Mr. Aletraris said that the competition has proven to be the springboard for the creation of a noble rivalry between winemakers, thus achieving the continuous improvement of the quality of Cypriot wine production and noted that it is an indisputable fact that our wines have achieved leaps and bounds in quality progress. against international competition.
Congratulating the SAP for all the effort it makes with the aim of progress and prosperity of the wine sector but also the cultivation of wine education and culture in our country, the Minister of Agriculture stressed the successful implementation of the National Support Program of the wine sector, which is A package of measures aimed at developing and improving competitiveness, starting with the restructuring of the Cypriot vineyard and the insurance of production, proceeding to the modernization of wineries and ending with the promotion and promotion of our wines.
"It is important to mention that the financing of the measures included in the program is done from European funds, the pumping of which and their channeling in the sector reaches almost 100% and in absolute numbers amount to almost 55 million euros" , he added.
Finally, he congratulated the winners and all the participating winemakers, "who with their professionalism, knowledge, zeal and ingenuity, have managed to give a new hopeful breath to the Cypriot winery, which can he now looks to the future with optimism. "
The competition was held under the auspices of the International Organization of Vine and Wine and the General Manager of Federico Castellucci, who attended it for the first time, expressed his impression of the quality of Cypriot wines.
In his short greeting, Mr. Castellucci warmly congratulated the Cypriot winemakers for the efforts they have made in recent years, which have resulted in the "amazing evolution of the quality of wines".
He also congratulated the SAP and the organizing committee for the perfect organization and literal application of the strict rules governing the competitions of the Organization, while assuring that, despite the fact that only 30% of the wines are awarded, most of the 139 The competition was of a high standard and therefore no bronze medals were awarded, but only silver and gold.
"This is very important and proves that Cyprus not only has a centuries-old tradition in winemaking but that it is one of the pioneering countries in the Mediterranean in wine production," he added.
He also said that the Cypriot winemakers handle the international varieties exceptionally, but the local varieties Xinisteri and Maratheftiko have a peculiarity that should be made more widely known abroad.
Finally, he said that it would be a great honor and pleasure for the International Organization of Vine and Wine to have a presentation of Cypriot wines at its offices in Paris and called on the relevant bodies to organize it as soon as possible.
The President of SAP Panikos Leonidas and the Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Competition and Deputy DG of SAP, Stavros Ioannidis also addressed the award ceremony, emphasizing the importance of the competition in the promotion of Cypriot wines and the continuous us.
The jury consisted of nine recognized and experienced tasters from abroad, who rated the wines separately and in complete secrecy, in terms of the identity of the competing wines, while the final score was calculated by calculating the average rating, after subtracting the highest lowest score. A total of 41 wines were awarded, one of which received the Grand Gold, while 15 received gold and 25 silver medals.
Source: SigmaLive