Concours Mondial de Bruxelles: 14 Grand Gold Medals to Italian wines

The top Italian wines were Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2012 of La Togata and Sicily Maria Costanza Riserva 2013 by Milazzo Vini, respectively “International Revelation 2018 red wine” and “International Revelation 2018 organic wine”. However, it is Italy as a whole, per tradition, that “broke the bank” at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, one of the most prestigious and rigorous international wine competitions in its 25th edition, held in China, counting a total of 434 award-winning wines, of which there were 123 “Gold Medals” and, above all, 14 “Grand Gold Medals”.
Together with the two “revelations”, there were also the 72100 Negroamaro 2016 of Cantine Risveglio, the Sicilian Adorè Bianco 2016 of Casa di Grazia, Vermentino of Sardinia Arvali Bianco 2017 of Ferruccio Deiana, Vermentino of Sardinia Contissa Bianco 2017 of Cantina Trexenta, the Sicilian Duca di Montalbo 2004 and the Selezione di Famiglia 2016 Bianco Superiore by Milazzo Vini, Brunello di Montalcino Jacopus 2013 and Brunello di Montalcino 2013 by La Togata, Primitivo di Manduria Papale Linea Oro 2015 by Varvaglione, Salentum Negroamaro Primitivo 2013 by Scavia Winery, Primitivo di Manduria Terra Platinum 2015 by Feudi Salentini and the Tureis Bianco 2013 by Pitars (www.concoursmondial.com).
France is on the top step of the most awarded countries (in all 39, from “A” of Albania to “U” of the US) receiving 688 medals (30 "Grand Gold Medals"), ahead of Spain, 525 (21 "Grand Gold Medals") and Italy, 434, even though Portugal did better in "Grand Gold Medals", 17 wines awarded, out of a total of 324. Position n. 5 went to China that grew 68% in wines awarded for a total of 131 awards (5 "Grand Gold Medals") compared to 78 medals in 2017, thanks to wines produced in the regions of Ningxia, Xinjiang, Hebei, Shandong and Beijing, mainly from international grape varieties: Cabernet-Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay and Marselan.
Another interesting aspect was the increase in the percentage of organic and biodynamic wines to win medals, from 24.6% in 2017 to 30.4% in 2018.