For more than 30 years, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles has been rewarding winemaking excellence with blind tastings and an international jury. The 2025 edition takes place in Yinchuan, in the heart of China’s Ningxia wine region. One of the jurors, our own Francesca Granelli, tells us about it.
Established as one of the world’s most influential wine competitions, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles now represents a benchmark for producers, buyers and consumers. Founded in 1994, the CMB has evolved to become a traveling event capable of highlighting the diversity of wine territories, offering visibility and credibility to the award-winning labels. In the exclusive interview below, Benoît Carion , Communications Manager of the competition, talks about the competition’s mission, selection criteria and future prospects, with a focus on the 2025 edition being held these days in Yinchuan, China, in the up-and-coming Ningxiaregion.
What is the current mission of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles? How has it evolved over time? What is the added value for a wine (and a region) in participating and winning a medal?
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB), founded in 1994, is considered one of the most respected international wine competitions in the world. Our mission is to provide consumers with a reliable benchmark for quality by awarding medals to outstanding wines through blind tasting by professional judges. Over time, the CMB has expanded its reach, hosting sessions and selections in different countries to highlight the diversity of wines globally. Winning a medal enhances a wine’s credibility, increases visibility in global markets and serves as a seal of excellence. For regions, participation promotes their terroir and wine heritage internationally.
Why was Ningxia chosen? What does it mean for an emerging wine region to host such an event?
Ningxia was chosen as the venue for the 32nd Concours Mondial de Bruxelles because of its rapid rise in the wine world. With more than 18,000 hectares of vineyards and an annual production of 75 million bottles, Ningxia symbolizes China’s growing wine potential. Hosting the CMB allows it to have a international visibility and to affirm its commitment to quality. Yinchuan, the region’s capital, offers the necessary infrastructure and is a gateway to one of China’s most dynamic wine areas.
What strategic reasons support Yinchuan as a host city?
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles also has a historical connection with China, with several competitions having already been held on Chinese soil, including the CMB in 2018 and several Marselan Selections. We also have a CMB office in China, which provides foreign medal-winning producers with a local foothold to launch their medal-winning products in the Chinese market.
How many wine samples were submitted and from how many countries?
7165 wines from 49 countries are competing.
What is the profile of the judges (origin, experience, professional background)?
Judges at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles come from more than 50 countries and include sommeliers, oenologists, wine journalists, buyers and educators. Wines are evaluated blind to ensure impartiality. Each wine is evaluated according to strict criteria and only the highest quality wines are awarded. The organization guarantees complete anonymity of the samples, both in terms of labeling and bottle shape. The only information revealed to the tasters is the vintage.
How is wine evaluation conducted?
The competing products are tasted and evaluated according to tasting criteria developed by the technical management of the Concours Mondial, following the model proposed by the OIV and the International Union of Oenologists. These criteria evaluate the following aspects:
Visual: clarity, appearance and, where appropriate, effervescence;
Olfactory: intensity, purity and quality;
Gustatory: intensity, purity, quality and persistence.
The score for each criterion determines an overall weighted score for each sample. A wine judged “excellent” in all criteria will receive a maximum score of 100 points.
What are the possible future developments of the competition?
The CMB continues to evolve by introducing Thematic Sessions from 2022 (Rosé, Sparkling, Sweet/fortified wines) and exploring new host countries. Future developments could include improved digital tools, awards for sustainable wines, and broader regional engagement. We are also developing partnerships to benefit medal-winning wines and are developing Wine & Spirits Experiences, venues dedicated exclusively to CMB medal-winning wines and spirits.
