Our Etyeki Kúria Winery made its debut in the world of traditional sparkling wine with prestigious international recognition: at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2026, we earned one gold and one silver medal with our first entries.
We are especially proud of this result, as Etyeki Kúria Winery entered the traditional sparkling wine business this year. At our very first competition, two of our sparkling wines received international recognition, providing important feedback on the quality of our work and our commitment to sparkling wine production.
Two sparkling wines, two medals
Gold medal - Méthode Traditionnelle Blanc de Noirs
The judges highlighted the sparkling wine’s fine, elegant mousse, its aromas carrying mature Pinot notes, and its biscuit and brioche aromas. The tasting notes also praised its fruitiness, juicy character, and carefully crafted mousse.
Silver medal - Méthode Traditionnelle Brut NV
When evaluating the sparkling wine, the judges highlighted its elegant, fruity aromas, lively palate, and fresh fruit character. The notes mentioned aromas of pear, pineapple, and citrus, along with a pleasantly long finish. One judge also noted the astringency at the beginning of the palate, which was balanced by the fruitiness of the mid-palate and finish.
International expertise, shared work
These results are backed by focused professional work and international experience. A Champagne-based expert with experience in traditional sparkling wine production supports our chief winemaker, Sándor Mérész, and his team in developing the sparkling wines. The aim of this collaboration is to create sparkling wines that can hold their own on the international stage, building on the winery’s professional expertise and the characteristics of the Etyek terroir.
The first competition results mark an important milestone on this journey. The gold and silver medals provide feedback not only on the quality of the two sparkling wines, but also reinforce the team’s dedication and the opportunities inherent in traditional sparkling wine production.
The international stage for the world’s sparkling wines
The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships is one of the most significant international professional competitions for sparkling wines. At the 2026 competition, held for the 13th time, around 1,000 sparkling wines from 18 countries were judged, with 156 gold and 237 silver medals awarded. The wines are tasted blind according to their origin and style, and the three-member jury reaches a joint decision on the medals awarded. The competition’s judging process ensures professional comparability and consistent evaluation.
The competition’s mission is to encourage producers to continuously improve quality through the professional feedback provided year after year, while bringing wine lovers closer to the world’s best sparkling wines.
For Etyeki Kúria, winning two medals at our first international sparkling wine competition is an encouraging start and important professional feedback. We are proud of Sándor Mérész and his team, as well as everyone whose work contributed to this result. Our shared journey in traditional sparkling wine production has only just begun, and quality, professional curiosity, and the Etyek character will continue to shape our work.
