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The highly acclaimed Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB) returned to China after an eight-year hiatus. Held alongside the Fifth China International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, the 2025 edition was a resounding success, attracting more than 21,000 visitors from June 9 to 11. Widely regarded as the “Grail” of global wine competitions, this year’s CMB welcomed 7,165 wine entries from 49 countries, all evaluated by a distinguished panel of Chinese and international judges.

Among the many standout moments at this year’s competition, one clear winner reaffirmed its place at the heart of fine winemaking: the natural cork stopper. Of the 7,165 wines submitted, an overwhelming 92% were sealed with cork closures—sending a strong and clear message that premium wines prefer cork over other closures.

These results, highlighted by a study conducted by APCOR (Portuguese Cork Association), reaffirm the strong preference of the global wine industry for natural cork. More than just a simple stopper, cork continues to demonstrate its technical performance, perceived value, and sustainability, helping to preserve the world's finest wines.

Adapted from APCOR press release