With just a few months to go until Vinexpo 2017, what’s on schedule?
The exhibition will have a more concise and concentrated 4-day format. Today efficiency is paramount. That’s also the reason why we are offering a larger range of services to the industry. We will again offer our “One to Wine Meetings” service which has been largely approved and greatly appreciated by the exhibitors at Vinexpo Bordeaux 2015 and Vinexpo Hong Kong 2016. The service consists in organizing personally targeted business appointments between exhibitors and pre-registered visitors, directly on the exhibitors’ stands. It’s quick, efficient and free of charge!
In the meantime Vinexpo organizes its “Hosted Buyers” programme, inviting 200 new international key buyers to the event. The objective is to make sure key buyers from the e-commerce, travel retail and off- and on-trade attend the exhibition and source wines and spirits at Vinexpo Bordeaux. The hoisted buyers will participate in 4 to 6 One to Wine Meetings per day.
Business is the key focus of the show. Is that a feature that distinguishes Vinexpo from other exhibitions?
Vinexpo is the only independent trade show entirely dedicated to the world of wines and spirits and which has been operating for the past 30 years in the B2B sector.
This long experience gives Vinexpo an in-depth knowledge of the markets and has allowed us to create tight links with the major actors of the global trade.
Vinexpo has always been business-focused: it’s at Vinexpo that joint-ventures are negotiated, it’s at Vinexpo that companies launch new products, it’s at Vinexpo that industry experts and more than 1,000 journalists get together, and that is because Vinexpo is THE global appointment for the wine and spirits trade.
What are the new features and key moments of the upcoming edition?
For the first time ever Vinexpo will present an area entirely dedicated to organic and biodynamic wines. This new area called WOW! (World of Organic Wines!) will showcase 200 producers.
Vinexpo also organizes two major conferences, one about Climate Change (in partnership with Wine Spectator) and the other one about the wine and spirits market after BREXIT.
Vinexpo’s official party, The Blend, will take place at Palais de la Bourse, in the very heart of Bordeaux’s city centre, on Tuesday June 20th from 7.30 PM to 1.00 A.M. The Blend is the ideal moment to network in a casual atmosphere enjoying wines, Champagnes, Cognacs and spirits with likeminded professionals. The Blend is exclusively open to Vinexpo attendees.
Why did you choose Spain as country of honour this year?
Spain is a major actor of the global wine industry. Its vineyard covers the largest surface in the world and ranks as the world’s third biggest exporters of wines.
Thanks to its modern style of wines, sober and attractive packaging, excellent quality–price ratio and dynamic trade, Spain is one of the leaders on the international markets.
The country’s main grape varieties Tempranillo, the “king grape” of Castilla-La Mancha, which is also a major variety in la Rioja, Airen a white variety exclusive to Castilla-La Mancha, Albariño de Galice, Grenache, Cariñena of Catalonia or Palomino for the elaboration of Xeres are true references in the wine world.
What are the advantages of the new organic space WOW! for exhibitors and visitors?
WOW! will allow buyers in search of organic wines to easily identify the producers they are interested in meeting. Besides tastings, this area will give room to conversations and ethic thoughts, it will be an authentic, human and friendly place. WOW! has been specifically designed to meet the needs of artisan wine-growers and their clients.
What are the latest market and consumptions trends ?
On many markets the trend goes towards consuming less but better, the buzzword is Premiumisation.
The consumption growth of sparkling wines has not yet reached its limits. Sparkling wine consumption keeps growing on all markets including China, where it is still very new.
Consumers are keen on enjoying authentic products, organic wines are more than just a fashion, they have become a market reality.
Low alcohol wines attract ever more consumers, as big parts of the populations are getting increasingly health conscious, particularly amongst younger consumers.
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