In 2026, Thuir (Roussillon, France) becomes the capital of sweet and fortified wines with the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) is pleased to announce that its prestigious Sweet and Fortified Wines Session will take place from 9 to 11 October 2026 at the Regional Institute of Sommellerie in Thuir, in the Aspres area of Roussillon. This major event will celebrate a unique style of wine, heir to a centuries-old tradition, and will be a landmark moment for the town and the entire region.
An international gathering in the heart of the cradle of natural sweet wines
Organised in partnership with the Regional Institute of Sommellerie Sud de France and the Caves Byrrh, this session will bring together experts and professional tasters from around the world to evaluate, through blind tastings, the best sweet and fortified wines on the international scene.
The choice of Aspres to host the Sweet and Fortified Wines Session of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles was an obvious one: the region is, in fact, the birthplace of the great natural sweet wines of Roussillon, such as Banyuls, Banyuls Grand Cru, Maury, Rivesaltes and Muscat de Rivesaltes. Offering these exceptional wines an international showcase in their terroir of origin makes perfect sense.
The Regional Institute of Sommellerie Sud de France – a unique venue
Driven by the Aspres Community of Communes, the Regional Institute of Sommellerie Sud de France has become a benchmark training centre in the fields of sommellerie and viticulture. Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities – a mixology bar, sensory analysis laboratory, teaching kitchen and a panoramic rooftop overlooking the Aspres vineyards – the Institute’s mission is to train professionals in the wine sector, both in France and abroad, whether they are already working in the industry or just starting out, and to share this knowledge with wine enthusiasts from all over the world.
Nicole Gonzalez, President of the Regional Institute of Sommellerie Sud de France, highlights:
“Hosting the Sweet and Fortified Wines Session of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles in 2026 is a great honour for us. It fulfils our mission to promote the emblematic wine heritage of our terroirs while contributing to the training and transmission of wine knowledge worldwide. This event will also be an exceptional showcase for our Aspres region, a true treasure of southern France.”
Here visitors can enjoy everything: vineyards, Mediterranean beaches, Canigou trails, one of the most beautiful and picturesque villages in France, or even taste wines next to the world’s largest oak vat (1.2 million litres) at the legendary Caves Byrrh.
“Offering such a setting to a competition of excellence means offering much more than just a venue: it means offering a unique experience.”
The Regional Institute of Sommellerie Sud de France in Thuir is not just a training centre: in partnership with the Caves Byrrh, the Institute offers immersive stays combining vineyard visits, exclusive tastings and specialised training for both professionals and wine lovers. The competition juries will experience precisely this authentic approach which is the hallmark of the Institute.
Showcasing a unique heritage
Baudouin Havaux, President of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, underlines the importance of preserving not only the tradition of production but also of tasting sweet and fortified wines:
“The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is much more than a competition. With this initiative, we strengthen the ties between the great appellations of fortified wines and give renewed prominence to a unique common heritage so that it can win over new generations. This Session also aims to support and rediscover these exceptional wines, whose renown has waned but which continue to embody an unrivalled tradition and know-how.”
Since the beginning of the year, the CMB has supported the initiative of the Sicilian region through the Consorzio Volontario per la Tutela del Vino Marsala, which invited the Consejo Regulador Vinos de Jerez y Manzanilla and the Cooperativa Vinícola Agrícola Unificada de Samos (UWC Samos) to join an ambitious project to have the production process of fortified wines inscribed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
This project gained momentum during the recent sweet and fortified wines tasting session held in Catania, Sicily, where the Regional Institute of Sommellerie and the 12 French VDN appellations represented by the Confédération des Vins Doux Naturels also joined the initiative. All the partners who signed the cooperation protocol for this joint UNESCO Intangible Heritage application gathered in Sicily to define the next steps, with the official submission planned for early 2026.
This joint action will help to promote the cultural, architectural, historical and gastronomic heritage linked to the production of fortified wines, while also serving as an exceptional tool for their promotion and commercial dynamism.
About the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
Founded in 1994, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) is a prestigious international wine competition, renowned for its high standards and commitment to identifying the best wines and spirits in the world. With several Sessions and Selections held each year, the CMB evaluates more than 15,000 samples annually. An exclusively professional jury guarantees blind tastings focused on quality, making the CMB a global benchmark of excellence.
Press contact:
Benoît Carion
Email: benoit.carion@vinopres.com
Phone: +32 (0)2 533 27 66
12 appellations: DOC Banyuls, DOC Banyuls Grand Cru, DOC Muscat de Rivesaltes, DOC Rivesaltes, DOC Maury, DOC Muscat de Frontignan, DOC Muscat de Saint-Jean de Minervois, DOC Muscat de Lunel, DOC Muscat de Mireval, DOC Rasteau, DOC Muscat Beaumes de Venise, DOC Muscat de Cap Corse
120,000 hl
