Vinexpo cancels consumer wine show

Vinexpo’s planned foray into running its first consumer wine show has been abandoned for 2012.

The logo for Rendez-Vous by Vinexpo

The event, called Rendez-Vous by Vinexpo, was due to be held in New York City from November 16-18, but has been “postponed”, according to information released by the trade show organisers this morning.

Vinexpo noted that 52 tasting areas out of the 150 scheduled have been reserved, which, it admits, is a long way short of the minimum number of exhibitors it had hoped to attract.

“We don’t want our exhibitors, who invest in this new project to risk having mixed success,” commented Robert Beynat, chief executive of Vinexpo.

“This decision to postpone is responsible with regard to our customers and our partners”, he added.

As previously reported by the drinks business, the new exhibition was hoping to attract 6,000 visitors over three days from 16-18 November, just ahead of North America’s major public holiday, Thanksgiving.

The inaugural Rendez-Vous was due to be held in Manhattan’s Javits Convention Centre, and Beynat said he had chosen New York over other North American cities because, “There are 25 million inhabitants within one hour’s travelling time [from the centre], plus 50 million tourists, which is enough to find 5-6,000 people”.

Shareholders in the event include Marvin Shanken, publisher of The Wine Spectator (and organiser of the New York Wine Experience), as well as the New York Chocolate Show, Constellation, Kendall Jackson and Kobrand.

A one-day pass to the event was going to be sold for US$180, and entry to masterclasses during the three-day exhibition would cost $300.

Click here for more information on Rendez-Vous by Vinexpo.