The South wins and wins the most important prizes thanks to the performances of the regions of Calabria, Molise and Sicily, at the 24th edition of Citadelles du Vin 2024: the niche competition followed in Asia – as often happens for many French channels – held in Bordeaux.

In addition to being a judge, this year I had the pleasure of covering a role of great prestige and equally responsibility together with my colleague Simon Cassina: holding a master class on the focus area chosen this year, continental Southern Italy (i.e. islands excluded, for avoid confusion between too many differences). In fact, every year, Citadelles du Vin organizes an in-depth focus for the international judges of the competition by inviting an expert from that area for a guided tasting.

chiara giorleo, simon cassina – master class: southern italian wines

Before sharing some impressions about this appointment, let’s see the result.

The numbers of this edition are the followinrg ones: 35 tasters from 21 nationalities, 455 samples from 17 countries, 137 medals (23 Grand Gold, 105 gold and 9 silver ones). Among the Grand Gold and Gold winners, 11 of them were awarded a special prize.

Here is the link to consult them all and, as far as we are concerned, just choose “italie” as a filter: Palmarès des Citadelles du Vin – Concours International Vin

And if in this edition, the one dedicated to the diversity of southern Italian wines, Southern Italy wins the most important awards in the Bel Paese, it means that the message is clear and that the emerging productions of this lands are on the right path.

Italy wins 20 medals including “grand gold”, “or” and “argent” plus 4 special prizes and all from Southern producers!

First of all Sicily with several presences, then Molise and Calabria placed themselves at the top of the ranking, winning the most coveted medal, the ‘Grand Or’, as well as various special prizes.

Here they are:

GRAND OR MARIA COSTANZA 2019 ROUGE DOP SICILIA ITALY 12 – 20 €, AZ. AGR. MILAZZO Special prize: PRIX SPÉCIAL VINOFED

CANTINE ZAGARELLA ALFIERIBIANCO 2023 BLANC IGT CALABRIA ITALY 5 – 12 €

Special Prize: PRIX SPÉCIAL SOMMELIERS INTERNATIONAL

TERRE TARDIVE 2020 BLANC DOUX IGT TERRE SICILIANE ITALIE 12 – 20 €, AZ. AGR. MILAZZO
Special Prize: PRIX SPÉCIAL DUAD’S CLUB

MOSCATO 2023 BLANC DOC MOLISE OR DEL MOLISE ITALIE 12 – 20 €, TENUTE MARTAROSA
Special Prize: PRIX SPÉCIAL ITALIE

TERRE TARDIVE 2017 BLANC DOUX IGT TERRE SICILIANE ITALIE 12 – 20 €, AZ. AGR. MILAZZO

Stay tuned for the report on the Master Class.