In 14 years, more than 61,000 wines have been tasted, judged and marked
15-16 March 2027
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
An incredible orchestra of tasters: that is what you see when you first enter the immense hall where the Concours International de Lyon is held. Each glass, each masked bottle, each spittoon is in its place, perfectly tuned and coordinated. All is precise, harmonious. When the symphony begins, there are no wrong notes, false starts or noise. The atmosphere is professional and the rythm just right: jurors concentrate on their tasting, glasses are tilted and turned, each person focuses on their own sensorial music score. One after the other, samples are methodically analysed and understood by the eye, nose and mouth, for each comment, each description, each mark. Respect for the product is always at the heart of this symphony of international taste buds. Sometimes all the jurors feel the same emotion at the same time; it’s a magic moment when time stands still and communication is spontaneous. Only a few wines, sparkling wines, beers and spirits will be awarded medals in their categories. It’s a wonderful experience for a taster and I highly recommend it.
Laurent BAUBY
Oenologue
Throughout the year, we are attentive to the needs of our vineyard. When the time comes to harvest grapes and make wine, we take care to extract the best from our raw material, which is simply the grape itself. Whether working in the vineyard or the cellar, our objective is to produce high-quality wines. So medals from the Concours International de Lyon are a wonderful reward! They represent recognition for all our efforts, and help showcase the value of our products. What a great way to communicate! Providing producers with tasters’ marks and comments is just one proof of the seriousness of the selection. As the years have gone by, the Concours International de Lyon has become an unmissable event for Le Château Le Bonalguet. Another factor that contributes to our pleasure in participating, is that competition organisers are always patient and welcoming, even after x phone calls with the same questions about registration. So see you next year...
Agnès Jouglet Sueur, Château Le Bonalguet
After winning the trophy for the world's best wine in 2025, the company implemented several communication initiatives to promote this award. Press releases were issued and an active presence on social media, particularly Instagram, helped us share visual content to showcase the award. The award was also promoted at stands and trade fairs. This acknowledgement was an additional asset to attractiveness and boosted the interest of some customers by reinforcing the image of quality of the already iconic vintages. It is difficult to measure the direct impact of this award on sales, given the already significant volumes we have achieved through various distribution channels, but overall, this trophy has cemented the estate's reputation and credibility.
J. García Carrión 1890