Sweet and Fortified Wines shine again in Sicily
From September 16 to 19, Catania will host the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, highlighting the diversity and the heritage of the Mediterranean wine scene. 40 international judges will evaluate 350 sweet, fortified, and oxidative wines from around the world.
Sicily is once again in the spotlight of the international wine scene, as it will host the Sweet & Fortified Wines Session in Catania, marking its return after the CMB competition held in Palermo in 2010.
During four days, Catania will host the the world’s largest wine competition, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and its Sweet and Fortified Wines Session, organized by Vinopres and PRC Repubbliche, in collaboration with the Sicilian Regional Government, Department of Agriculture, and IRVO, the Regional Institute for Wine and Oil of Sicily.
The event will welcome producers, winemakers, journalists, and international tasters from 18 nations, transforming the city into a global stage dedicated to wines that are not only excellent products but also cultural expressions of their communities. Sweet and fortified wines thus become symbols of collective identity and of a cultural consumption that bridges memory and future.
The program features four days of blind tastings, masterclasses, and thematic meetings. Among the highlights is a round table on the UNESCO recognition process for the wines of the Sun Belt Zone (Marsala, Jerez, and Samos): a project of cultural diplomacy aimed at acknowledging the universal value of wine traditions that have shaped Mediterranean history.
Innovation and sustainability will also take center stage, with a focus on climate change, biodiversity, and the promotion of native grape varieties as strategic resources for the future of Mediterranean viticulture. Masterclasses will be led by Pietro Russo MW and winemaker Giuseppe Figlioli, offering a sensory journey that blends technical expertise, outreach, and culture.
The results of the competition will be published on concoursmondial.com on 29th September
Pictures of the 2025 edition in Catania are available on add Flickr album.
“We are honored to bring the CMB back to Sicily after a 15-year absence,” says Baudouin Havaux, President of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.
“This region is the perfect stage for wines that represent heritage, innovation, and the distinct cultural character of their origin. Here in Sicily, wine is a living legacy, shaped and shared by generations of dedicated communities. For many years, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles has championed and showcased the unique sweet and fortified wines, ensuring their traditions are recognized and their future is celebrated.”
“Choosing Catania as the venue for this Session is recognition of the work of winegrowers, winemakers, and communities who have made sweet and fortified wines part of Sicily’s heritage“, adds Salvatore Barbagallo, Regional Minister of Agriculture of Sicily, “Together with IRVO, we support this initiative as an opportunity to promote native grape varieties, open new foreign markets, and reflect on global challenges linked to climate and biodiversity. This event is a chance to showcase an authentic Sicily, projected toward the future and able to transform wine into cultural consumption and a driver of growth”.
The Regional Institute for Wine and Oil is proud to welcome and promote, together with the Department of Agriculture, this prestigious Session of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles dedicated to Sweet and Fortified wines. For Giusi Mistretta, Special Commissioner of the Institute, and Vito Bentivegna, General Director, the event also represents an extraordinary opportunity to promote wine tourism, the local economy, and cooperation between institutions, consortia, producers, and industry professionals. Sicily preserves a deep and distinctive wine identity that deserves to be shared on international stages such as this one. Always committed to enhancing the island’s winemaking heritage, IRVO considers this occasion both a challenge and an opportunity to reaffirm that, even in the most refined segments of the market, Sicily plays a leading role.
You can find pictures of the competition here
Ferdinando Calaciura – calaciura@granviasc.it – 338 3229837
Gran Via – Società & Comunicazione Srl
Press contact CMB:
Benoît Carion
benoit.carion@vinopres.com
