CMB Sparkling Wines Session results: Germany impresses and Champagne continues to excel
Early July in Alghero, Sardinia, just over 900 sparkling wines from across the globe competed for Concours Mondial de Bruxelles medals in the Sparkling Wines Session. Fifty international judges awarded Silver, Gold and Grand Gold medals to wines from 24 countries. The top sparkling wine in the competition comes from Champagne, whilst a sensational 60% of German wines were awarded medals, including two Revelation trophies.
Champagne continues to excel
In this year’s Sparkling Wines Session, Champagne confirmed the consistent excellence of its wines with 98 of the region’s entries going away with a medal – that’s over half the Champagnes entered in the competition! The International Revelation Award also went to Champagne Lemaire Millésime Les Hautes-Prières 2012 by Maison Roger-Constant Lemaire. Millésime des Hautes-Prières, the winery’s iconic label, is a single varietal Chardonnay matured for 9 months in oak barrels and made from grapes sourced in the storied vineyards of Hautvillers, the estate belonging to the monk Dom Pérignon. This is an undeniable achievement for the family-run estate founded at the end of the 19th century, whose wines have often been singled out for distinction in previous CMB competitions. 5 other Champagnes were awarded a Grand Gold medal.
Veneto and Lombardy in the limelight
Predictably, Veneto came away with the most medals for Italian wines, scooping a total 21 accolades. The 45 Metodo Extra Brut Non Dosé Blanc de Noirs by Fattoria La Vialla, in Lombardy, won the national Revelation trophy for Italy.
Cavas in pole position
Confirmation came from Spain too, with Cavas winning 34 medals and topping the Spanish rankings. One noteworthy award recipient was the Catalan winery Rovellats which won a remarkable Gold medal, two Silver medals and the Revelation Trophy for Spain for its iconic Rovellats Reserva Cuvée Especial Brut Nature 2020.
Germany dazzles whilst other countries confirm progress
The homeland of Beethoven hit all the right notes, sweeping the medal board by winning two Revelation trophies and achieving a staggering near-60% medal count for entries. German producers came away with 16 medals – 2 Grand Gold, 8 Gold and 6 Silver medals. Weingut Bergdolt was awarded a Revelation trophy with its Fluxus Brut Natur 2015, whilst the Freiherr von Gleichenstein Pinot & Chardonnay Extra Brut 2018 won the Sparkling Rosé Wines Revelation trophy.
For the second time in the competition’s history, a sparkling wine from South Africa garnered a Grand Gold medal – the winning entry was Sparklehorse 2021 by Forrester Vineyards, also voted as one of the Revelations of the competition.
Belgium confirmed its good reputation and incremental progress as a sparkling wine producer country by winning no fewer than 18 accolades. A total 41% of entries were awarded, marking an all-time high.
Moldova, which fetched 8 medals including a Grand Gold, is also climbing the ranks in the sparkling wine category and is all-set to become a force to be reckoned with in years to come.
Finally, Austria also stood out with an impressive performance by the Blanc de Blancs Sekt Große Reserve NÖ g.U. Furth bei Göttweig 2016 which garnered a Grand Gold medal.
View awarded wines and revelation trophy recipients by clicking here
Photos of the 2024 competition can be accessed here
Press contact:
Benoît Carion
benoit.carion@vinopres.com
Tel: +32 (0) 2 533 27 66
