Gold Medal at the Concours Général Agricole in Paris

As a winemaker you go to great lengths in order to make the best wine possible. It is crucial to pick the right quality wines for each label (or cuvée), so as to maintain the style theme from year to year, and then to spend as much time as it takes to nail the right blend. The end result is that you know how good your wine is. But does everybody else? A gold medal is a huge thing in the wine world and there are many competitions held all year round. But, it’s got to be said,

“Winning a gold in Paris is like winning an Oscar.”

The ‘Concours Général Agricole’ (CGA) is a French competition organized within the framework of the international agricultural fair in Paris and is a unique platform for ‘agricultural’ products such as cheese and, believe it or not, wine. The Paris International Agricultural Show (Salon International de l’Agriculture) is an annual agricultural fair, that takes place at the end of February or beginning of March at the Porte de Versailles in Paris. It is one of the world’s largest and most important agricultural shows, drawing larger crowds than almost any other event in Paris.

Established in 1870, the Concours Général Agricole aims to select and reward the best french products and the best breeding stock. This event is highly anticipated by professionals and the general public, and recognized in France and all over the world. Because it is organized under the control of the state and follows a rigorous and preset selections, the Concours Général Agricole is known for its impartiality and the value of the results. In 2014 15 765 wines were entered into the compétition in by 3800 producers. 3 064 jurors, tasters, discerning consumers and professionals awarded 3 677 medals in the wine category.

It’s a pretty big thing, you can be sure your wine has been examined by the best ‘critics’ (judges) in the business. Gold, silver or bronze medal winners receive recognition from the French Ministry of Agriculture, great prestige amongst their peers; and the general public, like you and I, can be assured that the wine is as good as it gets. The ‘Présentation du Concours des Vins’ aims to select and reward the best French wines presented by the many Domaines and Chateaux and wine cooperatives. Maison Mirabeau is proud to have received a gold medal for its Pure rosé.