960 sparkling wines will compete in Anadia, Portugal, this year

The first Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Sparkling Wine Session takes place from July 1-3, 2022

Sparkling wine accounts for 10% of global export volumes and 22% of values, making it the second largest category by value after still bottled wine. Last year, the sparkling wine category increased both in volume (+22%) and in value (+35%) compared to 2020. The global sparkling wine market was valued over US$ 41 billion in 2021.

Rapid socioeconomic changes and fast-paced urbanization are boosting demand for sparkling wine around the globe. With the continuous rise in living standards and buying power, customers are keen to purchase high-quality, luxury goods. Also, the growing influence of social media in developed countries is having an impact on the lifestyle of Millennials and Gen Z, encouraging them to spend more on premium products.

In response to all these factors and the growing interest in sparkling wines around the world, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles decided to give the category the attention it deserves by launching the Sparkling Wine Session. The town of Anadia, in Portugal’s Bairrada region, is hosting its first edition. 65 judges representing 26 nationalities will evaluate 960 sparkling wines from 23 countries in the Bairrada Wine Museum from 1 to 3 July 2022.

The top 3 countries by number of entries in the Sparkling Wine Session by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles are the 3 top global exporters of sparkling wine –Italy (291 entries), France (270 entries) and Spain (165 entries). Their sparkling wine exports represent respectively 23%, 15% and 7% of their total 2021 export volumes and 26%, 35% and 16% of their total 2021 wine exports by value.

The host country Portugal ranked 4th with the majority of entries from the region of Bairrada where over 50% of Portuguese sparkling wines are made.

Belgium comes 5th for the number of entries in the competition. In 2021, the country emerged as the fastest-growing exporter in the European Union with 29 million litres of sparkling wine.

15% of sparkling wine entries are rosé. The rosé segment has been witnessing considerable demand over the past few years and is set to register the highest compound annual growth rate in the market between 2021 and 2028. Prosecco rosé alone sold more than 80 million bottles last year, which has been the fastest ever start for a sparkling innovation in history. Over 30% of the rosé sparkling wines in the competition are from Italy.

Organic and biodynamic wine entries represent 13% of the total. As a result of the pandemic, the importance of sustainability, health and wellness has become more entrenched in the consumer psyche. The trend is turning into a major driver of the organic, biodynamic and low-intervention sparkling wine movement.

The oldest wine entered in this year’s Sparkling Session is from the 2007 vintage.