During the 2026 edition of The WineHunter Award, the jury chaired by Helmuth Köcher awarded seven official awards to the Baglio Oro labels. The guide’s selection honors the excellence and organoleptic quality of Italian and international wine products.
Specifically, the evaluation saw Appassì 2024 awarded the Gold Medal. The Red Medal was awarded to six other labels representing the company’s production, which ranges from indigenous whites to refined reds, up to Zibibbo in its sweet version.
The Gold Award: Appassì 2024
The Gold award is given to wines that achieve a score between 93 and 95.99/100, distinguished by structural complexity and balanced taste.
Appassì 2024 — IGP Sicilian Lands (Red from dried grapes) |Gold Award
This label is characterized by a production process based on a slight drying of the grapes on the vine before harvesting. This technique allows for a greater concentration of sugars and extracts, giving the wine a dense aromatic profile with notes of ripe fruit and a soft texture on the palate that sets it apart from classic aged red wines.
The Six Red Medals: an analysis of the award-winning labels
The Red label is awarded by the tasting panel to wines that obtain a score between 90 and 92.99/100, attesting to the high quality of the product and its correspondence with the typicality of the territory and the grape variety.
Below are the brief summaries of the wines that have received the Red Medal:
Yema 2022 — Zibibbo Late Harvest |Red Award
Produced from Zibibbo grapes that have undergone prolonged maturation in the vineyard. It has a rich golden color and a sweet taste profile characterized by intense aromas of dried fruit and honey, balanced by a proper underlying acidity.
Ceppineri 2018 — Nero d’Avola Riserva |Red Award
A full-bodied red wine made from pure Nero d’Avola grapes. The several months of aging in barrique barrels gives the bouquet complexity, with prominent notes of ripe red fruits and noble spices, combined with well-integrated tannins.
Donsar 2024 — Syrah |Red Award
A pure expression of the Syrah grape. On the nose and in the mouth, it highlights the typical traits of the variety, with pronounced notes of black pepper, balsamic nuances and a medium-intensity tannin structure.
Lagunare 2025 — Grillo |Red Award
A white wine made from Grillo grapes grown near the coast of Marsala. It stands out for its pronounced salty and salty-sweet note on the palate, accompanied by fresh acidity and citrus and mineral notes.
Ceppibianchi 2025 — Zibibbo Secco |Red Award
Fermented in dry conditions to enhance the aromatic component of the grape without residual sugar. It retains the characteristic aromas of the variety, such as white flowers, sage, and citrus fruits, offering a distinct mineral freshness to the drink.
Kiggari 2025 — Grecanico |Red Award
White produced from Grecanico grapes, characterized by a light and linear profile. It presents delicate notes of wildflowers and white pulp fruit, with a good acidity that ensures its easy drinking.
A result that looks to the future
Receiving seven awards at the The WineHunter Award is a source of great pride and confirms the excellence of the work carried out both on the native Sicilian grape varieties and on the internationally adapted varieties well acclimatized in the Marsala territory.
This milestone represents a strong incentive to continue with even greater determination in our journey of seeking quality, with the desire to tell our wine stories to more and more people.
