Two of Europe’s most important wine competitions, the British Decanter and the itinerant Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (in this case only in its section exclusively for whites and reds), have awarded the wines certified by the Regulatory Council of the León Denomination of Origin five more high-value medals, taking to 63 the total won by the wineries of the south-south-eastern wine-growing area of León province so far this season.

The winery Cien Cepas took gold at both competitions for its Cien Cepas crianza red from the 2020 vintage. It is a family project, based in Corbillos de los Oteros, that prizes quality over volume and champions artisanal winemaking, traditionally only of Prieto Picudo reds, although with a still recent move into whites made from the Albarín variety.

The Decanter World Wine Awards, held in London (United Kingdom), also recognised with silver medals the white Pardevalles 2025 (Pardevalles, Valdevimbre), made with the Albarín variety, and the Prieto Picudo red Don Suero, a 2018 reserva (Vile, also from Valdevimbre). A well-deserved bronze went to Pincerna Sumiller (Pincerna, Grajal de Campos), also a red from the same grape and from the 2024 vintage, with twelve months of crianza.

To these high honours is added a special mention for Finca Tiramulos, a 2025 white made with grapes of the Albarín variety by the winery Meóriga (Mayorga de Campos).

The medals won in this round are as follows:

  • Double gold (Decanter and Concours Mondial de Bruxelles): Cien Cepas, 2020 Prieto Picudo crianza red (Cien Cepas, Corbillos de los Oteros).
  • Silver (Decanter): Pardevalles 2025, Albarín white (Pardevalles, Valdevimbre).
  • Silver (Decanter): Don Suero, 2018 Prieto Picudo reserva (Vile, Valdevimbre).
  • Bronze (Decanter): Pincerna Sumiller 2024, Prieto Picudo red (Pincerna, Grajal de Campos).
  • Special mention: Finca Tiramulos, 2025 Albarín white (Meóriga, Mayorga de Campos).

With the season of major national and international wine competitions still under way, the wineries of the León Denomination of Origin have amassed 63 medals, albeit with fewer entries than in previous years: 3 grand golds in the few competitions that include that category, 31 gold medals, 28 silver and just 1 in the now almost unusual bronze. This impressive record once again demonstrates the high quality of the winemaking and the extraordinary potential of DO León’s two reference grape varieties: the white Albarín and the red Prieto Picudo.