Domeniile Davidescu announces that it has been awarded the Grand Gold Medal at the 2026 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles for its rosé wine, Rară Neagră Merlot 2025, one of the most prestigious and difficult-to-obtain distinctions in the international wine industry.
Grand Gold is the highest distinction awarded at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and is reserved for an extremely limited number of wines. In the 2026 edition, only approximately 0.3% of the nearly 6,700 wines evaluated received this medal, placing Domeniile Davidescu among the few producers that have achieved this level of excellence, alongside renowned names from countries with long-established winemaking traditions such as France and Italy. The competition brought together representatives from 56 countries, while more than 320 international wine experts, sommeliers, buyers and journalists assessed the entries through blind-tasting sessions, confirming the prestige and rigor of one of the world’s most important wine competitions.
The distinction once again confirms the potential of the indigenous Rară Neagră grape variety and the winery’s ability to create wines that compete at the highest international level. The award-winning wine reflects the winery’s philosophy of showcasing local grape varieties through contemporary and expressive interpretations.
The Rară Neagră Merlot 2025 rosé expresses the potential of the Valul lui Traian terroir in a modern way. The blend of the indigenous Rară Neagră variety and Merlot yields a dry rosé wine made from hand-harvested grapes, with fresh aromas of red fruits and citrus, vibrant acidity, and an elegant texture. The balance between freshness, fruit, and minerality defines the personality of this wine, which was awarded Grand Gold at the 2026 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles.
“The Grand Gold Medal awarded to the Rară Neagră Merlot 2025 rosé represents one of the most important distinctions in the history of Domeniile Davidescu and confirms the winery’s consistency in achieving outstanding results on the international stage. This achievement follows the remarkable success of 2023, when our Rară Neagră Syrah Fetească Neagră wine received both the Grand Gold Medal and the Best of Show Red Wine title.
We are talking about a distinction awarded very rarely and confirming that wines produced in the south of the Republic of Moldova can successfully compete alongside some of the world’s most highly regarded labels. For us, it is a validation of the work of our entire team and of our belief that the grape varieties of our region deserve to be promoted on the most important international stages,” said Andrian Davidescu, CEO of Domeniile Davidescu.
This latest achievement continues the winery’s series of remarkable international results over recent years. In 2025 alone, Domeniile Davidescu won 15 Gold Medals at prestigious competitions including Mundus Vini, Vinarium, Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and Sélections Mondiales des Vins Canada. These results complemented important distinctions previously earned, including Grand Gold medals and Best of Show awards, which have strengthened the brand’s international reputation.
The results achieved at the 2026 Concours Mondial de Bruxelles reflect Domeniile Davidescu’s ongoing commitment to excellence. In addition to the Grand Gold Medal awarded to Rară Neagră Merlot 2025, the winery also received Gold Medals for Chardonnay and Fetească Neagră Malbec, confirming the quality of its entire portfolio. At the same time, its title of Supplier to the Royal House of Romania represents an important benchmark and a responsibility embraced year after year, motivating the team to maintain and strengthen the standards that have brought Domeniile Davidescu wines to the attention of the world’s most demanding international juries.
“Over the past years, we have consistently invested in our vineyards, technology and the expertise of our team, always aiming to create authentic wines with a strong local identity and international relevance. The fact that a rosé based on Rară Neagră is now receiving the highest recognition at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles demonstrates that our terroir and indigenous grape varieties have the ability to produce exceptional wines. It is a success that honors us and motivates us to raise our standards even further,” added Andrian Davidescu.
Through this new international recognition, Domeniile Davidescu further strengthens its position among the most highly regarded wineries in the region. A third-generation family winery, Domeniile Davidescu combines respect for the terroir of the Republic of Moldova with modern winemaking expertise, creating high-quality wines that impress both consumers and the most demanding international juries.
