Vinexpo Asia 2023 – what to expect from the fair
This month Vinexpo Asia will be staged at its new home in Singapore. Jessica Mason looks at what visitors to the fair can expect.
An event not to be missed, Vinexposium is preparing its major comeback in Asia by hosting Vinexpo Asia from 23 to 25 May 2023 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
In what promises to be an excellent event for networking, tasting, and discovering what is internationally available in the wine and spirits industry, the new location, with its visually arresting venue, is set to be a hub of tastemakers. It will also bring the event to the forefront of the sector, and tap into an audience keen to boost wine in the region.
It is anticipated that 1,000 wine and spirits producers from around the globe will travel to the Singapore show to do business, with a projected 8,000 visitors due to attend and use the event to eye up new trends and carry out business.
The event will also offer a high-level programme of masterclasses and conferences over the three-day exhibition, giving attendees lots to do and see during their time there.
Research by the IWSR for Vinexposium has forecast an annual rate of overall volume growth of 4% in Singapore between 2021 and 2025, meaning it could prove to be a better location for the event than Hong Kong. It is a market that has the potential to grow and become more established in the future.
Paving the way
Speaking to the drinks business about the event, Bence Petho, Thailand buyer for Valentine VM Wines, reveals how the show’s new home will help pave the way for those looking to network. He points out how it is a “good spot for all of us working in Asia”and adds that Singapore’s “superb airport” and “good transportation within the city state” are crucial factors that could lead to the Marina Bay Sands venue becoming the new permanent location for the show.
From an exhibitor perspective, many international winemaking countries, with strategic interests in the Asia region, are due to attend the show.
This year, Vinexpo Asia will be welcoming, among other countries, some of the most respected and exciting producers from Argentina, with Grupo Peñaflor, Familla Zuccardi, and Catena Zapata in attendance. Additionally, from Spain there will be Vicente Gandia, González Byass, Bodega Barón de Ley, and Manzanos Wines all helping people discover more about Spanish wine and the future of the country’s industry.
From Chile, Montes Wines will be present to show their wines, and from South Africa the show will welcome DGB. Australia will be represented by Casella Family Brands and, from the US there will be the hugely popular and innovative Jackson Family Wines. Those looking at what is available from New Zealand should seek out Booster Wine Group, which will also be at the show.
Many attendees and exhibitors are focused on in-person meetings. After the restrictions of lockdowns people are keen to get back to business.
Clinton Ang, managing director of Cornerstone Wines, says: “As Singapore’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, since 1938, we are overjoyed to have the inaugural Vinexpo Asia taking place in this country.”
It would be fair to assume that for many people in the industry, the event serves as a catalyst for the next business steps that will be made by wine producers, retailers and distributors.
A “must” show
Marcello Puorro, CEO of Singaporean export company EMAFB, observes: “Vinexpo is a very well-known brand in Asia among all professionals.” He says that attending Vinexpo Asia in Singapore is a ‘must’, not just for what it can offer, but also for what it represents – the next big moves in viticulture.
European brands are attending the show too, with French companies coming out in full force. Visitors are in for a treat, since French exhibitors taking part in Vinexpo Asia 2023 are already set to include: Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte, Cognac Tesseron, Les vins Georges Duboeuf, Maison Albert Bichot, Badet Clément, Le Plan des Moines, Paul Mas, Advini, Domaine de Cazaban, Vignobles Lorgeril, Duclot, Joanne, Ulysse Cazabonne, Castel, Borie Manoux, Ballande & Meneret, Barton & Guestier, Domaines Jean-Michel Cazes, Maison Descaves, Maison Ginestet, Maison Sichel, and Nath Johnston. Each winery illustrates France’s position of timeless excellence in wine as much as the role it continues to play in the future of the industry with oenophiles, investors, and collectors looking for their next big opportunity to become a major player.
Mathilde Chapoutier, commercial and business development director for M. Chapoutier, is delighted at the prospect of attending the event, and insists that Vinexpo Asia in Singapore is due to be something of a revival for the industry. She adds that because “the future leader of the Asian wine market is hosting this event” it is especially significant.
As part of its academy, Vinexpo Asia will also be providing a top-quality programme to keep people entertained, informed and invigorated. This will include masterclasses by Catena Zapata and Wines of Western Australia, as well as must-attend fixtures like the Battle of the Sommeliers, and the Vinexpo Challenge, which will be held in conjunction with ASI (International Sommelier Association). There will also be a major tasting held by the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux.
After Vinexposium made the decision to temporarily move away from its original Hong Kong location, where Vinexpo Hong Kong launched in 1998, its new venue was chosen to perpetuate the event’s success. Many exhibitors are excited that they are not just going to see a return to form, but something even better than before.
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While Vinexpo Asia will focus entirely on wines and spirits and plans to stay as an annual event in the group’s portfolio, it also has bigger intentions, and is anticipated to continue to play an influential international role.
Vinexposium is also said to be renewing its strong commitment to Asia-Pacific in an effort to secure its position as a key business platform in a region where wine and spirits imports are rapidly increasing.
Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, explains: “There is very strong demand among our exhibitors to return to Asia in the best possible conditions. Singapore stands out as an obvious choice for serving the interests of the entire Asia-Pacific region, and acts as a magnet, not only for Chinese clients, but also Australians, South Koreans, Thais, Japanese and Vietnamese, to name a few.”
He insists that the location change has been a strategic move and is now due to be an important next step for wine reaching a broader global marketplace. Lameyse reiterates that the team is “putting all our means into making Vinexpo successful in Asia, using Singapore as a hub” and observes that this is largely because “the super-rich Chinese” have been relocating to Singapore for a long time, making it the perfect meeting base. But he says there is also an additional positive message that it reinforces – that this is an industry that never gives up, a message that many producers are taking as personal inspiration in their plans.
According to Lameyse, despite the relocation, the event should not be colloquially named Vinexpo Singapore, but Vinexpo Asia, since it looks to serve the whole region.
“Asia is where I want to hit,” Lameyse asserts, showing that there is plenty of vigour for making this year ’s newest location a success. It has already been heralded as a significant calendar date, not just because of being held at a prime location, but most importantly because among the wine elite the show symbolises a direct route towards a prosperous future for the region.
Exhibitors and attendees are seeing the show as an opportunity to showcase their latest and greatest bottlings in a global forum. For instance, French producer Barton & Guestier is focused on using Vinexpo Asia to talk about the launch of its NectaRose 0.0% ABV sparkling rosé, packaged in a 250ml aluminium bottle. This, it explains, gives the winery a “double goal” to reach new sales targets and show the versatility of its wines, as well as being in a place where it can show the world how much progress it has made as a company in terms of reducing its carbon footprint.
Philippe Marion, general manager Barton & Guestier, describes B&G NectaRose as “a premium sparkling rosé that is alcohol free, a true 0%, without preservatives, without added sugar and sulphites” and points out that it is also “vegan friendly, and halal suitable”, which means the brand is casting its net wide and wants to attract all wine drinkers, whatever their lifestyle choices. Marion says that B&G will be reiterating how “the target group is clearly for people who want to socialise and reduce their alcohol intake” but that another target will be “younger consumers who may have started exploring the RTD category”. He adds that this in itself shows how diverse the range of drinks will be that are being shown at the event.
Global movement
B&G is involved in some big moves in terms of corporate social responsibility, and has a strategy for the coming years that is set to optimise its “global movement in favour of the environment”. The firm says that when it attends the show it wants people to know all about its two major goals: obtaining the necessary environmental certifications for brands, and reducing its overall carbon footprint by responsible product development and purchasing.
Marion says: “As part of this, the innovation teams are involved in responsible product development, favouring lightweight bottles, recycled paper for labels and vegetable ink dyes, as well as carton outer shippers.” And he reveals how B&G went further with the development of its “250ml aluminium bottles weighing only 35 grams when empty”, and identifies how these new moves are something that attendees may be interested in finding out more about.
Speaking about what will be available for attendees to see at the event, Chris Forbes, sales director at The Fladgate Partnership, says: “As well as rare and highly-sought-after wines, Taylor’s will have available to taste its full range of Ports, including some mature vintage Port, and expressions from its two other principle houses Fonseca and Croft.” Forbes says: “We will be showcasing two recent releases, our first 50 Year Old Tawny Port, Taylor’s Golden Age, and our VVOP, a Port wine made from a selection of rare lots matured in wood in our cellars, some of which have been concentrating since before the Second World War.”
He would also like to encourage people to “come and discover more about the World of Wine in Porto, the new cultural district, comprising seven museums and 12 restaurants, right in the heart of the historic centre of Vila Nova de Gaia”.
Helene Scheidl, Austrian Wine’s team lead for international markets, identifies how the event is something that its team has set its sights on. Scheidl says: “We are very proud that together with Advantage Austria – the Austrian Trade Commission in Singapore – Austrian Wine will take part in the first edition of Vinexpo Asia in Singapore.” According to Scheidl, Austrian Wine will “have a group stand with 15 wineries present in Singapore”. In addition, she explains: “There will be the Austrian Wine Bar, showing wines from a further 15 wineries which were not able to attend the fair.” This gives attendees the opportunity to discover and sample a broad variety of wines that otherwise would not have been on their radar.
She adds that as well as the possibility of meeting winemakers and tasting their wines, Austrian Wines will be organising short pop-up seminars at its booth to keep people entertained and informed. She explains: “Our highlight will be the Austrian Wine masterclass, presented by two Masters of Wine, Annette Scarfe and Debra Meiburg, held on 24 May at 2.30pm.” This will give people the chance to explore what the country has to offer in quality, style, and diversity too.”
Argentina’s Catena Zapata is dedicated to networking at the event. Managing director Dr Laura Catena says: “We are looking forward to seeing all our Asia importers in one place for the first time since the Covid pandemic was declared in 2020.” She pinpoints how fundamental the event is since it celebrates people getting together again. Catena explains: “To celebrate the occasion, we are bringing over the first Asia performance of As Wine Flows By,” a play that tells the story of Malbec through the ages as portrayed by our label: Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino.”
She says part of the plan is to delight attendees and give them new and exciting ways to experience learning about wine and its history, and, in turn, gain their interest and attention for some standout expressions. She says: “This is the first label to tell the story of a wine variety. Malbec Argentino, an old-vine Malbec, has been a huge success all over the world, and has received many awards, including a packaging award from the drinks business.”
Asian debut
The 15-minute Catena Zapata play was written by playwright Gustavo Dias Ballejo, Laura Catena’s brother-in-law. It has already been performed all over Europe and the Americas, “so this will be the Asian debut at Vinexpo Singapore,” says Catena.
She adds that “the one-woman performance takes us back to the middle ages, and to the 19th century through the lives of two young women, Eleanor of Aquitaine and Anna Mosceta de Catena”. Catena says it is the retelling of this kind of story that is going to help the industry understand and feel connected to the history of the region. According to Catena, it is a performance that is “full of suspense and heart-warming moments, all related to the history of Malbec and its rebirth in the hands of the Catena family”, and Vinexpo Asia is a prime opportunity to take this message to the rest of the world, and to offer people in the trade a perspective on the unique nature of Argentinian wine.
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