In 14 years, more than 61,000 wines have been tasted, judged and marked
16-17 March 2026
A constant increase in the number of samples presented demonstrates the confidence participants have in these distinctions. The competition has become well-known in France and abroad as a guarantee of quality.
The competition follows strict rules concerning its organisation, optimal storage conditions, wine classification based on numerous criteria (designation, vintage, grape varieties, etc.), blind tasting, verification of the tasters selected, a 100-point marking scale based on the OIV (International organisation of vine and wine) model, etc.
In addition, each year the Sommellerie Trophy is awarded to students who have chosen sommellerie as a specialty.
Famous honorary Presidents
Each year the selection of an honorary president draws the attention of the press and puts the competition in the limelight.
2026 : Olivier Canal
Head chef at La Meunière restaurant and president of the Bouchons Lyonnais association
Olivier Canal is an avid chef and a dedicated figure in Lyon's gastronomic scene. Trained in top French establishments alongside renowned chefs such as Guy Savoy and Mathieu Viannay, he has been running La Meunière restaurant, a symbol of traditional Lyon cuisine, since 2014. He is committed to using local and seasonal produce and masterfully revamps great classics — pâté en croûte, œufs meurette and oreiller de la Belle Meunière — combining respect for the terroir with creativity. He has been president of the Bouchons Lyonnais since 2023 and strives daily to keep Lyon's culinary heritage alive thanks to a deep passion for sharing and connecting with his guests.
The Competition’s commitments
Jurors’ expertise
Communication on all fronts
Influential, committed partners
Famous honorary Presidents
Official validation and verifications
Communication tools
Professionals in the field guarantee conformity of the sample,
while enlightened amateurs represent consumer tastes.
Concours International de Lyon 2026 - Wine, Beer and Spirits
1 000 tasters from all over the world gathered at the Cité Internationale for the 17th Concours International de Lyon for Wines, Beers and Spirits on the 16th and 17th of March 2026. Under the watchful eye of the Commissioner General and the supervision of an independent inspector, more than 7,370 samples were judged by our professional tasters and connoisseurs. All samples were tasted in conformity with strict hygiene measures, competition regulations and our ISO9001 certification. At the end of the tasting, 68 trophies and around 2377 Gold and Silver medals were awarded to producers in all categories.
Testimonials
It’s always a pleasure to come to the Concours International de Lyon tasting. The venue is ideal for a well-organised, serious, serene tasting. This tasting is different from wine-tasting. You take just a drop of the product, click your tongue to spread it all around the inside of the mouth, then spit it out and attribute a mark. You have to drink a lot of water with each sip to reestablish the pH of your saliva. I start with the brandies that have the least alcohol, then I taste the calvados, gins, etc. It’s really a special moment because the products we taste here are straightforward, well-defined and faultless.
Maryse ALLAROUSSE
Meilleur Sommelier De France
Each year it’s a real pleasure to taste the selections of the Concours International de Lyon. I’m a wine taster, and for me the competition really provides a great opportunity to compare domains within a single vintage and thus get to know our vineyard better. Tasting brandies and spirits is more technical and requires greater concentration, but tasters are rewarded with the many discoveries they make and the olfactory voyages this fascinating exercise takes them on.
Laurent DERHÉ
MOF Sommelier
I would like to congratulate you on the organisation of your competition. You are in fact the only ones who go to the trouble to remind us of approaching deadlines, who acknowledge receipt of samples and--having received a medal last year I am aware of the fact--provide very effective after-competition services. Thanks and bravo!
Sophie Meynaud, Château Franc Couplet
I am the winemaker at Chateau Labastide Orliac in the Brulhois region and am participating in the Lyon competition for the first time. I would like to congratulate the entire team on the competition’s top-notch organisation. A website where everything works easily the first time around, and equally efficient assistance with deliveries. Presenting our wines at your competition is a pleasure.
Isabelle Orliac, Bastide