Vinexpo America returns to New York with new partner

After a one-year absence due to Covid-19 restrictions, Vinexpo America returned Wednesday to a rainy New York City, opening a two-day show at the Javits Center and sporting a new partner to exhibit non-wine beverage alcohol, Drinks America.

Although it has more than 380 exhibitors, Vinexpo America – formerly Vinexpo New York – remains a fairly sedate affair when compared with its larger, flashier European counterparts, which draw attendees from around the world. This is partly due to the fact that the New York attendees are almost totally from the American trade and the fact that many of the exhibitors are still shopping for American importers, thus limiting their appeal to the retail trade.

However, Vinexpo America featured a very robust program of conference sessions and master classes ranging from understanding U.S. beverage alcohol trends to sustainability in French wines. The largest exhibit pavilion belonged to a first-time attendee, Business France, a government initiative to support international growth of the French economy. “We are very proud to have so many exhibitors with us,” said Sandrine Krummenacher, manager of French pavilions for the organization. “We are the biggest national pavilion at the event. At the beginning of the project we were expecting 40, and today we have over 60 exhibitors.” It is also the first time, she says, that French wines and spirits are being exhibited under the same roof.

Chile, Georgia, the Czech Republic and Japan also have sizable beverage alcohol representations. The annual event was co-produced by Diversified Communications and Vinexposium.