Concours Mondial de Bruxelles celebrates global diversity at 32nd edition in China

The 32nd edition of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) took place in early June in Yinchuan, at the heart of China’s Ningxia wine region. Over three days, 375 international experts from 56 countries gathered to blind-taste 7,165 wines submitted by producers from 49 nations. The event, recognized as one of the world’s most international wine competitions, highlighted a broad spectrum of professional backgrounds among its judges and reinforced CMB’s global reputation.

This year’s results reflected the competition’s international reach, with medals awarded to wineries from countries such as Croatia, Kazakhstan, Germany, Bolivia, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Mauritius, Hungary, Mexico, Romania, Slovenia, and Turkey. The CMB is not just a contest for professionals; it also aims to make exceptional wines accessible to the public. Tools like aroma wheels were provided to help attendees and consumers better understand and explore the sensory qualities of the award-winning wines.

Two wines stood out as International Revelations for 2025. The title of Best Red Wine went to Les Sorts Vinyes Velles 2020 from Spain. This wine was crafted by a young Franco-Spanish oenologist with a passion for Grenache. The jury praised its finesse and intensity. After making an impression at last year’s competition, this win marks a significant achievement for both the winemaker and his cooperative winery.

The Best White Wine Revelation was awarded to Kancellár SomlAI Cuvée 2021 from Hungary’s Somló region. Produced by Kancellár Birtok estate, this blend was described by judges as having a bouquet of citrus fruits, delicate flowers, and herbal notes. Lime and grapefruit flavors were prominent, supported by hints of acacia, jasmine, and olive. The wine’s minerality and acidity contributed to its balance and long finish.

Romania continued its strong performance at CMB events this year. Following notable results in the Rosé Wines Session and Sauvignon Selection by CMB, Romanian producers earned 65 medals—36.5% of their entries—including four Grand Gold Medals. The top Romanian wine was Cuvee Roșu by Florin Manoliu 2021 from Crama Pandora.

France maintained its reputation for producing high-quality wines rich in terroir. Bordeaux and Languedoc-Roussillon regions dominated the French awards list, accounting for more than 60% of France’s total 377 medals. The Rhône Valley followed in third place. Fifteen French wines received Grand Gold Medals this year. The French Revelation went to Château Franc La Rose 2022 from Saint-Émilion’s Vignobles Jean-Louis Trocard.

France also led in alcohol-free alternatives. For the second consecutive year, the Alcohol-Free Revelation was awarded to a French wine: Mallette Blanc 0% from Bordeaux Families. In total, nine French no- or low-alcohol wines received medals—one third of all winners in this category.

Among major wine-producing countries, Spain earned 361 medals (16 Grand Gold Medals), Italy took home 343 medals (15 Grand Gold Medals), France received 377 medals (15 Grand Gold Medals), and Portugal won 290 medals (14 Grand Gold Medals). These results highlight not only the quantity but also the quality of wines from these nations.

As host country for this year’s competition, China entered a record number of wines—663 in total—and saw significant success. Chinese producers won 230 medals: eight Grand Gold Medals, 100 Gold Medals, and 122 Silver Medals. This performance reflects China’s rapid progress as a wine-producing nation over the past decade.

The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is structured into four sessions: Rosé Wines, Red and White Wines, Sparkling Wines, and Sweet and Fortified Wines. Each year more than 15,000 wines are submitted by producers worldwide for evaluation by an international panel of experts. Full results from this year’s competition are available at https://results.concoursmondial.com/en/results