CMB Sweet & Fortified Wines

Sweet and Fortified Wines Shine at the 2024 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

The highly anticipated results of the fourth and final session of the 2024 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB), focused on Sweet and Fortified Wines, have just been revealed.

This year’s competition saw over 300 entries from 23 countries, with a wide array of sweet and fortified wines competing for top honors. While traditional heavyweights like Portugal, France, Italy, and China continued to dominate, the competition also delivered exciting surprises from other wine-producing nations.

International Judging Panel and Process

In early October, a panel of 27 international tasters from nine different countries gathered to participate in a blind tasting of the entered wines. The session, dedicated exclusively to sweet and fortified categories, drew experts from across the globe, adding diverse perspectives to the evaluation process. The competition offered an insightful look into the range and quality of wines in these categories, solidifying CMB’s role as a prestigious platform for showcasing excellence.

France's Sweet Success

France emerged as one of the standout performers in this year’s competition, claiming 21 medals across its entries. Domaine le Mont Cuvée Privilège 2021, produced by Claude and Louis Robin from the Loire Valley, secured the coveted Sweet Wines Revelation title. This prestigious award acknowledges the best sweet wine of the competition, and it underscores the Loire Valley’s continued prominence in the global sweet wine category.

In total, 40% of the French wines entered in the competition received medals, reflecting the consistent quality and variety of sweet and fortified wines the country has to offer. The win for Domaine le Mont further cements France’s reputation as a leading producer of exceptional sweet wines, particularly from regions like the Loire, where terroir and winemaking tradition play a pivotal role in the wine’s character.

Portugal’s Fortified Wine Dominance

Portugal once again demonstrated its fortified wine prowess, leading the competition in both medal count and the prestigious Revelation award for Fortified Wines. The white Porto wine Dr White Port 50 Years Old, crafted by Agri-Roncão, secured the top Revelation spot for fortified wines, a testament to the complexity and aging potential of Portugal’s renowned Port wines.

With 30 medals overall, Portugal’s entries performed exceptionally well, with 44% of its wines receiving awards. Among these were a Grand Gold Medal, 17 Gold Medals, and 12 Silver Medals. Portugal’s ongoing dominance in the fortified category reflects its centuries-long mastery of Port and Madeira wines, which continue to captivate tasters worldwide.

Italy: A Steady Climb

Italy also made significant strides in this year’s CMB competition, earning 20 medals, including two prestigious Grand Gold Medals. This marks an improvement from the previous edition, with six more medals won this year. Italian sweet and fortified wines have steadily gained recognition for their uniqueness, offering a variety of styles ranging from the rich Vin Santo to fortified Marsala. The country’s strong showing at CMB demonstrates the growing global appreciation for its lesser-known yet exceptional sweet and fortified wines.

China's Impressive Performance

China continued to assert itself on the global stage for sweet and fortified wines, with more than 50% of its entries receiving medals, including a Grand Gold Medal. This remarkable achievement highlights the growing sophistication of Chinese winemaking and the country’s expanding influence in the international wine arena. Chinese winemakers have increasingly focused on producing high-quality sweet wines, and their performance at CMB confirms the potential of China as a key player in the future of this category.

Hungary and Slovakia Celebrate Milestones

Hungary and Slovakia also made notable gains in this year’s competition. Hungary secured its first Grand Gold Medal with Tokay TR Szamorodni 2019 from TR Wines Tokaj, showcasing the exceptional quality of its renowned Tokaji wines. This achievement highlights Hungary’s long-standing reputation for producing world-class sweet wines that continue to impress on the international stage.

Slovakia, known for its distinctive Tokaj-style wines, earned a Gold Medal for its Tokajský Výber 6-putnový 2019 from Chateau Grand Bari. This recognition serves as a reminder of the growing quality and diversity of Slovak winemaking, particularly in the sweet wine category.

Shabo Winery Defies the Odds

Amid the ongoing geopolitical challenges in Ukraine, Shabo Winery defied the odds, securing three medals at the competition: one Gold Medal and two Silver Medals. Shabo’s success in such a challenging environment demonstrates the resilience and dedication of Ukrainian winemakers, who continue to produce high-quality wines despite the difficult circumstances.

Looking Forward

The results of the Sweet and Fortified Wines session of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles reveal a global appreciation for these unique wine styles, with established countries like France and Portugal maintaining their stronghold while emerging regions gain recognition.

The results could be found here.

Source: CMB

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