The 17th international organic wine and beer competition will take place on 17 and 18 January 2024. As a genuine showcase for organic product excellence, it will welcome some 2,000 competing wines and 150 beers. Organic producers from France and around the world will be able to register starting2 November through to 1 December 2023 to take part in the 2024 Millésime BIO Challenge!
NEW MEDALS FOR THE 2024 MILLÉSIME BIO CHALLENGE
For the 17th competition, 2,000 organic wines produced around the world and some 150 beers will be competing. The numbers are a testament to the fact that more and more organic producers in France and worldwide are registering to take part in the world’s largest organic wine and beer tasting.
A new feature for 2024 is that the Challenge medals have been redesigned and now have an international dimension with a version in English. And to celebrate the third year the competition has been open to beers, a dedicated medal will also soon been revealed!
A preview of awarded wines and beers, designated by panels of experts, will be held during the digital exhibition and then available for free-pour tastings at the Challenge Bar at Millésime BIO, due to take place in Montpellier from 29 to 31 January 2024.
The 2023 edition of the Millésime BIO Challenge singled out 536 wines and 30 beers for awards, divided respectively between 232 and 5 gold medals, 232 and 13 silver medals and 72 and 12 bronze medals.
AN OUTSTANDING SOMMELIER TO BECOME PANEL CHAIR
To chair the panel of 400 professional judges, the Millésime BIO Challenge is this year welcoming Brazilian sommelier Gaby Benicio who received the Michelin sommelier award in 2023. The accolade recognises the male or female sommelier of the year according to the Michelin Guide. Alongside chef Amélie Darvas, Gaby Benicio is one of the duo at the helm of the Äponem restaurant located in western Hérault, southern France, which has been awarded its first Michelin star along with a green star. Her professionalism and commitment to sustainable and responsible gourmet food make her an obvious choice as panel chair.
“Chef Amélie Darvas and myself have long been committed to sustainable and responsible gastronomy. We forage for wild food and our kitchen garden is organic. Our wine list features entirely organic listings or endorsements which, like biodynamics, have an organic basis. This is important to us – we are convinced that biodiversity, the soils and water quality need to be protected. But it is also important to offer explanations about this approach, which is what we do in our restaurant.
The Millésime BIO Challenge does so on a different scale, by turning the spotlight on the variety of organic wines available worldwide. It is an honour for me to chair the competition, and an honour which is in keeping with my commitments”.
If you would like to join the judging panel this year, please let us know by sending us an email.
As a reminder, the digital version of Millésime BIO 2024 will take place on 22 and 23 January, followed by the in-person exhibition at the Montpellier exhibition centre, from 29 to 31 January 2024.
MILLÉSIME BIO, THE WORLD’S LEADING EXHIBITION FOR ORGANIC WINE AND BEVERAGE ALCOHOL
With 1,500 exhibitors from twenty countries, Millésime BIO is the largest organic wine exhibition in the world, attracting several thousands of trade buyers every year from the main consumer countries, along with new markets. Since 2019, it has also been open to organically produced beers, spirits and ciders. Millésime BIO is organised by SUDVINBIO, the Occitania marketing association for organic winegrowers, which groups together producers and marketers from the Occitania region, the leading organic region in Europe.
www.millesime-bio.com
