elmatecoYerba mate just had its biggest moment on the world stage. In June 2026, Buenos Aires hosted the first-ever Mundial de la Yerba Mate — a world championship that treated yerba mate with the same technical rigor as wine, olive oil, or spirits. Held at the Museo del Mate on the historic Avenida de Mayo, the inaugural edition drew nearly 4,000 attendees and set the stage for what organizers hope becomes an annual tradition.
A Certification Modeled on the Wine Industry
The Mundial’s core idea was simple but ambitious: give yerba mate the same institutional respect long reserved for wine and spirits. More than 400 samples of yerba mate and erva-mate — Brazil’s version of the product — were evaluated blind, meaning judges tasted each sample without knowing the brand, following a protocol adapted from international wine, olive oil, and spirits competitions. A panel of 30 to 43 specialists (reports on the exact number varied slightly) from 6 to 11 countries, spanning South America, Europe, and the United States, handled the judging, under the technical direction of sommelier Marcos Francisca.
“Mate deserves the same institutional respect as wine or coffee, without becoming elitist,” organizers said in the lead-up to the event — a sentiment that captures the spirit of the whole championship: treating an everyday ritual as something worth serious, technical recognition, without losing its accessibility.
The People Behind It
The event was driven by a small team of yerba mate specialists: Martín Gómez, a chemical engineer and sommelier who created Argentina’s first Yerba Mate Sommelier program and co-developed the “Aromatic Wheel” tasting method used in the competition; Marcos Francisca, an international judge and co-founder of the Sommellerie Academy; and digital strategist Nicolás Geiskko. The event also had backing from Argentina’s national government, including the Secretariat of Tourism, universities, and other public and private institutions — and was formally launched at Argentina’s national Senate, with senators from the yerba-mate-producing provinces of Misiones and Corrientes taking part.
By the Numbers
- 400+ samples evaluated blind, from Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Paraguay
- 313 medals awarded: 59 Grand Gold, 93 Gold, 85 Silver, and 76 Bronze
- Nearly 4,000 attendees at the Fan Fest in Buenos Aires
- 13 official satellite venues across 6 countries on 3 continents, including England, Italy, Spain, Chile, Guatemala, Uruguay, and Australia
- 235 trained volunteers and more than 170 hours of programming
More Than Just a Competition
Beyond the blind tastings and medal ceremony, the Fan Fest turned the Museo del Mate — home to the world’s largest collection of mate-related items — into a three-day cultural celebration. The program included masterclasses, guided tastings, matero panels where the general public could evaluate products alongside judges, hands-on workshops, and even a concert by Argentine pop star Lali Espósito. Categories weren’t limited to traditional yerba mate either — flavored blends, tereré, and other derivative products all had their own categories.
A Symbolic Milestone
The Mundial builds on a legal foundation that already exists in Argentina: Law 26.871, passed in 2013, formally declared yerba mate the country’s “national infusion.” The championship also leaned on Argentina’s Geographic Indication seal for yerba mate, which ties quality and traceability back to the growing regions of Misiones and northern Corrientes — similar in spirit to appellation systems used for wine.
“This isn’t just a competition,” said Martín Gómez, the event’s director general. “It’s the moment yerba mate enters the world stage with the same status as the great global products.” Organizers have already started planning the 2027 edition, aiming to keep expanding mate culture internationally.
Explore Yerba Mate for Yourself
Curious what all the fuss is about? Learn how to make yerba mate the traditional way, browse our beginner’s buying guide, or discover which countries drink the most yerba mate around the world.
Sources: La Nación, Canal26, Buenos Aires Ciudad, Agencia Nova, 0221, mundialyerbamate.com.
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