The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles chooses the iconic Douro for its 2027 edition
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles | CMB is very pleased to announce that its 2027 Red and White Wines Session, as well as the Sweet and Fortified Wines Session, will take place, for the first time in the history of the CMB, in the enchanted wine valley: the Douro Valley (Portugal). Both Sessions will be held from May 14 to 16, 2027.
A historic debut
This decision, announced in partnership with the Douro Intermunicipal Community, marks an important milestone for the competition, which continues its mission to promote the world’s great wine terroirs. By hosting the CMB, the Douro will bring together several hundred international tasters, buyers, sommeliers, and journalists among the most influential in the sector.
“After highlighting the emerging vineyards of the wine planet, we are returning to Europe, to one of the world’s most historic and emblematic terroirs, the birthplace of the illustrious Port wine,” says Quentin Havaux, CEO of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.
More than hosting an international wine competition, the Douro sees the singularity of its territory recognised on a global stage. Here, wine is far more than a product: it is heritage, collective memory, economic life and the expression of a centuries-old relationship between people, river, schist and landscape.
When Douro created the Demarcated Region’s concept
The Douro is widely recognised as the world’s oldest demarcated and regulated wine region. In 1756, long before the concept of appellation of origin became widespread in the wine world, the Portuguese Crown established rules, boundaries and control mechanisms to protect the authenticity and quality of Douro wines, a pioneering moment in global wine history.
Few wines in the world can claim to have shaped trade routes, built international reputations and influenced diplomatic habits over centuries. Port wine belongs to that rare category. Driven by international trade, particularly with the British market from the 18th century onwards, it became one of the first great global brands associated with a specific territory: the Douro, a landscape of terraces, schist and river, where the demands of nature were transformed into value, beauty and identity.
A classified landscape
The Alto Douro Wine Region, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage landscape since 2001, is today one of Portugal’s most recognisable international images. Its terraced vineyards, carved into steep slopes along the Douro River, are both a working wine landscape and a cultural symbol of human resilience, knowledge and continuity.
The region covers around 250,000 hectares, of which more than 43,000 hectares are planted with vines. It is divided into three sub-regions, from west to east: Baixo Corgo, Cima Corgo and Douro Superior. With a markedly continental climate and more than 116 authorised grape varieties, the Douro combines old vineyards, historic estates and a new generation of producers who continue to project the future of the region.
Among the most emblematic red varieties are Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Sousão, and Tinta Barroca. Among the white varieties, Rabigato, Malvasia Fina, Moscatel Galego Branco, and Viosinho stand out.
The choice of the Douro represents much more than an honorary distinction. It is a strategic opportunity to strengthen the international visibility of the region, enhance the global positioning of its wines, promote wine tourism and highlight the authenticity, hospitality and economic potential of the territory.
The event will also be an opportunity to present the contemporary Douro: a region investing in education, knowledge, sustainability, entrepreneurship and new conditions to attract younger generations. A Douro that preserves its identity without being confined by nostalgia; a territory rooted in tradition, but increasingly open to innovation, renewable energies, sustainable tourism, technology and talent attraction.
For João Gonçalves, President of the Douro Intermunicipal Community, “This choice distinguishes not only the excellence of Douro wines, but also the history, authenticity and hospitality of a unique region, where vineyard, landscape and identity have walked side by side for centuries”.
“Hosting the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an extraordinary opportunity to present the Douro to decision-makers, specialists, buyers, journalists and opinion leaders from all over the world. We want those who come to the Douro to discover much more than a wine region: we want them to discover a living, welcoming, innovative territory, ready to build the future,” adds the President of the Douro Intermunicipal Community.
More than an international recognition, this decision opens a new window of global visibility for the Douro and affirms a territory where wine remains one of the most powerful expressions of culture, economy, hospitality and future.
About the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
The CMB is a prestigious international wine competition that receives more than 15,000 entries annually across its Sessions and competitions. Its tasters, all professionals, evaluate wines blind with a single objective: to select those of the highest quality, without any bias based on label or appellation reputation.
Founded in 1994, the CMB is now recognized worldwide as one of the leading events of its kind.
More than just a competition, the CMB also provides each participant with concrete marketing tools to better promote their wines and communicate more effectively. It has also developed the CMB Experience network, bringing together wine bars, restaurants, and retailers across the globe that offer a selection of award-winning wines. This creates international visibility and unique opportunities to showcase these wines worldwide.
This ability to go beyond tasting makes the CMB truly unique, offering high value-added services to producers, whether they are medal winners or recipients of the CMB MERIT label.
Press contact
Benoît Carion
benoit.carion@vinopres.com
