Vinexpo to merge with Wine Paris

Vinexpo is to merge with Wine Paris to create one mega-show in February catering to both local and international wine buyers, importers and press.

Vinexpo and Wine Paris have joined forces to host a wine mega-show in the French capital next February

Taking place for the first time from 10-12 February 2020 at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, the show has been created to cater to the needs of the global wine and spirits industry at a key time in the drinks-buying calendar.

Taking place before ProWein in March, the two shows have united to pool their resources and offer a more enticing show to exhibitors that reaffirms France’s pivotal role in the global wine trade and Paris as an international wine hub.

Speaking to db, Pascal Ferrandi, director of Wine Paris, said that the merging of the shows was a case of common sense prevailing.

“Common sense prevailed, and this is very good news for all of us as it answers the needs of producers and visitors. February is a good time of year to host the show, as it’s when buyers are looking to secure their wines for the year.

“Collaborating with Vinexpo is very advantageous as it is a strong international brand. We are stronger together and it’s a logical continuation of what we did last year in merging Vinisud and Vinovision into Wine Paris.

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“We want it to be an international show and to have the largest offering of exhibitors possible to attract a large number of international visitors. This cohesive approach is a chance for producers, trading companies and brands to optimise their resources and benefit from an event with maximum impact.

“Wine Paris and Vinexpo Paris are a perfect match in terms of marketing insights and know-how, and will reaffirm the importance of France in the wine world,” she said.

The organisers of Vinexpo Paris and Wine Paris are hoping that the new event will “act as a magnet for buyers, merchants, sommeliers, distributors, wholesalers and sales agents”, drawing them to the French capital in Feburary.

“I want to make Vinexpo Paris an international show because that is what the market is asking for.

“Vinexpo Bordeaux has lost the momentum with its clients for many reasons and we have to adapt. We would be foolish not to accept that we have to evolve with the changing times but also never forget where we came from,” Rodolphe Lameyse, the newly appointed CEO of Vinexpo, told db during Vinexpo Bordeaux this week.

“You have to consider timing when it comes to wine trade shows and Vinexpo Bordeaux happens a bit too late in the year at the moment, as people usually buy their wine for the year from February to April.

“We have to run shows that follow the proper calendar of the wine market. We moved Vinexpo Bordeaux from June to May this year, but it wasn’t bold enough. You can’t make half-hearted decisions,” he added.

Wine Paris made its debut on 11-13 February this year, bringing together two French wine shows under one roof – the Southern French-focused Vinisud (created in 1994) and cool climate centred Vinovision Paris (founded in 2017) to collectively promote all of France’s key wine regions.

“By creating Vinexpo Paris, Vinexpo’s ambition was to seize the growth opportunities slated for the global wine and spirits market.

“Its inception aligns with one of the strategic development priorities set by Vinexpo’s board of directors, which is to provide expert exhibitions as close as possible to the major markets of Bordeaux, Paris, New York, Hong Kong and Shanghai,” said a spokesperson for Vinexpo. “Both exhibitions will continue to encapsulate their own inherent characteristics,” they added.

Orgnaised by Comexposium, Wine Paris 2019 was attended by 2,000 exhibitors and 26,700 trade and industry members, 30% of which travelled to the show from abroad.

Founded in 1981, Vinexpo organises drinks trade shows in Bordeaux, Hong Kong, New York and Shanghai, with its first Paris show due to take place in February 2020. It also runs Vinexpo Explorer, a peripatetic event bringing influential global wine buyers to different key wine hubs, from Sonoma and Vienna to Beaujolais.

Lameyse plans to launch a Vinexpo Explorer event for spirits at key spirits-making hubs around the world, including a saké focus in Japan, a Tequila focus in Mexico, and a whiskey focus in the US.