The 32nd Concours Mondial de Bruxelles will be held in Ningxia (China)
The largest wine region in China, Ningxia, has been selected to host the 32nd edition of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. The Red and White Wines Session, the most important of the CMB, will take place in the city of Yinchuan in June 2025. This is the second time that the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is held in China.
During the traditional handover ceremony, in the presence of a delegation from the Yinchuan city government and the government of the state of Guanajuato (Mexico), Baudouin Havaux, president of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, announced that the CMB 2025 will be held in Yinchuan, Ningxia, and expressed his eagerness to welcome all international judges and guests to China.
“Seven years after the CMB 2018 in Haidian, Beijing, the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles returns to China and for the first time to Yinchuan, a picturesque region north of the Great Wall. We are looking forward to this return to China following a particularly successful 2018 edition,” he added.
“The wine region of the Helan Mountain foothills in Ningxia is recognized as one of the best regions for viticulture. Located between 37° and 39° north latitude, with the Helan Mountain barrier to the west and the Yellow River to the east, it offers an ideal geographical setting. I have had the chance to visit this region more than ten times and, in 2023, I published a book in four languages titled ‘Journey through the Vineyards of Ningxia.’ I sincerely hope that more people around the world will come to know and love the wines of Ningxia in the future.“
Li Quancai, vice-mayor of Yinchuan, then spoke: “Wine is the language of the world, the messenger of culture, and the fruit of art. The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2025 will always adhere to the spirit of the Silk Road of peace, cooperation, openness, and inclusion, mutual learning, and mutual benefit. This will be in collaboration with all international and national wine regions to build a bridge of friendship, exchange, and cooperation. Together, we will open a new chapter for the development of the Chinese wine industry, integrating our colors further into the world wine map.”
Yinchuan, Ningxia, the city with great wine ambitions
Yinchuan, located in the center of mainland China, is the capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It is a key city in the “Belt and Road” initiative and an important window for China’s opening to the west. Thanks to the unique geographical conditions of the Helan Mountain foothills, Yinchuan focuses on improving wine region infrastructure, fostering value chain innovation, developing integrated cultural tourism development, and brand promotion. The progress of the wine industry is rapid, and the results of the “world wine capital” goal are beginning to bear fruit.
The meeting of mountains and rivers, creating extraordinary wines
The wine region of the Helan Mountain foothills is situated at more than 1000 meters above sea level, with abundant sunshine, little rainfall (200 mm per year), and irrigation provided by the Yellow River. The stone-rich, well-drained soil offers ideal conditions for viticulture.
18,000 hectares, 72 châteaux, 75 million bottles
With an area of 18,000 hectares of vineyards, 72 châteaux, an annual production of 75 million bottles of wine, and a total value of nearly 4 billion euros, the wine region of the Helan Mountain foothills is a prestigious calling card. The red grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Gernischt, Syrah, Marselan, offer wines with fruity aromas, ripe and full tannins, a rounded structure, and balanced acidity. The white grape varieties include Chardonnay and Italian Riesling, which bring a rich minerality.
About the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is a prestigious international wine competition that receives more than 15,000 entries annually. Its exclusively professional tasters evaluate the wines blindly with a single goal: to select those of the highest quality, without any prejudice based on the reputation of the label or appellation. The competition, which began in 1994, is recognized worldwide as one of the best events in its category.
You can find photos of the ceremony in our Flickr album.
Press contact:
Benoît Carion
benoit.carion@vinopres.com
