of the estate.

One of these traditions is the Chardonnay du Monde, held every year in March. The wine competition is organized by the Forum Oenologie association, which is also responsible for similar events such as the Syrah du Monde. Many 100 nominations from around 40 countries arrive regularly. Not only countries are represented, which count like France, the USA, Australia or Chile to the classical cultivation areas of Chardonnay. Newcomers from Ecuador to Japan are also increasingly included. Among them are also the Chardonnays from Central and Southeastern Europe. They come from the Czech Republic, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Bulgaria, among others. For these countries, the Chardonnay du Monde is particularly important. In addition to the awards, it is also about building international networks and developing strategies for the further qualitative improvement of Chardonnay wines.

During the tastings, which last several days, all Chardonnay styles are considered. Of course, the Chablis from Burgundy, which are generally not aged in barriques and inspire with their impressive acidity and minerality, are not to be missed. At the other end of the scale are the creamy, powerful, oak-aged Chardonnays from California. There are also sparkling wines, including the noble Blanc de Blancs from Champagne.

Especially the newcomers achieve remarkable successes again and again. Chardonnays from Romania, Serbia or Croatia are now hard to imagine without. In the 2021 round, Bulgaria was also represented in the top 10 list of the best Chardonnays worldwide with the Bononia Gomotartzi Chardonnay 2019. In total, there were just over 600 samples this year of which 51 received gold medals as well as 145 silver medals. Bononia's 2019 Gomotartzi Chardonnay not only won gold here, but also managed to secure 5th place among all Chardonnays. This is a remarkable success, considering that Bononia is one of the very young wineries in Bulgaria, a wine country that has just been revived. In addition, the inexpensive Bononia Gomotartzi Chardonnay 2019 was able to prevail against Chardonnays at faux prices, some of which are well into the triple-digit euro range.

However, that's not all: certainly at the 28th Chardonnay du Monde 2021, the 2019 Gomotartzi Chardonnay from Bononia was among the undisputed winners. However, it did not win the only medal for Bononia. Also awarded was the Bononia ISTAR Chardonnay 2020, which received silver. The 29th Chardonnay du Monde 2022, also held in the meantime, brought further notable successes for Bononia: there, the 2019 Bononia FIRST VINTAGE Chardonnay, aged for 6 months in French oak, was awarded gold and the Bononia Gomotartzi Chardonnay 2020 silver.