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Millésime BIO 2025 puts emphasis on diversity and affordability
Among its new initiatives, show organiser Sudvinbio is freezing rates and helping young businesses to make Millésime BIO 2025 its most useful edition yet.

The world’s largest organic wine fair, Millésime BIO, is returning to Montpellier in January, after a successful 2024 edition that saw 9,600 visitors descend on the southern French city. Sudvinbio, the interprofessional organisation behind the fair, expects 11,000 visitors between 27 and 29 January.
Among the 1,500 exhibitors booked for the show, France is pre-eminent, taking 80% of spaces. However, the selection is broad, with 16 nations represented. These range from prominent exporters, such as Italy, Spain and Argentina, to emerging players including Slovenia and the United Kingdom.
Several popular areas are returning to the show, including sections for beer, cider, spirits and bulk wine. The 2025 fair will also see the second edition of a competition dedicated to celebrating biodiversity: La Biodiversite, C’est Mon Domaine.
Among the new initiatives for this year, producers will have a dedicated section for no- and low-alcohol products, a showcase of wines made from resistant grape varieties and a separate section celebrating 30 years of winegrowing association and certification body Biodyvin.
The variety of countries participating, as well as the breadth of categories, is all part of the plan. Although the show has a specific focus, that can still include a wide segment of the drinks trade. “We want the most diversity possible,” explains Jeanne Fabre, chair of Millésime BIO and . “It makes sense to have a global picture.”
Industry needs prioritised
Alongside the new initiatives, Millésime BIO 2025 is notable for its attention to the needs of the industry. In view of global economic headwinds, as well as industry-specific structural challenges, the fair has listened to the needs of its attendees, both exhibiting and visiting.
This year, despite registrations filling in record time, exhibitor numbers have been capped at 1,500. “There are too many people queuing,” says Fabre. “It’s a good sign for the fair.”
In fact, it is part of the overall strategy to grow only in tandem with the number of buyers it can host. This maximises the opportunities to make fruitful contacts and new business agreements. It also, says Fabre, improves the overall experience: “We like that human scale of the fair.”

To further aid exhibitors, Millésime BIO has frozen its rates for the 2025 edition. Moreover, young businesses (those either newly established or recently inherited) receive a 30% discount to incentivise their attendance. That complements the registration structure, which keeps the show fresh by reserving 20% of space for first-time exhibitors.
Visitors, meanwhile, will benefit from a completely revamped digital system for making appointments. Once more, as the fair prioritises usefulness over growth, the effort is to provide a seamless visitor experience.
“In a few clicks, you have access to all the information,” Fabre enthuses. “The focus is on efficiency, more communication and the objective to attract more and more buyers.”
Facing global trends
Far from shying away from industry challenges, Millésime BIO is addressing them full-throatedly. In fact, it is making the case that the organic fair is essential for understanding a changing landscape.
A combination of declining consumption and customers tightening their belts means that some producers may be sceptical about organic conversion. With no recourse to quick chemical solutions and more labour-intensive processes to follow, organic production comes with additional costs. Yet Fabre flips the proposition, suggesting that organic viticulture is a solution rather than a problem.
“The economic crisis is hitting the wine world badly,” she says, “but organic wines resist much better.” With less dependence on large distributors and retailers, she believes, organic wines have access to an enthusiastic, more direct consumer base that will help them weather the storm.
Moreover, Millésime BIO’s own research is challenging stereotypes that organic wines are prohibitively expensive. Fabre cites its 2,000 entries for the Challenge Millésime BIO. They predominantly retail below €20, with many below €10, “killing the image we have of hyper-expensive organic wine.”

Yet there is no space for complacency. One reason for the inclusion of categories beyond wine at the fair, as well as for its new no- and low-alcohol section, is the organisers’ belief that they must adapt with the market.
“We can’t afford to ignore any kind of trend,” says Fabre. “Organic wine should be everywhere.” That attitude also extends to related categories, such as biodynamic and regenerative wines. Just because they are gaining traction, she says, the centrality of organic practices cannot be ignored: “They are great choices, but organic is the base.”
The challenge, then, appears to be communication. Millésime BIO is investing to demonstrate the advantages of organic viticulture, and in 2025 will drive that message beyond its historically strong markets.
With a buzzing fair anticipated at the end of the month, its biggest opportunity is fast approaching. That, for Fabre, is what makes it a highlight of the calendar: “I most look forward to sharing our passion with new people.”
Millésime BIO returns to Montpellier from 27-29 January.
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