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1 PRESS KIT

2 CONTENTS Editorial Medals and Special Prizes Competition Regulations Analytical Methods International Communication Citadelles 2016 and 2017 in figures Awards Ceremony The History of the Citadelles du Vin Practical Information Contacts & Partners p.3 p.4 p.5 p.6 p.7 p.8 p.9 p.10 p.11 p.12

3 EDITORIAL Wine professionals from all over the world are set to meet up for the competition s 17th edition: prestigious prizes are on offer. Once again, great emphasis will be placed on the diversity and quality of participating international wines. Over the course of 3 mornings of tastings in Bourg en Gironde, jurys made up exclusively of expert tasters (recognised wine professionals: sommeliers, buyers, oenologists, or wine critics and journalists) will elect the winners of each category The registration process is already well under way, and the award winners are set to be announced at the beginning of the high season, on the 17th June, just in time for Vinexpo Bordeaux. Gold Medals, Silver Medals and a series of Special Prizes will light up the Citadelles du Vin stand! Laurent Séramour, President 3

4 PRIZES Selected wines will be judged by some of the wine world s most respected figures (oenologists, sommeliers, buyers, as well as esteemed critics and journalists) MÉDAILLES As every year, GOLD and SILVER medals wll be awarded. The Special Prizes on offer for the 2017 edition FIJEV* SPECIAL PRIZE Spain *(International Federation of Wine and Spirits Journalists and Writers) SOMMELIERS SPECIAL PRIZE Best Cabernet Sauvignon DUAD s club* SPECIAL PRIZE Best Malbec *(DUAD Alumni Association) VINOFED* SPECIAL PRIZE Best Sweet White Wine *(World Federation of Major International Wine and Spirits competitions) SPECIAL PRIZES BY COUNTRY For each country with more than 10 participating wines, of which at least one receives a Gold Medal, a Country Special Prize will be awarded. 4

5 COMPETITION REGULATIONS Managed under the auspices of the OIV (International Organisation of Vine and Wine), the Citadelles du Vin competition is one of 14 member competitions of VINOFED (World Federation of Major International Wine and Spirits competitions). Strict standards mean that member competitions are recognised for their professionalism: the traceability of samples and each stage of the tasting are carefully monitored. The 3 days of tasting in Bourg en Gironde are open exclusively to wine professionals. The juries are made up of oenologists, sommeliers, buyers, alongside internationally respected critics and journalists. Strict parity is respected regarding the number of foreign members present in the competition juries, with a maximum of 2 French nationals for every 5 tasters. Approximately twenty nationalities are represented. 2 series of wines (a maximum of 45 wines per day), separated by a break of 15 minutes, are blind tasted by members seated at individual tables. Prizes may be awarded to a maximum of 30% of participating wines. 5

6 ANALYTICAL METHODS All competing wines are subject to analysis by an independent, COFRAC accredited laboratory (French Accreditation Committee). Analysis is carried out prior to tasting, in order to verify the compliance of competing wines with competition rules, and to make sure that entrants are competing in the correct category. Further checks are carried out after the tasting and the awards ceremony: random samples are taken, tasted, and analysed in order to ensure that they match up with the commercialised final product. All of these steps are entirely voluntary, ensuring the authenticity and excellence of all the medals awarded at the Citadelles du Vin. 6

7 Prizewinners backed up by a complete communication plan o Citadelles du Vin is backed up by an international communication plan, designed to support prizewinning wineries. o Wine buyers and specialised press are at the centre of this process. o Press releases are distributed in three languages to hundreds of contacts all over the world. o Special Prizes are awarded on the eve of VINEXPO Bordeaux, where prizewinning wines are promoted for the duration of the trade fair. o Results are also automatically released on partner sites (wine professionals, BtoB and BtoC platforms). o Advertisements are placed in specialist publications. o The results are directly released on the Citadelles du Vin website. (attracting over 11,000 visitors per year on average) o Distribution and sharing on social networks. 7

8 THE 2016 COMPETITION IN FIGURES o 45 tasters from 21 different nationalities o 143 Gold Medals, 147 Silver Medals, and 24 Special Prizes o Average price of a participating wine: (pre-tax) o Number of bottles of participating wines produced: 117,627,606 o 75% of wines from outside France THE 2017 COMPETITION IN FIGURES o 1074 participating wines from 31 nations o 45 tasters from 18 nationalities 8

9 AWARDS CEREMONY ON THE EVE OF VINEXPO BORDEAUX Recently recognised by Lonely Planet as the world s best city to visit, Bordeaux is also home to one of the wine world s most well known trade shows. VINEXPO needs no introduction The Citadelles du Vin awards ceremony will take place on the eve of Bordeaux VINEXPO s opening day. The date is set, and on Saturday June 17, the prize winners will receive their well-earned offical distinctions. The awards ceremony will take place a stones throw from the Parc des Expositions, at Bordeaux s Casino Barrière. Ideally placed between the lake and the town centre, the Casino is emblematic of Bordeaux s famously laid back way of life. A tasting of prizewinning wines will follow the awards ceremony. 9

10 CITADELLES DU VIN Since 2000, the Citadelles du Vin international competition has been dedicated to raising awareness of the diversity and quality of high-end wines from all around the world. Organised in Bourg en Gironde by the CDV (Concours des Vins, an association constituted in accordance with the French law of 1901 concerning non-profit organizations), Citadelles du Vin is named in honour of the town s two magnificent citadels, both of which form an important part of the Aquitaine region s cultural heritage. THE HISTORY OF THE NAME The Citadelle de Bourg was built at the end of the 16th century, destroyed in 1664, and subsequently rebuilt and converted into a château by Etienne Dardan in It again fell victim to historical circumstance in 1944, when it was once more burned to the ground. It was eventually rebuilt in So dear was the original building to the residents of Bourg, that they still refer to the Citadelle as the Château de la Citadelle, despite a distinct lack of resemblence to its original incarnation. It does, however, remain home to the chartreuse, some wonderful French gardens, and a terrace offering magnificent views of the Dordogne. The Citadelle de Blaye also possesses a singularly interesting history. Its construction was ordered by Louis XIV, as part of projects designed to fortify the estuary carried out by the famous engineer Vauban. It has been listed as a UNESCO world heritage site since

11 PRACTICAL INFORMATION CALENDAR o Registration opening date: beginning of December 2016 o Registration closing date : 28 th February 2017 o Sample reception deadline : 31 st March 2017 o Competition dates : 10 th, 11 th et 12 th June 2017 o Results available online : 14 th June o Remise des prix : 17 th June 2017 at the Casino Barrière (on the eve of Vinexpo Bordeaux) o Promotion des lauréats : 18 th - 21 st June 2017 on the Citadelles du Vin stand at Vinexpo Bordeaux No. stand : HALL 3 RS 362 VISIT THE COMPETITION Citadelles du Vin Rue Ulysse Laîné Bourg - France Tel.: +33 (0) Fax: +33 (0) GPS Coordinates Latitude: N Longitude: O

12 CONTACTS & PARTNERS Director : Fabienne CORTADI f.cortadi@citadellesduvin.com T +33 (0) F +33 (0) Press Contact : James FOWKES james.fowkes@combyavm.com T +33 (0) PARTNERS 12

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