Viticultural Excellence Without Borders

The 2026 edition of the Citadelles du Vin International Wine Competition took place on June 13, 2026, in Bourg-sur-Gironde, near Bordeaux. Renowned for its independence, rigor, and excellence, the competition has been organized by the Concours des Vins association since 2000 and is officially recognized by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV).

This year's event brought together 45 professional wine judges from 19 countries, who evaluated 369 wines from 16 wine-producing nations. A total of 108 medals were awarded, including 8 Grand Gold, 82 Gold, and 18 Silver medals, along with 12 Special Awards.

Portugal achieved outstanding success, winning 4 of the 12 Special Awards, while exceptional wines from Brazil, Spain, France, Italy, North Macedonia, Mexico, Peru, and other countries also received top honors. The results highlight the diversity and quality of wine production worldwide and reinforce the competition's commitment to recognizing excellence across all wine categories.

As a member of VINOFED, the World Federation of Major International Wine and Spirits Competitions, Citadelles du Vin offers winners enhanced international visibility through the Wine-Searcher platform.

Key Figures
45 professional wine tasters (oenologists, sommeliers, buyers, critics, and wine journalists)
369 wines from 16 countries
108 medals: 8 Grand Gold, 82 Gold, 18 Silver
12 Special Awards

Participants from Europe, Latin America, France, and other wine-producing regions around the world.

All results : https://www.citadellesduvin.com/palmares/resultats/

Meganoir 2023 Takes Top Honors as Switzerland Leads the Competition

The 19th edition of the Mondial du Merlot & Assemblages 2026 brought together 417 wines in Sierre, Switzerland, on 19–20 May, evaluated by an international jury of wine experts from 12 countries. Recognized as the world’s only international wine competition entirely dedicated to the Merlot family, the competition was held under the patronage of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), VINOFED, and the Swiss Union of Oenologists (USOE). A total of 116 medals were awarded, including 2 Grand Gold Medals, 73 Gold Medals and 41 Silver Medals, confirming the outstanding quality and diversity of Merlot wines worldwide.

The competition’s highest distinction went to Meganoir 2023, produced by Les Trois Terres (Morges, Vaud), which achieved the top score of the 2026 edition. The wine received a Grand Gold Medal, the Best Blend Award, and the prestigious VINOFED Award for Best Red Wine. The international jury highlighted its remarkable complexity, intense black fruit character, elegant minerality and exceptional persistence, placing Meganoir 2023 at the forefront of global Merlot excellence.

Switzerland once again confirmed its leadership in Merlot production, with remarkable performances from the regions of Ticino and Valais. In Ticino, Chiar di Luna 2025 by Delea Angelo SA was awarded Best Merlot Rosé / White Wine, while Arca Rubra 2019 by Tenuta Arca Rubra received the Best Older Vintage Award and Millevolti Rosso Riserva 2021 by Fumagalli SA was recognized as the Best Organic Wine. From Valais, Fernand Cina Merlot 2024 by Fernand Cina SA earned the title of Best Swiss Pure Merlot, praised for its aromatic richness, balance and refined tannin structure.

The international dimension of the competition was highlighted by France’s success, with Cap Sud Merlot 2025 by SAS Alma Cersius (Coteaux de Béziers) receiving the award for Best Foreign Pure Merlot, demonstrating the global versatility and quality potential of the Merlot grape across different terroirs.

The prestigious Gran Maestro du Merlot 2026 Award, which recognizes outstanding consistency across three consecutive vintages, was awarded to Cave François et Mathieu Constantin (Valais, Switzerland) for its Merlot Barrique 2021, 2022 and 2023. This distinction celebrates technical expertise, dedication and long-term commitment to excellence.

The 2026 edition of the Mondial du Merlot & Assemblages once again confirmed the elegance, diversity and international reputation of Merlot wines. The winning producers were celebrated in Zurich during the official awards ceremony, followed by the Festival of Award-Winning Merlots and VINEA On Tour, bringing together wine professionals, enthusiasts and producers from around the world.

Mondial du Merlot & Assemblages 2026 once again proved that exceptional Merlots.

The Full List of Competition Winners is available on the website https://www.mondial-du-merlot.com/#palmares

The 29th Mondial des Pinots, held in Sierre, Switzerland, brought together 875 wines from 15 countries, evaluated by an international jury of 52 experts representing 16 countries. Organized under the patronage of the OIV, VINOFED, and the Swiss Union of Oenologists (USOE), the competition once again confirmed its status as one of the world’s leading events dedicated to Pinot wines.

The overall quality was exceptional, with 239 medals awarded, including 6 Grand Gold Medals, 137 Gold Medals, and 96 Silver Medals.

The competition’s highest honor, Best Wine of the Competition, was awarded to the 2024 Malvoisie Grain Noble from Cave Adrien et Maurice Zufferey (Valais, Switzerland). This sweet Pinot Gris impressed the jury with its aromatic richness, balance, and remarkable length, highlighting the extraordinary potential of Pinot varieties.

Swiss producers dominated the top awards. Among the six Grand Gold Medal winners were:

Skript Pinot Noir Réserve Gallispitz Winterthur 2024 (Rutishauser-DiVino SA), named Best Swiss Pinot Noir.

Nauer Weissburgunder Prestige 2025 (Nauer Weine), winner of Best Pinot Blanc.

Three Grand Gold-winning wines from Valais, reinforcing the region’s reputation for excellence.

Saint-Martin 2023 Pinot Gris passerillé from Cave de La Côte, completing the list of top-scoring wines.

The prestigious Gran Maestro Pinot Noir Award, recognizing excellence across three consecutive vintages, was jointly awarded to Weingut zur Alten Post (Graubünden) and Nadine Saxer (Zurich), honoring their consistency and long-term quality.

Several special awards highlighted the diversity of Pinot styles. The VINOFED Red Award went to Gamme Collection Pinot Noir Château des Crêtes 2024, while Best Pinot Gris was awarded to Pinot Gris 2025 from Cave Morel. Other notable winners included Rosé Promesse de Soleil 2025 (Best Rosé/Blanc de Noirs), Cuvée Excellence 2018 from Mauler & Cie (Best Sparkling Wine), Pinot Noir Pur Sang 2022 (Best Organic Pinot), and Fontenailles Saint-Triphon Ollon 2023 (Best Blend).

The 2026 results once again demonstrated the remarkable diversity, elegance, and international quality of Pinot wines, while confirming Switzerland’s leading position among the world’s top Pinot-producing nations.

The Full List of Competition Winners is available on the website: http://www.mondial-des-pinots.com/

The most important International Wine Contest in Eastern Europe

The 23rd edition of the VINARIUM International Wine Contest took place from 28-31 May 2026 in Ploiesti, Romania, confirming its position as the most important international wine competition in Eastern Europe. The event was organized by ASER Consulting & Management in partnership with the Association of Authorized Tasters Romania (ADAR), under the patronage of the OIV and VINOFED, with FIJEV as partner.

Main figures
A total of 1,346 wine samples from 20 countries were evaluated, submitted by 233 producers and operators. International participation accounted for 35.4% of entries. The competition included still wines, sparkling wines and spirits.

Jury
The evaluation was conducted by 41 international judges from 16 countries, organized into 7 tasting panels. All samples were scored using a consensus-based methodology.

Results
The competition awarded:
21 Grand Gold Medals
376 Gold Medals
19 Silver Medals

Only 30% of entries received medals, in accordance with OIV regulations. The final medal threshold was 88.67 points.

Highlights
A key moment of the 2026 edition was the official twinning between Tinutul Vinului Prahova and the Echansonnerie des Papes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Romanian Pelinuri were also evaluated hors concours as part of a special study on aromatized wine-based beverages.

ENOVART - Wine Label Contest
The ENOVART by VINARIUM selected 21 finalist label designs, with winners announced on 15 June 2026. The initiative highlights the importance of packaging and visual identity in premium wine positioning.

More information: iwcb.ro

Full results: here

The 12th edition of the Danube Wine Challenge, held from June 3–5, 2026 at Château Béla, once again positioned Slovakia as a key hub in the international wine scene.

The competition brought together around 50 expert judges from four continents, who blind-tasted a record number of wine samples from 11 countries, reinforcing its status as one of the most influential wine competitions worldwide.

Strong international participation and record quality

This edition stood out for its diversity of origins and the high quality of entries, with a strong presence of producers from Slovakia, Spain, and Central Europe, alongside wines from France, Italy, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Australia, and Argentina.

Prix VINOFED – Champion Wines

The Prix VINOFED and the title of Champion were awarded to the following wines: Sauvignon 2025 from Predium Vráble winery; Cabernet Franc Rosé 2025 from VINIDI winery (Báb); Dunaj 2023 from BORVIN Gbelce winery; and Bóna Noria – Svoj sen – Veltlínske zelené sparkling wine 2023 from Bóna Bátorove Kosihy winery.

A global wine meeting point

The competition, a member of VINOFED and held under the patronage of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the International Union of Oenologists (UIOE), reinforces its position as a leading platform for international wine evaluation.

Impact on tourism and the industry

The event is supported by the national tourism promotion organization SLOVAKIA TRAVEL. Beyond the competition itself, the event highlighted Slovakia’s growing potential as a Wine Tourism destination, integrating wine, culture, and territory. Side activities such as vineyard visits, guided tastings, and professional meetings fostered valuable exchange between producers and international experts.

Beyond the competition itself, the event highlighted Slovakia’s growing potential as a Wine Tourism destination, integrating wine, culture, and territory. Side activities such as vineyard visits, guided tastings, and professional meetings fostered valuable exchange between producers and international experts.

Outlook

The full official results are available in the document published by the organizers, ensuring transparency and global accessibility of the competition outcomes.

More INFO: here

Full results available: danubewine.sk

Record Number of Entries and Prestigious International Awards at the VinAgora Wine Competition

This year’s VinAgora International Wine Competition attracted greater interest than ever before. A total of 1,054 wines from 17 countries were entered into Central Europe’s prestigious wine competition. The international field was particularly strong, with 239 foreign entries arriving from countries including Spain, Brazil, France, Italy, Argentina, and New Zealand.

The 76-member international jury was supported by the WineCompass judging system, which ensured a fast, accurate, and transparent evaluation process throughout the competition. This year’s edition awarded 17 Grand Gold medals, 220 Gold medals, and 100 Silver medals. VinAgora also successfully continued its Spotlight Varieties program, which this year highlighted Riesling and Merlot. Altogether, 64 Riesling and 59 Merlot wines were entered into the initiative, resulting in a TOP 25 list for both categories.

This year’s competition also announced the Prix VINOFED awards in the categories of white wine, red wine, rosé, and traditional method sparkling wines.

RESULTS: vinagora.hu

The international competition Bacchus 2026, regarded as Spain’s leading wine contest, has officially released its full list of medal winners, further strengthening its position as a key event in the global wine calendar.

In this edition, a total of 557 wines and vermouths and 33 spirits, selected from 1,540 entries, have been awarded the competition’s top distinctions: Grand Bacchus Gold, Bacchus Gold and Bacchus Silver medals.

Spain leads the medal standings, reaffirming its prominence in the international wine scene. At the same time, Bacchus reinforces its role as a major Ibero-American showcase, with strong representation from Mexico, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Portugal. The international lineup is further completed by entries from the Czech Republic, Italy, Georgia, Australia, Germany and Slovakia.

One of the highlights of Bacchus 2026 has been the awarding of 51 Grand Bacchus Gold medals, a distinction reserved for wines scoring over 93 points by the competition’s tasting panel.

Among them, the following were recognized as the best wines of the competition:
• Best White Wine: Heredad Altos de Talana Paraje 2022 (DO Bierzo)
• Best Rosé Wine: 1300 Estate Rosé 2025 (Brazil)
• Best Red Wine: Alceño Selección 2020 (DO Jumilla)
• Best Sparkling Wine: Kripta 1935 2016

These awards are granted by the World Federation of Major International Wine & Spirits Competitions (VINOFED), reinforcing the international prestige of the contest.

In its twenty-fourth edition, Bacchus confirms its status as one of the world’s leading wine competitions, backed by the rigor and independence of the Unión Española de Catadores as organizing body, and by the participation of around one hundred top-tier international experts, including Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, sommeliers, importers, buyers and specialized wine communicators.

The complete results: concursobacchus.es

Strasbourg 2026 strengthens its role as a global wine reference

Strasbourg reaffirms its position as one of the leading international wine platforms following the successful hosting, on March 14–15, 2026, of the 28th Mondial des Vins Blancs Strasbourg alongside the first edition of the European Red & Rosé Wine Contest.

The complete results: mondial-vins-blancs.com

This year’s Mondial des Vins Blancs attracted strong participation, with 546 samples evaluated by 60 international judges from 26 countries, confirming its global relevance and reach.

A total of nine countries were awarded medals—Germany, France, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Ukraine—highlighting the competition’s diversity and international competitiveness.

The Grand Jury Prize, awarded ex aequo, recognized two estates from Alsace, reaffirming the region’s leadership in premium white wines.

Meanwhile, the Czech Republic stood out by winning the VINOFED Awards for both still and sparkling wines, consolidating its growing prominence on the international stage.

At the conclusion of this latest edition, 796 medals were awarded : 138 Grand Gold medals, 621 Gold medals and 37 Silver medals

We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to all the winners of the 2026 Vinalies Internationales!

Our new website is now live, bringing together all the competitions with a brand-new dedicated winners page.

Find out the results of the 2026 Vinalies Internationales right here. Are you one of the competition’s new winners?
Are you a producer?
Go to the "Winners" tab.
Select the "Vinalies Internationales" competition and the year "2026". All the competition results are displayed

You can narrow down your search by entering your sector in the "Company" field

The complete results: r.oenologues-de-france.com

The World Wine Selection team is thrilled to unveil the Top Classifications by Category for the Tops SMV 2025 edition! This year is especially remarkable—set against a backdrop of economic and climatic challenges, with a noticeable decrease in consumption.

Yet, wine producers around the globe have risen to the occasion, showcasing their finest offerings.

The results speak for themselves: a record number of Gran Oro and Oro medals, highlighting the extraordinary quality and unwavering commitment to excellence that define this year’s selections.

For the first time, the SMV is unveiling the best products by category, setting a new standard of innovation in the world of wine.

The complete results: selectionsmondiales.ca

78 Great Gold Medals and 221 Gold Medals, these are the medals awarded by 50 technical international tasters during the tastings held on 20th and 21th September last. 1001 wines registered by 372 wineries from 17 countries of the world, these are the numbers of the 33th edition of the Mondial des Vins Extrêmes, the only international wine competition expressly dedicated to wines produced by heroic viticulture.

Furthermore, 17 special prizes were awarded in the different categories. Below you can download the list of the award winning wines and the special prizes.

The complete results: mondialvinsextremes.com

The 30th edition of the Catad’Or World Wine Awards and the 5th edition of the Catad’Or World Spirits Awards concluded successfully in Chile, reinforcing the event’s global reputation. This year, over 1,350 samples from 18 countries participated. The awards ceremony, held at Monticello Events Center and streamed worldwide, gathered more than 400 industry members, diplomats, media, and authorities.

In the 2025 competition, Catad’Or World Wine Awards granted 346 medals (31 Grand Gold and 315 Gold), while the Spirits Awards granted 248 medals (33 Grand Gold, 83 Gold, and 132 Silver). Hungary was featured as the 2025 Guest Country of Honor, with its Béres Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2017 winning Best Foreign Wine.

Participants also enjoyed the Catad’Or Tour 2025, which included tastings, winery visits, cultural activities, and a Hungarian wine masterclass with a private concert. The event introduced new awards such as Best Gastronomic Wine and Best Dealcoholized Wine, and launched AI-supported tasting report sheets for all awarded wines.

The 2025 edition reaffirms Catad’Or’s commitment to showcasing global excellence, tradition, and innovation in wine and spirits.

The complete results: catador.cl