The Italian island was selected by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles to host the session focusing on sparkling wines. The tastings will take place from 10 to 12 July in Alghero, located in the north-western part of the island.
Sardinia is renowned for its incredible natural beauty and rich history, but it is also a fertile land for winegrowing. Over the past few years, the quality of its wine production has grown constantly, increasingly establishing the region on the global map as a ‘wine island’.
The town of Alghero itself is a destination popular with history, gourmet food and culture enthusiasts. It is famous for its magnificent beaches, its preserved mediaeval ramparts and its picturesque historic centre. Alghero is also the ideal place to savour Mediterranean cuisine and seafood.
Creative producers
The production of semi-sparkling and sparkling wines in Alghero and across Sardinia is a testament to the ability of local producers to adapt and get their creative juices flowing. The island’s wineries have helped fuel remarkable progress for its sparkling wines, which are renowned for their unique character and their roots that run deep in local winemaking traditions. This growth is stoked by innovative exploration into native grape varieties.
“The current trend in wine production is illustrated by the semi-sparkling and sparkling wine sector, which has experienced constant growth worldwide. Sardinian wineries have also brought in new equipment and prepared themselves for a successful debut in the category, carving out a unique place for themselves”, says Mario Peretto, chairman of the Consorzio Alghero DOC. These are the reasons why Concours Mondial de Bruxelles selected the island to host the sparkling wine session of the competition. “This is a great opportunity for the entire regional department, which has been given the possibility to showcase its excellence to an international audience. The competition will be attended by 60 journalists, buyers, experts and influencers who will recount their experience of this fantastic island after discovering its landscapes and most significant wines”, added Mario Peretto.
Currently, over 110 semi-sparkling and sparkling wine labels are produced regionally, using different grape varieties. These include two excellent regional cultivars – Vermentino and Cannonau – alongside native grape varieties such as Torbato, Nuragus, Cagnulari, Malvasia, Vernaccia, Moscato and international grapes like Chardonnay.
The wines offer an alternative expression of the island’s native grape varieties, adding a new dimension to Sardinia’s winegrowing heritage.
The tastings will take place from 10 to 12 July 2024.
About the competition
The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles is an international competition where over 10,000 wines are entered by producers to be judged by a panel of experts. Our experienced judges taste the wines in the competition with one guiding principle, and that is to single out wines of irreproachable quality, with no bias stemming from the label or an appellation’s prestige. The Concours is one of the most significant international events of its kind.
