By the end of April 2009, the 16th CMB or Concours Mondial de Bruxelles – one of the biggest international wine contests in the world – took place in Spain. And as a matter of fact, Valencia turned out to be the capital of wine…tasters. During three days, the 16th CMB – which is, as we stated out already, one of the world’s biggest wine challenges, took place in this vibrant city in the south-east of Spain.

Baudouin Havaux, General Manager of Concours Mondial de Bruxelles: “CMB 2009 was another good vintage”.

Created on impulse by Belgian journalist Louis Havaux in February 1994, he and some friends wanted to organise a wine contest in a country producing no wine. So CMB was held for the very first time just two months later in Bruges.

This was an exploit in itself. Havaux having the ability to communicate easily within people “in the field”, 861 samples were recorded. With 29 participating countries, CMB directly got an international dimension and was set to a bright future.

Concours Mondial quickly reached cruising speed and success was growing with every single edition.

Producers of spirits wanted to join in, so 1999 saw the creation of the Brussels Spirits Award, which now has become a regular event within the yearly CMB.

To improve its international character, Concours Mondial decided to leave Belgium and Lisbon was the destination of choice in 2006, followed by Maastricht and Bordeaux in 2007 and 2008.

Regarding this year’s competition ground, Concours Mondial was hold on the premises of Feria Valencia, one of Spain’s biggest trade fair malls.

The opening of Vinoélite Fair, a singular rendezvous for top Iberian wine producers took place at the same time and channelled even more professionals to the spot.

Concerning this year’s competition, CMB could be mentioned in the Guinness Book of Records. 6289 samples were announced; more than 6200 different wines have been tasted by a team of 250 professionals from 40 different countries: engineer-oenologists, wine writers, specialized journalists, international purchasers, to name only a few.

More than 24000 bottles from 54 producing countries have been in the competition, 4600 litres of wine were slurped and spat out in blind tastings. As regards logistics, a team of 180 people was on hand and 2000 crystal glasses (some broken) were needed with 2550 litres of mineral water were swallowed.

Turmes Lylian,  group president of Jury 15 checking the ratings

Luxemburg participated only with three tasters, but the number of samples from our Moselle was impressive: with 92 samples, we were number nine in quantity, equal with Australia and far in front of Germany (18 samples) Concerning the results, they are listed just below.

A globalized wine market creates great opportunities but also big challenges for producers, distributors and consumers. A competition like CMB helps the first to compare and position their wines, as to identify opportunities for developments. It gives the second a guidelines catalogue of wines from all over the world, helping them to position their products.  Finally it helps consumers faced to an immense choice of wines to identify the bottles which should give them satisfaction. So next time you’re perplex in front of a well furbished shelve, just look for the Concours Mondial silver and gold dots on the neck of the bottles.

Dominique Rizzi,  group president of Jury 27, evaluating a new sample

List of winning wines from Luxemburg’s Moselle wine region

During this year’s CMB wine contest, hosted in Valencia, Luxemburg won 7 Gold Medals, 14 Silver Medals, plus one Silver Medal for Eau-de-Vie from the Moselle.

Rewarded with a CMB Gold Medal:

Crémant Poll-Fabaire Brut, Domaines Vinsmoselle Wormeldingen

Crémant Cuvée Brut , Domaine Kohll-Leuck aus Ehnen

Pinot Gris Kelterberg 2008, Domaine Kohll-Leuck aus Ehnen

Pinot Gris Stadtbredimus Dieffert GPC 2007, Caves St Remy – Desom Remich

Pinot Gris Wellenstein Foulschette GPC 2007, Caves St Remy – Desom Remich

Pinot Gris Wellenstein Foulschette GPC 2008, Domaines Vinsmoselle Wellenstein

Pinot Gris Sélection du Domaine GPC 2008, Domaine Mathes Wormeldingen

Rewarded with a CMB Silver Medal:

Crémant Bernard-Massard Sélection Brut, Caves Bernard-Massard Grevenmacher

Riesling de nos Rochers GPC 2007, Domaine St. Martin Remich

Riesling Charta Wousselt 2007, Domaine Kohll-Leuck

Pinot Blanc Haffgaard GPC 2007 Vin de Paille, Domaine Zenner

Riesling Hommelsberg GPC 2004 Vin de Glace, Domaine Zenner

Crémant Gales Private Cuvée, Blanc de Blancs Brut, Caves Gales Ellange-Gare,

Auxerrois Ehnen Kelterberg 2008, Domaine Kohll-Reuland Ehnen

Crémant Saint Cunibert Brut, Caves Krier Frères, Lot 50584

Crémant Saint Cunibert Brut, Caves Krier Frères, Lot 50630

Riesling Grand Premier Cru 2007, Caves Krier Frères

Pinot Blanc Ehnerberg 2008, Domaine Kohll-Reuland,

Riesling Palmberg GPC 2007 Domaine et Tradtion, Domaine Mme Aly Duhr et fils

Pinot Noir Lyra 2007, Domaine Schumacher-Knepper

Riesling Wintrange Felsberg GPC 2007, Domaine Schumacher-Knepper

as for Eau-de-Vie de Mirabelle,  Millésime 2006, Distillerie Kayser-Duhr Emile.

(This last silver medal has been accorded to a top grade fruit alcohol by the jury of the Brussels Spirit Award)

>>For more information about Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, look at www.concoursmondial.eu An annual event in the world of wine, the next CMB – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles takes place in Palermo in April 2010.

For more information call 0032-2-533 27 76. CMB is also on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Details about the small but interesting Luxemburg Moselle wine region can be found under www.vins-cremants.lu