Armenia hosts the 33rd edition of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
For the first time in its history, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles | CMB is being held in Armenia, in Yerevan. It is in this millennial capital, nicknamed the “Pink City,” that two major CMB Sessions open on May 21: one dedicated to red and white wines, and the other to sparkling wines, exceptionally organized together this year.
Over the course of three days, more than 320 tasters from 56 nationalities will evaluate 6,700 red and white wines, as well as nearly 1,000 sparkling wines from 51 countries.
A No/Low competition will also take place, with more than 100 wines entered, a figure that continues to grow steadily.
The results of the competition will be published on concoursmondial.com on June 10.
Armenia, one of the cradles of wine, a new voice on the international stage
It is no coincidence that Yerevan was chosen to host this prestigious 33rd edition of the CMB. Armenia holds a unique place in the history of wine: that of a land where it all began, a guiding thread in the very chronology of wine.
The discovery in 2007 of the world’s oldest winery in the Areni-1 cave, dating back more than 4,100 years, confirmed the country’s fundamental role in the origins of viticulture. Beyond this historical dimension, Armenia today embodies a wine scene in full renaissance, where ancestral traditions and contemporary expertise interact in perfect harmony.
“Organizing the CMB in Yerevan was an obvious choice, as the region where Armenia is located is one of the cradles of wine history, but also a land of the future, driven by a new generation of winemakers who combine heritage and innovation,” says Baudouin Havaux, President of the CMB.
In the same spirit, Zaruhi Muradyan, Executive Director of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia, adds:
“Hosting the CMB is both an honor and a strategic opportunity for Armenia. It is a unique chance to showcase our millennial heritage, our terroirs and our indigenous grape varieties, and to strengthen the country’s position on the international wine scene.”
Vines shaped by their environment
What makes Armenian vineyards truly unique is that they do not merely adapt to their environment, they have been shaped by it. Located between 600 and 1,800 meters above sea level, on volcanic soils composed of basalt, tuff, and obsidian, the vineyards benefit from more than 300 days of sunshine per year, tempered by cool nights and marked seasonal contrasts.
Under these demanding conditions, the grapes develop remarkable aromatic intensity while preserving freshness and balance. Indigenous grape varieties retain their authentic identity, a unique signature that transcends time.
A terroir shaped by memory
Between vine and land, the Armenian winemaker is not an external actor but an integral part of the whole. Here, knowledge is not only learned, it is transmitted: through gestures, instinct, and an intimate understanding of the vine that has never needed formalization, as it is rooted in living memory.
This is illustrated by a remarkable feature: a large proportion of Armenian vineyards still consist of ungrafted vines, a rare legacy of a viticultural heritage preserved for millennia.
More than a competition: at the heart of contemporary wine challenges
In 2026, the CMB continues its innovation-driven approach, with a clear ambition to enhance the value delivered to the entire wine sector, as explained by Quentin Havaux, CEO of the CMB:
“This 2026 edition of the CMB is particularly significant. We aim to go further in leveraging the data collected during tastings. Thanks to the expertise of our international tasters, we have access to valuable information that we transform into concrete marketing tools: sensory sheets, aroma wheels, and tasting notes. These tools are then shared with distributors, retail, wine merchants, and HoReCa, to facilitate consumers’ understanding of wine.”
In the same vein, the CMB has launched CMB MERIT, a new quality label designed to highlight high-quality wines that did not reach the medal threshold (33% of participants) but still deserve market attention.
Another innovation is the CMB Experience Certified label, which recognizes establishments, wine bars and restaurants, that offer at least five award-winning wines from the competition.
About the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
The CMB is a prestigious international wine competition that receives more than 15,000 entries annually across its Sessions and competitions. Its tasters, all professionals, evaluate wines blind with a single objective: to select those of the highest quality, without any bias based on label or appellation reputation.
Founded in 1994, the CMB is now recognized worldwide as one of the leading events of its kind.
More than just a competition, the CMB also provides each participant with concrete marketing tools to better promote their wines and communicate more effectively. It has also developed the CMB Experience network, bringing together wine bars, restaurants, and retailers across the globe that offer a selection of award-winning wines. This creates international visibility and unique opportunities to showcase these wines worldwide.
This ability to go beyond tasting makes the CMB truly unique, offering high value-added services to producers, whether they are medal winners or recipients of the CMB MERIT label.
Official photos of the competition are available in our album
Press contact:
Benoît Carion
benoit.carion@vinopres.com
Armenia press contact:
Rima Abrahamyan
marketing@vwfa.am
