The 32nd edition of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles begins in Yinchuan, China
干杯! (Gānbēi!) The first bottles are served, and the blind tastings of the Red and White Wines Session of the 32nd Concours Mondial de Bruxelles can now begin. This 10th June marks a historic moment for the CMB, as it returns to China for the second time in its history, in the picturesque city of Yinchuan, in the Ningxia Region. Over the next 3 days, no less than 7,165 red and white wines from 49 countries will be blind tasted by 375 professional tasters from 56 different nationalities.
It is no coincidence that Ningxia was chosen for this prestigious 32nd edition of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. The wine region of the Helan Mountain foothills in Ningxia is recognized as one of the best regions for viticulture in China. 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 for wine production. This region has been attracting international attention for its exceptional wines and rapid development in the wine industry.
The 32nd Concours Mondial de Bruxelles takes place seven years after the successful CMB 2018 in Haidian. Chairman Baudouin Havaux praised the remarkable transformation of the Ningxia wine region, describing it as “an international benchmark in just one decade – often referred to as the Bordeaux of China.”
“Hosting our competition here is a tribute to the dynamism, the quality of Chinese wines, and the vision of a region that has combined terroir, innovation, and ambition,” Baudouin Havaux said.
In a time of global uncertainty for the wine industry, Mr. Havaux emphasized the role of the Concours as both an economic and cultural driver: “Wine is not a necessity, but it is a living heritage, a tool of human connection, a bridge between civilizations.”
He also welcomed signs of recovery in the Chinese wine market, as highlighted at the recent ProWine Hong Kong fair, where a majority of professionals expect growth to resume as early as 2025.
The Chairman concluded by dedicating this edition to his father, Louis Havaux, founder of the Concours, on the occasion of his 90th birthday:
“He passed down the spirit of dialogue, discovery and exchange that defines the DNA of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.”
Zhao Xuhui, Member of the Standing Committee of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Party Committee andSecretary of the Yinchuan Municipal Party Committee:
“Wine is not only a beverage, but also a language of the world and an envoy of civilization, conveying the tenacity of cultivators, the wisdom of brewers, and the deep affection of tasters. Just as CMB’s key purposes state, “Let every bottle of wine be a messenger of the world.” Here, I sincerely invite friends from all over the world to come to Yinchuan, stroll through the tens of thousands of mu of grape gardens at the foot of the Helan Mountains, raise a glass and listen to the millennium-old stories of the south-like area beyond the Great Wall, and let the camel bells on the Silk Road and the aroma of wine from modern civilization interweave into a new poem.”
Ningxia, the emerging wine capital of China
Yinchuan, located in the center of mainland China, is the capital of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and a key city in the “Belt and Road” initiative. The region has great wine ambitions, focusing on improving wine region infrastructure, fostering value chain innovation, developing integrated cultural tourism, 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 1,000 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, creating wines with distinctive character and exceptional quality.
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 has become a prestigious calling card for Chinese wine. The red grape varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Gernischt, Syrah, and Marselan, offering 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.
Ningxia’s unique geographical position, between the Helan Mountains and the Yellow River, combined with its continental climate and exceptional terroir, has made it one of China’s most promising wine regions. The competition will introduce its 350 judges from around the world to the assets of a wine region that combines magnificent landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and quality wines. These judges will undoubtedly become the new ambassadors of a region that truly deserves international recognition.
About the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
The CMB 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.
More information on concoursmondial.com
The results of CMB 2025 will be published on concoursmondial.com on 26th June.
You can find photos of the competition in our Flickr album flickr.com/photos/concoursmondial/albums
Press contact:
Benoît Carion
benoit.carion@vinopres.com
