WINE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN PALERMO:THE “CONCOURS MONDIAL DE BRUXELLES”, ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL AWARDS IS ON STAGE FROM APRIL 23-25. THE 2010 EDITION WILL BE HELD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN ITALY.

There are seven thousand different wines enrolled in the competition and there will be 280 judges from 40 nations. Palermo is ready to host the “Concours Mondial de Bruxelles” (April 23 to 25), one of the most prestigious wine competitions in the world. This is a record edition, thanks to the Palermo Vine and Wine Institute of the Sicilian Region: a tribute to the wine production excellence and an important opportunity to highlight the image of Sicilian wine.
“It’s a way to bring attention to the origins of wine,” commented Dario Cartabellotta, Director of the Institute, to WineNews “in the heart of the Mediterranean, and also an important opportunity for all the wine producers on the island. It witnesses the attention Sicily shows for its territory in its wine, which is a common factor to all the producers (from 50 different countries) in the contest. It is an answer to those who, of late, had sustained the endorsement claiming they could make any kind of wine anywhere”.

The most experienced wine tasters from 40 different Nations will judge wines from all over the world. The contest was created in 1994 by Louis Havaux, founder of the Revue Belge des Vin and President of the International Federation of Journalists and writers on wine. After being hosted in Belgium, Portugal, Holland, France and Spain, the competition arrives in Italy, where for a few days, Palermo will be the world capital of wine.

The Sicilian edition is the result of a partnership between the organization of the contest directed by Thomas Costenoble and the Institute of Vine and Wine (www.vitevino.it) chaired by Leonardo Agueci and with the participation of the Institute of Statistics of the Catholic University of Luvain, the oldest and most prestigious University in Belgium, founded in 1425 by Pope Martin V.

And, maybe because of Sicilian appeal, 700 more wines are registered this year over last year’s edition, also due to the participation of more wines from the large production countries, Italy, France and Spain, and an increase in enrollment from the new world wine producing countries, including Chile, despite the difficulties with their political and economic situation, and the earthquake that hit the country in March.

But evidence that the world of wine in all its aspects, must turn to Internet with increasing attention has contributed to simplifying registration procedures, with half of the participants who enrolled online at www.concoursmondial.com.

Everything’s set then, to find the “Grand Gold Medals” the most prestigious awards of the “Wine World Championship ”, to be proclaimed on May 3, 2010.