The key dates in La Place de Bordeaux’s 2026 calendar
2025 was hardly an auspicious year for the fine wine market and, despite a certain air of gallows’ humour in and around Bordeaux over the festive season, the prospects for 2026 do not look any more propitious. db’s Bordeaux correspondent, Colin Hay, marks his calendar with the key dates that will shape the market’s fortunes in what promises to be something of a make-or-break year for La Place.
20 January – the anniversary of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the US (Washington, D.C). Enough said! His influence on market trends since the 20th of January last year has been immense … it is unlikely to be less significant in the year to come.
9-10 February – Vinexpo, Porte de Versailles exhibition centre, Paris
A massive moment in the fine wine calendar in any year; above all so in 2026. For when market conditions are tough, trade fairs become more not less important. That is well understood in Bordeaux and all the leading négociants will be there. And so will The Drinks Business. This is the moment when the market sentiment for the year will really be set.
March 15-17 – Prowein, Düsseldorf, Germany
This is an important year for Prowein. Trade fairs might well be more (not less) important in tough market conditions. But those self-same conditions also intensify the competition between trade fairs – notably that between Vinexpo and Prowein – as potential stand holders seek to maximise their return on any potential outlay. Is the fine wine market big enough for the both of them? By mid-March we might well have a clear answer to that question.
19 March – Yquem day (the third Thursday in March)
A key date in the Bordeaux calendar as ever, with the much anticipated release of Yquem’s 2023 vintage. This is a vintage of great promise with late onset botrytis forming on fully ripe grapes; yet it is also a vintage that requires, as it massively rewards, the freshness that so brilliantly characterises Yquem in recent years. I for one cannot wait to taste this wine.
March – The release of La Place de Bordeaux’s spring collection
A massive test both of market sentiment and of the capacity of these elite global fine wine producers and their courtiers and négociants to adapt themselves to those market conditions. In short, a great spectator sport in prospect that The Drinks Business will be following closely.
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12-15 April – Vinitaly, Verona, Italy
Vinitaly is always something of a singularity. Until recently this was a largely domestic celebration of vinous Italy, but it has become increasingly international over the last few years whilst losing none of its authentic charm and unadulterated hedonism. Book your flights and accommodation early. The Cannes Film Festival of wine!
20-23 April – Bordeaux en primeur week
The unveiling of the immensely promising and, it seems, rarely anticipated 2025 vintage. The Drinks Business will be there to keep you informed and, to for those who might be tempted, to guide you.
May-June – The Bordeaux en primeur campaign
As has been the trend in recent years, the first releases are likely to be early, with the bulk of the releases set to occur before the start of Vinexpo Asia. Another make-or-break campaign on which hangs the fate of the much debated en primeur system (I think I’ve said that before!).
26-28 May – Vinexpo Asia Hong Kong
A make-or-break Vinexpo Asia at a crucial moment in the evolution of the Asian fine wine market. All of la place will be there – some of them, no doubt, biting their finger nails as they search for orders.
September – The release of La Place de Bordeaux’s autumn collection
As for the March releases this is likely to prove a massive test both of market sentiment and of adaptability of those bringing new releases to the market. Following on from en primeur, this will set the trend for the end of the calendar year.
November – Benvenuto Brunello (followed by la place’s Brunello releases on La Place in December)
Benvenuto Brunello is an increasingly important date in the fine wine calendar. It will see the release of the new Brunello di Montalcino vintage (in 2026, the 2022 vintage for Brunello di Montalcino and the majestic 2021 vintage for the Riserva wines). It takes place in the cloister of the iconic Sant ’Agostino Museum in Montalcino.
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