PRESS KIT
summary Editorial P 3 France s largest international P 4 wine competition Croatia: Guest of honour P 7 Practical informations P10 Contacts & Partners P 11 2
editorial In 2016, the Challenge International du Vin Celebrates its 40th anniversary! Created in 1976, the Challenge International du Vin, certified to ISO 9001 in 2008, is France s oldest and largest international wine challenge. The prizes awarded are guaranteed signs of quality, allowing wineries to reinforce existing markets and conquer new ones. In spring of every year, over 700 wine enthusiasts and professionals (oenologists, winegrowers, distributors) gather in the town of Bourg to taste more than 5,000 wines from over 35 different countries. With a view to opening out to the world, the 2016 edition of the Challenge International du Vin will be paying special attention to wineries from Croatia, a region experiencing major growth. Aside from a Special Prize for croatian wine, over 1,300 medals (Gold, Silver and Bronze) and 18 Special Prizes will be awarded: > 10 Special Prizes by wine style (red, rosé, dry white, sweet white, natural sparkling and wine-based spirits), for French and international wine. > 1 Special Prize for Organic Wine. A great opportunity to honour some truly excellent wines! > 1 Special Prize for Wines from Blaye and 1 Special Prize for Wines from Bourg. A tribute to the competition s founding appellations. While wine has been produced in Croatia since Roman times, the last decade has seen major investment both in individual wineries and at a regional level. With exports, accolades, specialist press attention and presence at major international salons all on the rise, it is clear that global recognition for Croatian wines is growing rapidly. 3
France s largest international wine competition The Challenge International du Vin in figures... > Over 5,000 participating wines and wine-based spirits: 60% red wine, 25% white wine, 6% sparkling wine, 5% rosé wine, 3% sweet wine, and 1% wine-based spirits. > Over 35 countries represented. > 8.50 average price excluding tax of participating wines. > 400,000,000 bottles produced by participating wineries. The Challenge International du Vin, a rigorous competition... The prestigious competition takes place in optimal conditions, with wines tasted by juries in silent, closed off rooms, under the close supervision of competition commissioners, whose job is to ensure the smooth running of the evaluation process. Oenologists, winegrowers, négociants and wine enthusiasts taste wines «blindly», with shrink-wrapping and an unmarked cork assuring the anonymity of each bottle. Precise and detailed tasting sheets ensure total impartiality, with wines described based on aroma and balance, the intensity of their characteristics, and general harmony... Strict criteria to ensure the selection of high quality wines... After the wines are tasted, two types of control are put in place in order to guarantee that the selected wines conform to the competition s strict criteria: - Before the winners are announced, nominated wines are analysed in an independently certified laboratory (COFRAC), ensuring the conformity of the selected wines. - Samples of nominated wines are taken at points of sale in order to ensure that wines distributed with the medal conform to competition regulations. 4
The Challenge International du Vin, innovative and creative... A tasting glass has been specially designed to respond to the Challenge s strict demands. This «universal» glass enables tasting of all types of wines and wine-based spirits, showcasing the drinks positive characteristics without masking potential faults... Here are some of the glass main technical characteristics: > A wide base (70mm) able to hold a sufficient volume of wine for tasting (approx. 50ml). > A 120 angle between base and bowl. > A high bowl (100mm). > A «closed» opening (50mm), but quite wide. > A high stem (80mm), with a wide base for stability. Le Challenge International du Vin, communication tools... - Prize-winning wineries may attach adhesive medals to their bottles. These labels are recognised by consumers all around the world. - In addition to certificates, medal-winning wineries also benefit from an oenograph, summarising the jury s tasting notes. This may be used for sales purposes, or displayed in winery tasting rooms. - The official website of the Challenge is growing in visibility. The site (challengeduvin.com) has received over 80,000 visitors this year. - Partnerships with wine buyers websites and media outlets increase visibility for prize-winning wines. (Global Wine and Spirits, Winealley. com, Gault & Millau, Terre de Vins, Sud Ouest). 5
Drew Barrymore Zhao Wei Pierre Richard Gérard Depardieu The Challenge International du Vin and its famous wines... Some of the world s most famous winegrowers made their name as actors: Gerard DEPARDIEU, Pierre RICHARD, Drew BARRYMORE, and Zhao WEI are just a few of the stars who have taken part in the Challenge. 6
in short > EXPERIENCE: 40 years of existence. France s first international competition. > SIZE: Approximately 5,000 samples tasted every year. > VARIETY: reds, whites, rosés, sparkling, sweet wines, wine-based spirits. > GLOBAL REACH: participating wines from over 35 different countries. > RESULTS AS A MARKER OF CONSUMER TASTE: a careful mix of professional and amateur tasters ensures a final selection that reflects both quality and consumer taste. > A PRESTIGIOUS MEDAL: recognised throughout the world, the Challenge International du Vin medal is a truly global symbol, with its origins in the Bordeaux region. > PROMOTION: In addition to public relations expertise developed over many years, the Challenge International du Vin has dedicated part of its budget to marketing in order to promote prize-winning wineries. Press ads, email campaigns, partnerships... everything has been put in place in order to assure the global visibility of participating wines. 7
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Croatia: guest of honour The Challenge International du Vin: «revealing talent» Selecting Croatia as the competition s guest of honour was not a difficult decision for the organisers, who are looking forward to putting some of the nation s magnificent wines on display. Croatia, a country with 300 documented wine-producing regions and 200 grape varietals, 60 of which are native... As the world s 21st ranked wine producing nation, Croatia can claim over 300 documented wine-producing regions, spread over 33,000 hectares. In terms of surface area, that s a quarter of the Bordeaux region! The majority of Croatian wines are whites (Grasevina, Malvasie, Posip), with the rest made up of reds (Plavac Mali, Crljenak/Zinfandel, Babic), and a small percentage of rosé. While three varietals account for 50% of Croatian wines (Gravesina, Malvoisie for white and Plavac Mali for red), Croatia boasts a remarkably large amount of native varietals (60) and wine-producing regions (300), with an average territory of 5 hectares. An increasing number of young winegrowers are placing their faith in this uniquely diverse region. A historic region... In the sixth century B.C., the ancient Greeks founded several colonies all along the Dalmatian coast, planting vineyards. Initially a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Croatia gained independence after the break-up of the former Yugoslavia in 1991. Today, the nation can claim a wine-producing region of over 33,000 hectares. As a result of its history, its geography and the wines it produces, Croatia is a land defined by contrast, a region rich in treasures with two distinct wine-growing areas. 9
Firstly, the Mediterranean region of Istria stretches from Dubrovnik to Rijeka via the Peljecac peninsula and the Adriatic islands of Korcula, Vis, Hvar and Brac. This region is home to some excellent, full-bodied red wines, produced from local varietals including Plavac Mali (2 large regions, Dingac and Postup, are located on the Peljecac peninsula). The second main wine region covers the north of continental Croatia, in the region of Slavonia, producing mainly white wines including Gravesina, Zelenac and Traminac. Wine has always had a privileged position in the lives of the Croatian people. It was traditionally considered to have magic properties, with women proclaiming a regular glass as the key to longevity. Today, wine has taken on new meanings, coming to represent a certain way of living and of thinking. The classification of Croatian wines is currently being comprehensively restructured, with a view to changing the amount of appellations and winegrowing areas. Croatia has been a part of the European Community since 2013. The nation s largest union of winegrowing regions, «Vina Croatia», is based on the French «AOC» classification system. 10
The Croatian wine-producing region in figures... > The wine-producing region covers 33,000 hectares, the equivalent of slightly more than a quarter of the Bordeaux region. > Average annual output: 1.5 million hectolitres. > The world s 21st ranked wine-producing nation. > 65% whites, 35% reds. > 2 unique and vital characteristics: Croatia has 200 different grape varietals, of which 60 are native, as well as 300 documented wine-producing regions. 11
FOR ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY, THE CHALLENGE INTERNATIONAL DU VIN WILL BE OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC! 40 prize-winning French and international wineries will be taking part in a GRAND TASTING, 1st and 2nd April 2016, celebrating the competition s 40th anniversary! In the magnificent grounds of the Citadelle de Bourg-sur-Gironde, everyone present will have the chance to meet winegrowers, taste their wines, buy a few bottles, and have a good time! This will be a unique opportunity to discover some of the world s best wines. 12
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Practical information Calendar... Competition dates: 1st et 2nd April 2016 Registration opening date: 1st November 2015 Registration closing date: 22nd January 2016 Closing date for reception of samples: 4th February 2016 Registration period for tasters: 1st February - 29th February 2016 Results revealed online: 8th April 2016 Come to the competition... Challenge International du vin Avenue Léo Lagrange 33710 Bourg France +33 (0)5.57.68.25.66 +33 (0)5.57.68.23.92 info@challengeduvin.com www.challengeduvin.com Challenge International du Vin Garonne La Dordogne Bordeaux 14
contacts Fabienne CORTADI General Manager and Quality Director f.cortadi@challengeduvin.com T +33 (0)5 57 68 25 30 F +33 (0)5 57 68 23 92 www.challengeduvin.com James FOWKES Public relations james.fowkes@combyavm.com +33 (0)5 57 88 90 74 +33 (0)6 40 33 94 62 www.combyavm.com Stéphane BOUQUET Public relations stephane.bouquet@combyavm.com +33 (0)5 57 88 90 74 +33 (0)6 40 33 94 62 www.combyavm.com Partners... 15
www.challengeduvin.com