Sweet and Fortified Wine Session by CMB 2026: Porto leads the way in a record-breaking edition
134 medals, 62 Gold Medals, 9 Grand Gold Medals and two trophies for a particularly successful 2026 edition.
The full list of medal-winning wines is available at results link.
After three days of tastings in Thuir, in the heart of natural sweet wine country, the Sweet and Fortified Wines Session of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles | CMB has announced its results. Out of the 417 wines in competition, from nearly 30 countries, the jury awarded 134 medals, an increase of 14% compared with 2025.
An edition marked by excellence
The quality of the samples struck the tasters. Gold Medals are up 38% (62, against 45 last year) and, together with the 9 Grand Gold Medals, 71 wines reached the highest level of distinction (against 57 in 2025, or +25%). A further 63 Silver Medals were awarded. More than one in three wines entered came away with a medal.
Portugal and Port in the lead
Portugal delivered one of the best results of the session: 102 wines entered (nearly double 2025) and 62 medals, more than twice as many as last year. It took nearly one medal in two in the session and 4 of the 9 Grand Gold Medals.
Port is the driving force of this edition: 77 wines entered, 45 medals (against 15 in 2025), including 24 Gold or Grand Gold Medals (against 6 last year). The 20-year-old Ports achieved a perfect score, with 7 medals for 7 wines entered. Moscatel de Setúbal also confirms its standing, with 8 medals for 11 wines.
These results take on particular significance given that in 2027, the Red and White Wines Session, the largest session of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, as well as the Sweet and Fortified Wines Session, will be held in Portugal.
Roussillon’s natural sweet wines, on home ground
For a session held in the heart of the Aspres, the natural sweet wines held their own. Languedoc-Roussillon won 8 medals (against 3 in 2025), including two Grand Gold Medals, both for Rivesaltes: the Terrassous 1974 (Les Vignobles du Terrassous) and the Cuvée du Centenaire 2003 (Dom Brial). In total, the Rivesaltes appellation brought home 5 medals (1 in 2025). Muscat de Rivesaltes and Banyuls round out the results with one Gold Medal and two Silver Medals respectively.
Successes from across Europe
- Hungary: 7 medals for 7 wines entered, including 3 Gold, driven by the Tokaji
- Greece: 8 medals, double 2025
- Austria: 3 medals for 3 wines entered, including 2 Gold
- Romania: 5 medals, against 4 last year
Two trophies for two exceptional wines
This year, the jury also awarded two trophies:
- The Fortified Wine Revelation trophy goes to the Lugar do Rio Old Tawny, a 20-year-old Port from LR Wines & Experiences (Portugal), also a Grand Gold Medal winner.
- The Sweet Revelation trophy goes to the Estate Argyros Vinsanto Late Release 2005 (Estate I. & M. Argyros, Santorini, Greece), also a Grand Gold Medal winner.
About the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles | CMB
The CMB is an internationally renowned travelling competition, organised into Selections and four thematic Sessions, including the Sweet and Fortified Wine Session. Each year, more than 15,000 wines are entered by producers from around the world to be tasted and assessed by a panel of international experts. Their mission is to recognise wines of impeccable quality, free from any bias linked to the label or the prestige of the appellation. The CMB is today one of the largest international events of its kind.
Official photos of the 2026 competition are available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/concoursmondial/albums/72177720336079124
Press contact:
Anne de Bidlot
Anne.debidlot@vinopres.com
