New South of France wine fair set for May launch in Montpellier

The Taste Wines from Occitania exhibition has announced a brand new event taking place in May in Montpellier, during which buyers, wine merchants, wholesalers and sommeliers are invited to (re)discover the region’s vineyards and wines.

The fair will showcase some 250 winegrowers, co-operative wineries and negociants from South-West France, Roussillon and Languedoc, who will have the opportunity to engage with the estimated 2,000 trade visitors set to attend.

The two-day Dégustez en V.O! exhibition will provide a conduit for engagement between exhibitors and trade buyers, while also addressing key issues facing the wine industry through a series of conferences, tastings and masterclasses.

Author and photographer, Marc Médevielle, who has been tasked with putting together the conferences and tastings, said:

“We are at a key point in the sea-change being witnessed by the wine industry. Global warming is dictating changes in the vineyards comparable to those caused by phylloxera at the end of the 19th century. Montpellier was at the crux of the wine industry’s rebirth, driving research and experience transfer for winegrowers faced with an unforeseen crisis where an emergency response was needed. In this instance, and not wishing to minimise the recent climatic events, we have the opportunity to plan ahead and pre-empt the consequences of climate change by rediscovering signature grape varieties that can cope with drought and heat to produce wines that are lower in alcohol and more palatable. This is a long-term project. Occitania has a pivotal role to play and Dégustez en V.O! will provide the chance for researchers, winegrowers and nursery operators, for example, to express themselves about all the issues surrounding heritage grape varieties”.

You can find out more about the fair here.