An all-female team from France won the world blind wine-tasting championship for the first time over the weekend, marking a notable departure from the traditionally male-dominated competition. The event, organized by La Revue du vin de France and held in Avignon, saw the French team take first place ahead of Japan and Brazil, with the British team finishing 22nd out of 41 entries.

The French contingent, led by Candy Sangare and her teammate Camille Guilbaud, outperformed seasoned competitors in a rigorous contest that requires identifying details about 12 different wines served from decanters. Participants must correctly determine the country of origin, appellation, grape variety, and vintage of each sample. Among the wines featured were a 2010 crémant from Luxembourg, a 2024 chardonnay from Napa Valley in the United States, and a 2020 cabernet sauvignon from Ningxia, China.

Sangare, who heads a business and brand management agency, teamed with Guilbaud, a hotel sommelier. This victory disrupts a pattern established over the previous 13 editions of the competition, which had been won exclusively by all-male or predominantly male teams.

Raised in Paris by a family that did not consume wine, Sangare initially had little knowledge of wine or food pairings. She first encountered the beverage professionally while working as a flight attendant for Air France, during which time she served wine to passengers but lacked the expertise to distinguish varietals. Her interest deepened after moving to Brazil, where she became director of a French restaurant in Sao Paulo. Upon returning to France during the COVID-19 pandemic, she pursued further education in wine, visiting winemakers and earning diplomas to enhance her understanding.

Reflecting on her experience competing as a woman of African descent in a field traditionally dominated by older white men, Sangare noted that she attracted considerable attention. “All eyes were on me. Perhaps it was a shock to see a black woman interested in wine,” she said.

This breakthrough achievement highlights gradual changes in the wine industry’s demographics and underscores the expanding diversity among its experts and enthusiasts. Meanwhile, Wales finished 34th in the competition, narrowly ahead of Ireland.