Pink wines are gaining importance and market share, and the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles could hardly ignore this trend. It is a fascinating one, open to many interpretations—from a fashionable trend to an aperitif wine or even a beach wine.
Good, beautiful—or perhaps both?
Having a bottle of rosé on the table is undeniably pleasing to the eye, but I believe these considerations should now belong to the past. Over the years I have tasted rosés of great quality, and while changing market perception can be difficult, an initiative like the Rosé Selection organized by the CMB can only be welcomed.
I still vividly remember the airport of Marseille, with its unmistakable “pink wave” of rosé bottles displayed in the shops near the departure gates. And I also remember the almost ritual respect with which vins de sable were served to me in Camargue. But we too can do our part, and I believe the time has come to encourage the public to look at rosé wines differently from how they have in the past.
That is why I consider it a real shame that this damned pandemic forced a change of venue for the Rosé Selection. Initially planned in L’Aquila, it had to be moved back to its home base in Belgium.
It is nevertheless encouraging to see that, despite the difficult period, more than a thousand rosé wines were entered into the competition. They were divided into still, sparkling, semi-sparkling, and fortified rosé wines, with additional special awards for the “revelations” in the categories of still, sparkling, semi-dry, sweet, and organic.
It is no surprise that the “Best Rosé of the Competition” title went to a Provençal wine, La Madrague – Cuvée Charlotte, confirming the long-standing Provençal tradition in rosé production. But it was also extremely pleasing—perhaps forgive my bias—to see the Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo from Cantina Terzini among the revelation wines, almost as a reminder that Abruzzo would have been a wonderful host region for the competition.
One thing is certain: the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles does not stop.
The next appointment is scheduled from May 21 to 23 in Luxembourg City
