This year, Beijing has hosted for the first time one of the world's largest wine competitions, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. China has demonstrated that it has serious ambitions in the global wine market. More than 300 international wine judges had an opportunity to get closely acquainted with development of Chinese wine industry and also select the best wines among more than 9,000 samples that came to the competition and reward them with a silver, gold or great gold medal.

This year, wines from 39 countries were awarded in the competition. Ten most awarded countries were: France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, China, Chile, South Africa, Greece, Switzerland and Bulgaria.

It is interesting to take a look at the results of the host country. Wines from China won a total of 131 awards (5 great gold medals, 46 gold medals, 80 silver). The awarded wineries come from the regions of Ningxia, Xinjiang, Hebei, Shandong and Beijing. Awarded Chinese wines were mostly made from international grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Marselan. Marselan wine from Xinjiang region also won the Revelation Award China 2018 as the wine that caught attention of the judges with its quality.

This year, 14 participating countries have won the great gold medal. France is the top ranked country with regard to number of awarded great gold medals. Interesting to mention also that two countries from the Balkans were among the winners of great gold medals: Bulgaria and Greece.

If we observe the price range of the wines that participated in the competition, 55% of the wine have an ex-cellar price below 9 EUR. Awarded wines in the category above 50 EUR originate from China (12 medals), Spain, Portugal and France.

As for the newcomers, this year for the first time, wines from Albania and Kazakhstan have participated in the competition, which further extended the Concours Mondial wine family, thereby justifying the informal name of the "United Nations of Good Wine" competition.

Next year, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, after 25 years, will move for the first time to Switzerland, in the town of Aigle. The competition will be held from 2 to 5 May 2019.

(31.05.2018.)

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