The 33rd CMB “Red and White Wines Session” to be held in Yerevan, Armenia, in 2026
June 12, 2025 – The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is delighted to announce that its prestigious Red and White Wines Session will be hosted by Yerevan, Armenia, from 21 to 23 May 2026. This landmark event marks a significant moment for Armenia as it will host the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles for the very first time, opening its doors to the global wine community.
During the traditional handover ceremony, in the presence of delegations from Armenia and the City of Yinchuan, Baudouin Havaux, President of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, expressed his excitement about bringing the esteemed competition to Armenia.
“With its millennia-old winemaking heritage, Armenia offers a truly unique and authentic experience for our international judges and guests,” Baudouin Havaux stated. “Its connection to wine runs deep. We are thrilled to showcase this rich history, vibrant indigenous grape varieties, and dynamic modern wine industry to the world.”
Zaruhi Muradyan, Executive Director of the Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia, emphasized the significance of this milestone for Armenia’s wine sector:
“Hosting the Red and White Wines Session of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is not only a great honor, but also a strategic opportunity for Armenia—a country undergoing an exciting wine renaissance. It is a unique chance to present our millennia-old winemaking heritage, distinctive terroirs, and rare indigenous grape varieties to the global wine community. This marks a pivotal step in affirming Armenia’s place on the world wine map—not only as an authentic wine country, but also as a vibrant and forward-looking player in today’s international wine industry.”
A Timeless Tradition: The history and renaissance of Armenian winemaking
The history of Armenian winemaking is attested by millennium testimonies from ancient figures like Xenophon (430-354 BC) who noted “tasteful wines” in Armenian villages, Herodotus (484-425 BC) who described “barrels full of Armens’ wine” imported to Mesopotamia, and Strabo (64 BC-24 AD) who called Armenia an “enormous and fruitful country, where exceptional wine is made”. The Kingdom of Van was also a cradle of divine and royal drink, as evidenced by cuneiform inscriptions. Wine-presses have been discovered at historic sites such as Agarak and Zvartnots.
The Middle Ages saw wine deeply integrated into Christianity in Armenia, with practices like the blessing of grapes and scriptural references to wine in the Eucharist. Even during the Soviet Union era, Armenia was a significant contributor, providing 25% of all brandy and 3% of wines made in the Soviet Union in the 1980s.
Today, Armenia is experiencing a renaissance in its wine industry, characterized by modern and traditional wineries, significant investments in vineyards and facilities, and the adoption of advanced technology to improve production processes.
A Land of Unique Terroir and Indigenous Grapes
Armenia has about 13,000 hectares of vineyards spread across five main regions—Armavir, Ararat, Aragatsotn, Tavush, and Vayots Dzor—ranging from 400m to 1800m in altitude. Its volcanic soils and varied climates create ideal conditions for viticulture.
The country is home to over 350 native grape varieties, with 55 actively cultivated and used in wine sector. Key examples include:
- Sev Areni: A red grape from Vayots Dzor with 120-year-old vines.
- Voskehat: A revered white grape known as the “Golden Berry”.
- Kangoun: A versatile white variety.
- Haghtanak: A ruby-colored red grape with cherry and blackberry notes.
- Lalvari & Banants: Aromatic white grapes from Tavush.
The unique volcanic soils, diverse altitudes, and significant diurnal temperature variations across Armenian wine regions create ideal conditions for producing high-quality grapes with distinct characteristics.
About the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is a prestigious international wine competition, established in 1994, splitted in Sessions and Selections. It evaluates over 15,000 entries annually with an exclusively professional tasting panel, ensuring a blind tasting process focused solely on quality. The competition is globally recognized for its rigorous standards and commitment to identifying the world’s finest wines.
Press Contact:
Benoît Carion
benoit.carion@vinopres.com
For more information:
- Vine and Wine Foundation of Armenia: www.vwfa.am
- Concours Mondial de Bruxelles: concoursmondial.com
