Judges

The judges were drawn from local experts, food journalists and pastry chefs and members of our permanent international Grand Jury and guest judges.

Obsessed with quality

Spanning over 20 categories, the competition recognized exceptional craftsmanship in various craft chocolatier products, including delectable filled chocolates/bonbons, mouthwatering pralines, tantalizing enrobed fruits and nuts, and irresistibly rich chocolate spreads. In addition, the competition showcased flavored bars made with both couverture and bean-to-bar chocolate, revealing the depth of talent and innovation within the industry.

What truly sets the Italian/Mediterranean Craft Chocolatier Competition apart is the remarkable obsession demonstrated by chocolatiers in the region to seeking the highest quality ingredients, sourced locally whenever possible, and their products infused with wisdom and harmony. Each creation is a testament to their sense of aesthetics, embodying the richness of history while embracing a contemporary touch.

Highest scores

We are delighted to acknowledge the achievements of the winners, who captivated the judges with their exceptional creations. The level of expertise displayed is truly remarkable, with an impressive 19 products scoring over 90 points. Among the highest-scoring entries, we congratulate Guido Castagna from Italy, whose exquisite “Giuinott” achieved an outstanding score of 94.2 points. Additionally, congratulations to Bellantoni Cioccolato for their unique white chocolate covered pine nut dragée flavored with chamomile, scoring an impressive 93.2 points. Such exceptional scores highlight the dedication and artistry of these talented chocolatiers.

Winners’ Celebration

The winners will also be presented live at the prestigious Winners’ Announcement of the European Bars Competition on May 27th in Valencia. This will be celebrated and also broadcasted live on Zoom and Facebook, allowing chocolate enthusiasts from around the world to join in the excitement.

Once again, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of the Italian/Mediterranean Craft Chocolatier Competition. Your creativity, passion, and commitment to excellence have elevated the craft of chocolate-making, and we eagerly anticipate witnessing your continued success on the global stage.

Stay tuned for more updates and join us on 27 May 2023 to celebrate the best in craft chocolate!

Prizes

The categories judged included flavoured chocolate bars, filled chocolates, enrobed fruits and nuts and chocolate spreads, as well as flavoured bars (not bean-to-bar) and are based on yearly feedback from our entrants and in consultation with the fine chocolate industry. All judging is anonymised, including at the Grand Jury final session, where Golds, Silver and Bronze prizes are awarded by private voting according to the Grand Jury rules.

Awards are awarded only to entries that meet the required standard for each prize.

(Prizes are shown in score order for each medal)

Barrette aromatizzate

Barrette di cioccolato fondente con inclusioni o pezzi

Barrette ciccolato al latte con infusione o aromi

Barrette di cioccolato al latte con inclusioni o pezzi

Barrette al cioccolato bianco aromatizzato con infusione o aromi

Barrette al cioccolato bianco con inclusioni o pezzi

Ganaches, paletes, praline e tartufi alla ganache

Ganache o tartufi di cioccolato fondente non aromatizzato

Ganache o tartufi con cioccolato fondente aromatizzato

Ganaches o tartufi di cioccolato bianco

Ganache o tertufi prodotti utilizzando ciccolati misti Fondente /latte/bianco per copertura o ripieno

Praline a base di noci e noci ricoperte

Praline a base di frutta/ gianduja con ciccolato fondente

Marzapane ricoperto al cioccolato fondente

Praline a base di noci/gianduja con cioccolato al latte

Praline con frutta in guscio e cioccolato bianco

Dragées di cioccolato bianco, noci intere ricoperte

Praline a base di noci/gianduja con cioccolato al latte ...

Altre - frutti/zucchero/burro/crema

Frutti interi ricoperti di cioccolato fondente

Frutti interi ricoperti di cioccolato al latte

Frutti interi ricoperti di cioccolato bianco

Cioccolato al latte ricoperto con manon/burro /crema ..

Cioccolato bianco ricoperto con manon/burro/crema ..

Spalmabili

Spalmabili con cioccolato fondente (senza latte in polvere)

Spalmabili con cioccolato al latte

(*)  Declared chocolate maker for private label bars.

(**) Winner has declared the product is made with their own bean-to-bar chocolate or couverture.