VINEXPO: THE WINE AND SPIRIT INDUSTRY’S LANDMARK EVENT
 On 16-20 June, the 17th edition of Vinexpo, the wine and spirit industry's largest professional exhibition, will be held at the Parc des Expositions in Bordeaux and is set to attract over 48,000 visitors and 2,400 producers from around the world.  Created in 1981 by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce and Industry, this biennial exhibition has gradually established itself as the foremost professional event for the international wine and spirit industry. It is here that producers can discover the latest trends and identify new product lines in order to stand out from the competition. France, the world's largest producer in 2011 with 523 million 12-bottle crates produced, will take up 60% of the stand area to display the fruits of its 17 wine-growing regions such as Provence, the Loire, Bordeaux, Champagne and Bourgogne. In total, 45 countries will be represented, with both traditional wine-producing countries (South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Chile, Spain, Italy) and newcomers like Mexico and Turkey. An unmissable event  Vinexpo’s international appeal is also reflected in the visitors to the event, with over 150 different nationalities to be found. Whether they be Belgian, German, Swiss or British, the Europeans will once again be in the majority this year. Many professionals from the United States, Canada and South America will also be present. But Asia is also making its presence felt, with the number of Chinese visitors increasing almost five-fold between 2009 and 2011, from 500 to 2,340, evidence of their growing appreciation and consumption of wines and spirits. The Chinese are now the best represented foreign visitors. "Chinese influence is growing in the sector,” says Robert Beynat, Vinexpo's Chief Executive. Building on its success, Vinexpo has enhanced its international stature by creating a 'Vinexpo Overseas' subsidiary, which among other events, organizes the Vinexpo Asia-Pacific trade show in Hong Kong. New products from around the world A large range of spirits - brandies, vodkas, rums, whiskies, gins and armagnacs - will be on show at the Vinexpo stands. Pisco from Peru, sake, cachaça, grappa and tequila will also be available, revealing the wealth and variety of the exhibited products, and for the first time in Bordeaux, a Mexican pavilion will showcase a selection of tequilas.  Having attended in 2011, Chinese exhibitors will once again play an active role at Vinexpo 2013. The Sichuan pavilion will offer Chinese spirits such as mao-tai, a wheat and sorghum-based alcohol which is extremely popular among Chinese consumers. New arrivals this year include the Turkish pavilion which will introduce its wine producers and Georgia, which will give an insight into its local production. South Africa, as well as North and South America, will be represented by their pavilions as well as by world-renowned brands. Tastings: a learning and sensorial lab 2013 will see the 2nd edition of "Tastings by Vinexpo”, which has become a hallmark for all actors and will be the central hub for tastings and conferences on sector trends and issues. The 80 "Tastings” provide an opportunity to discover new senses, under the guidance of renowned American, Chinese, French and Italian producers and wine tasters. Finally, after a hard day’s work, the professionals can relax at a number of receptions such as the Fête de la Fleur at Château Lagrange in Saint Julien or the Fête du printemps de la Jurade in Saint Emilion. Olivier Bove | |
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| 1403 reads | 17.06.2013 |
