The Grand Jury of the 10th Edition of the Wines of Portugal Challenge, a Wines of Portugal Initiative which will distinguish the diversity and excellence of the wines produced in Portugal, has already been defined and this year, for the first time, has an international female juror from South Africa. This is Cathy van Zyl, the first woman to win the title of Master of Wine on the African Continent.

As usual, the Grand Jury is made up of national and international personalities and Cathy van Zyl MW will be joined by the already known Anselmo Mendes, Bento Amaral, Dirceu Vianna Júnior MW, James Tidwell MS, and Luís Lopes, who will be evaluating the best wines in the competition in the final phase, between the 11th and 12th of May, deciding who will be the Great Gold and the Best of the Year wines.

Before reaching the Grand Jury, the enrolled wines will be competing in the 1st phase which includes technical tasting sessions between May 8 and 10, at CNEMA, in Santarém, where they will be evaluated by the Regular Jury. In addition to the evaluation, there will also be Masterclasses, dinners with producers, visits and multiple wine-tasting sessions. The announcement of the winners will take place after the Grand Jury's choice at an Awards Ceremony, on 12th May. This year the Region selected for the presentation of the Awards will be Beira Interior, more precisely the city of Pinhel.

For producers, participation in the Wines of Portugal Challenge represents a platform for international promotion, as the wines awarded the Great Gold and Gold Medals will have a guaranteed presence at this year's renowned international events. This is a reference event in the sector and, in parallel, a meeting point for producers, specialists, sommeliers and national and international influencers who, during these days, share experiences with each other. The initiative also reinforces Portugal's position in external markets as a country of excellence in wine production.

Grand Jury Biographies can be found here.