Spirits Selection celebrates its 25th event in Italy
With entry numbers reaching a record high this year, the 25th Spirits Selection by CMB competition opens in Treviso, Italy, the home of grappa but also of quality wines and fine cuisine.
Brussels, 28 September 2023 – For its 25th edition, the competition is travelling to Italy. “We are delighted and proud to be holding our 25th Spirits Selection by CMB in Treviso”, says Baudouin Havaux, chairman of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. “The competition aims to be a bellwether for markets trends and Italy is a spirits producer country offering an extensive range of products. Grappa is an integral part of the history of the Veneto region, which also witnessed the emergence of the Spritz tradition. This magnificent region is home to many international tourist destinations, like Venice, Treviso and Padova, but also picture-postcard landscapes such as the Unesco-listed hills of Prosecco de Conegliano and Valdobbiadene, along with quality wines and spirits and fine cuisine”.
At international level, Spirits Selection is a benchmark competition. This year, the number of entries has soared by 17%, underscoring the fact that its reputation for rigour and professionalism acts as a magnet for new producers who place their trust in a reliable competition. Its independence, stringent standards and tasting process offer reassurance for consumers who can buy medal-winning spirits with complete confidence. Awarded spirits are selected with integrity by professional judges for their quality, character and balance.
This year, 138 judges representing 33 nationalities will be in Treviso to kick off the tastings.
The 2023 competition has been organised in conjunction with the Veneto regional council, the Confindustria Veneto Est, the Fondazione Marca Treviso, the Banca Prealpi, the Association for the Heritage of the Prosecco de Conegliano Valdobbiadene Hills, the Prosecco DOC and Valdobbiadene DOCG producers’ organisations and the national association of grappa and spirits tasters ANAG.
On the first day, the judges attended a series of masterclasses introducing grappa, Italian brandies and baijiu, providing an opportunity to review the sensory and flavour profiles of the three categories ahead of the blind judging sessions which start on Friday 29 September at the Best Western Premier BHR hotel in Treviso.
The competition offers a valuable opportunity to promote grappa. On the opening night of the competition, Stefano Bottega, chairman of the wine and spirits group with Confindustria Veneto Est stated: “Grappa undoubtedly epitomises our national and regional identity. It is a spirit which is also popular with international consumers and therefore it is important to enhance its visibility. It is also an example of the circular economy – fuel is extracted from the spent pomace to drive the stills and oil with antioxidant properties is produced from the grape seeds. I would like to thank the institutions for their support and their determination to help host Spirits Selection in Treviso. This is a major event which, I have no doubt, will showcase our region and our grappa worldwide”.
About the competition Spirits Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an international touring competition where spirits are entered by producers to be judged by a panel of experts. Our experienced judges come from around the world to taste competing spirits with a single-minded purpose, and that is to select spirits of irreproachable quality with no biases stemming from the label or a category’s prestige. The competition is one of the leading events of its kind worldwide.
Press contact :
Thierry Heins
thierry.heins@vinopres.com
