db’s Exhibition Guide 2017

The drinks business casts its eye over the year ahead to present its list of must-attend exhibitions happening within the international wine industry calendar, presented in chronological order.

VINISUD

When: 29-31 January

Where: Parc des Expositions, Montpellier, France

 

Reportage Vinisud 2016 [Photo credit: Alain Reynaud Picture]Vinisud is back for the 13th edition, with a new motto – Passionately Mediterranean – and more content in its now annual schedule. The show brings together more than 1,000 Mediterranean exhibitors to the Parc des Expositions in Montpellier, from Algeria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malta, Morocco, Serbia, Slovenia, Tunisia and Turkey, as well as France, Italy, Portugal and Spain. Bordeaux and California are again included on the basis of similarities of production and grape varieties.

2016’s event saw more than 31,000 visitors, nearly a third of them international attendees, and this year the organisers are laying on a VIP programme to boost numbers of US, Asian and European visitors, as well as introducing a new online tool to better connect visitors and exhibitors. Two new areas have been added: La Nouvelle Vague, dedicated to young winegrowers, and an area specialising in wine tourism.

The self-serve tasting zones – one dedicated to still wines, the other to Prosecco and Cava – will return, along with an area devoted to Mediterranean grape varieties, and the Digital Hub. Trends will be a key focus as Vinisud debuts, in collaboration with Wine Intelligence, the International Observatory of Mediterranean wines – the first study of its kind to give an overview of the production and markets of 17 countries inside and outside the EU and Mediterranean wines throughout the world. Topics will include an overview of the production, markets and the dynamism of Mediterranean wines, which produce around 28% of the world’s wines, as well as a report on consumption trends among millennials in collaboration with SOWINE and SSI.

For further information see:  www.vinisud.com

 

MILLÉSIME BIO

When: 30 January – 1 February

Where: Marseille, France

 

Challenge Millesime Bio [Picture credit: Alain Reynaud Pictures]Dedicated to all things organic, Millésime Bio was founded in 1993 by winemakers of the Sudvinbio trade association, attracting exhibitors from Argentina, Austria, Bulgaria, Chile, Hungary, Germany, New Zealand, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland and the US as well as France, Italy and Spain.

2017 sees the show relocated to Marseilles but its concept, of ensuring all stands are identical so that smaller producers aren’t disadvantaged or overshadowed by larger, richer producers, remains at its heart. This puts everyone on an even footing and means the wines come first, the organisers say. And because stands are not grouped by region or appellation, the scattergun approach promotes greater interaction.

There are myriad opportunities to taste wines, including a self-service areas with enotecas serving wines that have won medals at the Challenge Millésime Bio competition, the international organic wine contest, now in its 10th year, which will be run at the show.

Running alongside is a programme of seminars looking at specific topics. On the agenda this year are regulatory development in the organic wine market, market trends in organic rosé, and technical solutions for grape varieties and rosé wine.

For further information see: www.millesime-bio.com/en

 

PINK – THE INTERNATIONAL ROSÉ FESTIVAL

When: 15 -17 February

Where: Cannes, France

 

Pink, the French festival devoted to rosé wines, is set to take place in Cannes, and promises to be a ‘modern and dynamic’ wine show.

The two-and-a-half-day festival will feature pre-arranged appointments between rosé producers from around the world and key international buyers, as well as informal networking opportunities, a free self-pour from the central Tasting Zone in the Espace Riviera, and the opportunity to participate in live wine-tasting sessions run by sommeliers.

Organiser Laurent Fiore, CEO of Pink and director of Beyond Exhibit, argues it is time that rosé had its own dedicated professional platform, pointing to the 16% increase of global production and consumption by 20% in the past 10 years. It will, he says, allow producers and buyers to embrace global shifts and “the singularity of today’s customers”, while encouraging professionals to be better connected and think more creatively.

Around 30% of producers attending the show hail from France, with a further 20% from Italy, 1% from the US and 10% from Spain. A highlight of the show is the Pink Awards 2017, taking place in the Debussy Theatre at the Palais des Festivals, which is open to still and sparkling rosé wines, and celebrates food and wine pairings. This involves chefs from five-star hotels who select a series of specialities, which sommeliers and producers have to pair with the rosé wines that are best-suited to the dish.

For further information see: www.pinkrosefestival.com

 

VINOVISION PARIS, THE INTERNATIONAL COOL CLIMATE WINE EXHIBITION

When: 12-14 February

Where: Paris, France

 

VinoVision logo

VinoVision Paris is a new international exhibition, the first of its kind to be devoted to cool-climate wines. Bringing together the trade associations of the Loire Valley (Interloire and Centre-Loire), Burgundy (Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne), Champagne (the Syndicat Général des Vignerons de la Champagne) and Alsace (Conseil Interprofessional des Vins d’Alsace), the show is designed to give a platform to cool-climate producers to address a growing consumer trend for cool-climate wines, showcase the diversity of the wines, and give greater visibility than is possible at larger shows.

The show, which is organised by Comexposium, will see around 400 exhibitors from Alsace, Beaujolais, Burgundy, Champagne, Jura, the Loire and Savoie, with plans to attract international producers next year. Around 6,000–8,000 visitors are expected from throughout Europe, particularly Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, and also the US. Along with a series of masterclasses on wine discovery, the organisers are working with trend-forecasting agency NellyRodi to identify the evolution of key moments for wine consumption and how this is changing for millennials, which will be presented as a trend book.

For further information see: www.vinovisionparis.com

 

PROWEIN

When: 19- 21 March

Where: Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre, Düsseldorf, Germany

 

[Photo Credit: Messe Düsseldorf, Constanze Tillmann]ProWein, one of the biggest trade wine shows in the world, is set to return to the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre for its 23rd year in March.

The three-day event will host around 6,300 exhibitors from 60 nations set along a new circuit that is intended to make it easier for the 55,000 visitors to navigate. New for this year is Organic World, which will showcase wines from 30 international exhibitors, while the main tasting area will host more than 500 wines from the Mundus Vini spring wine tasting – a competition judged by an expert panel of oenologists, critics, sommeliers, specialist retailers, and restaurateurs. This is in addition to the 500-plus tasting sessions, series of themed tastings, seminars, market briefings and presentations, and the ‘Same but Different’ showcase of innovative marketing and production concepts.

The Champagne Lounge will be back for the fourth year, featuring 40 Champagne producers, in addition to the 150-strong Champagne area, along with the spirits segment, while the Fizz Lounge that debuted last year will tackle emerging bar trends, coffee, craft beer and wine, as ProWein’s new global head of wine and spirits Marius Berlemann seeks to make the show more attractive to bars and restaurants.

New exhibitors include Ecuadoran winery Dos Hemisferios, Pico Wines from the Azores, Polish winery Turnau and the Asian Wine Producers Association, whose mission is to promote Asian wines and Asia as a respected wine region.

As well as its online planning forum and app, the show has developed Matchmaker, a forum that helps visitors ask specific questions of exhibitors before the show starts.

For further information see: www.prowein.com

 

DÉCOUVERTES EN VALLÉE DU RHÔNE

When: 10-13 April

Where: Rhône Valley, France

 

 

This collection of exhibitions and trade show brings together more than 650 producers and negociants from along the length of the Rhône valley in four locations – Ampuis, Avignon, Mauves and Tain l’Hermitage.

The largest tasting in the 9th annual edition takes place in Avignon’s impressive Palais des Papes, where 480 exhibitors from the Southern Rhône AOC will gather on 10-11 April for tastings, with thematic masterclasses throughout and a prestige wine tasting with two well-known sommeliers on the first day of the exhibition.

This is followed by a series of trade events, showcasing regions on the north side of the river, with around 40 exhibitors from Crozes-Hermitage and 10 from Hermitages in the town of Tain l’Hermitage on 12 April. Fifty exhibitors from Saint-Joseph, Cornas and Saint-Peray will be at nearby Mauves. The final day of the celebration will see 60 exhibitors from Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu gather at Ampuis.

Last year saw around 2,200 visitors from 31 different countries attend the nine tastings.

For further information see: www.decouvertes-vins-rhone.com

 

VINITALY

When 9-12 April

Where: Verona, Italy

The Italian wine show is now in its 51st edition, and is one of the biggest trade-only shows in Italy, annually clocking an impressive 130,000 international visitors. Last year it attracted 25% more visitors from the US, 18% more from the UK, 130% from China and saw a 40% increase in the number of visitors from Africa.

This year the show is making a concerted effort to boost the number of international exhibitors even further, and numbers are already up on the same time last year, according to Maurizio Danese, president of Veronafiere which organises the show.

“In 2016, we distinctly separated b2b from b2c, expanded services and multiplied opportunities for meetings between exhibitors and international buyers during the show, while at the same time moving all consumer-related aspects to the ‘Vinitaly and the City’ off-show event held in the city centre,” Danese said. “The next step is to broaden the number of companies attending from abroad to open new business channels.”

To do this, the organisers have reconfigured the layout to expand and increase the visibility of Vininternational, the tasting area devoted to international wine production that debuted alongside Vinitaly Bio in 2015. Vinitaly Bio, which is dedicated to certified organic and biodynamic wines, will be joined by the Bio Wine Bar, giving greater visibility for companies exhibiting conventional wines in other halls that also have certified organic lines.

For further information see: www.vinitaly.com/en

 

PROWINE ASIA

When: 8-11 May

Where: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong

Although originally anticipated as a biennial event alternating between Singapore and Hong Kong, the launch of ProWine Asia in 2016 was so successful – 7,300 visitors from 43 countries attended – that organisers decided to make the show an annual event.

Alternating between the two cities gives it “immense potential”, the organisers said, with the Hong Kong edition catering for local markets as well as Japan, Macau, South Korea and Taiwan. “South East Asia and China are seeing increasing consumption of wines and spirits from affluent consumers, and this will lead to an increase in demand for a wide-ranging variety of wines and spirits,” they added.

The show takes place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, running in parallel with leading food fair HOFEX, whose wine segment has been merged and extended into ProWine Asia. The show will offer visitors a selection of tasting sessions, analysis of new trends and development insights, as well as the chance to meet new suppliers.

Producers from many of Europe’s traditional wine regions – Austria, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain – have already signed up, along with those from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. This year’s programme of expert masterclass and seminars includes wine critic Jancis Robinson MW hosting a tasting focusing on under-appreciated grape varieties, as well as a trade seminar on the first day of the exhibition.

Advance registration for visitors opens in January 2017.

For further information see: www.prowineasia.com

 

TFWA DUTY FREE AND TRAVEL RETAIL ASIA PACIFIC SUMMIT

When: 7-11 May

Where: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

 

TFWA is the world’s largest duty-free and travel retail group, which not only provides the industry with in-depth market research but also high-profile exhibitions, conferences, and workshops.

Last year, Asia bucked the decline in worldwide duty free and travel retail sales, rising a “significant” 2.6% against a wider industry drop of 2.3%. At the same time, both exhibitor and visitor numbers increased at the TFWA Asia Pacific Summit, up 9% and 12% respectively last year. Around 2,905 industry professionals attended the Marina Bay Sands venue and more than 360 appointments were made by the show’s bespoke meeting service.

The Summit also saw ferry and cruise operators take part for the first time, as well as more than 60 airports and airlines. The show’s conference sessions address key concerns for the industry – last year topics included navigating through the changing duty-free and travel-retail landscape, safeguarding the future, and tracking the millennial customer, as well as three industry-focused workshops.

The fair enables retailers, exhibiting brands and service providers to meet senior executives from Asia Pacific airports and airlines, with an extensive programme for networking, along with social events including a golf tournament, a cocktail reception at Raffles Club, chill out party on the roof of the Mandarin Oriental, and a Singapore Swing party at Mambo Beach.

For further information see: www.tfwa.com

 

LONDON WINE FAIR

When: 22-24 May

Where: London Olympia, UK

The London Wine Fair is the UK’s biggest wine trade event (Photo: LWF)

Since it was launched in 1981, the London Wine Fair has become the largest wine-centric trade show in the UK, a must-attend event for wine and spirit professionals already operating in the hugely important UK market, and those hoping to do so.

After relocating back to Kensington Olympia’s Grand Hall in 2014, after 13 years at ExCel in Docklands, the last two years have seen organiser Brintex focus on raising the calibre of the show, making it more relevant to the domestic market while maintaining its appeal to global buyers.

Popular segments on premium wines (The View Tastings), niche producers and micro-importers (Esoterica), and around 80 producers unrepresented in the UK (Wines Unearthed), are set to return for the show’s 37th year, running alongside the usual programme of briefings, masterclasses, pop-up tastings and debates.

This year’s edition, which returns to its late May dates, will also feature new exhibitors and content yet to be revealed, show organiser Ross Carter confirmed, with diversity a continuing theme.

Last year’s show welcomed 700 exhibitors, 14,000 visitors and around 10,000 wines over the three days, with the massive organisational logistics underpinned by Bottlebooks, the global wine-data platform that made its UK debut at last year’s show.

This partnership with Bottlebooks will be strengthened in 2017, as the number of companies who have signed up to its services has swelled considerably since its UK launch. Around 26,700 searches were made by London Wine Fair visitors in the weeks leading up to the 2016 show and on-site, Carter said, and this is expected to double in 2017.

For further information see: www.londonwinefair.com

 

VINEXPO

When: 18-21 June

Where: Bordeaux, France

 

Vinexpo Bordeaux

Vinexpo, the biennial Bordeaux trade fair that was founded in 1981, is revamping its content for 2017, having spent the past couple of years concentrating on improving the layout and logistics of the Parc des Expositions-based show.

Now in its 19th edition, the Vinexpo Bordeaux will launch a range of new initiatives this year, including a new ‘Hosted Buyers Program’. This section of the show will host up to 200 new international buyers, who will also participate in One-to-Wine meetings with exhibitors. Part of the reason for this new feature lies in attracting buyers from fast-growing sectors such as e-commerce and travel retail, as well as visitors from key growth markets including China, the US, Northern Europe and Africa.

In addition, two new pavilions will be installed to focus on wine growers and niche wines, while organic and biodynamic wines will be boosted by a dedicated new area called WOW!, or World of Organic Wine. Les Terrasses, the indoor-outdoor exhibition space that showcases major brands, is set to return for 2017, along with the Blend networking party, and L’Atelier Food & Wine pairings.

2017 will also see dedicated Riesling tastings, while Spain will take the spotlight as this year’s Country of Honour, a feature that was introduced last year.

For further information see: www.vinexpo.com/en

 

SIMEI@drinktec

When: 11-15 September

Where: Munich, Germany

 

[Photo credit: Fabio Diena]This year will see the debut of Simei@drinktec in Munich, following the merger of the Italian International Trade Fair for Winemaking and Bottling Technology with German beverage show Drinktec in August 2015.

The agreement has been designed to boost the international appeal of the show, and will see an area dedicated to wine technology at the Munich drinktec show. A similar arrangement will be in place for the Italian edition, which will run in 2019 then every four years, as the show effectively alternates between the two venues.

The showcase will cover around 20,000m2 and take up at least two exhibition halls devoted to machines for wine production and treatment as well as packaging, boosting the overall show to around 150,000m2. Unione Italiana Vini general manager, Francesco Pavanello, promised the greater integration between the two companies would provide the possibility of future joint projects and better access to potential customers.

“More than 50% of drinktec exhibitors also offer solutions for the wine industry and, as a result of the integration of Simei, they will have access to a greater number of potential customers,” he said.

For further information see: www.simei.it/en

 

TFWA WORLD EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE

When: 3-5 October

Where: Cannes, France

 

The annual French TFWA World Exhibition and Conference combines a showcase of premium wine and spirits brands with a range of networking opportunities for the travel industry.

Around 500 exhibitors take part in the five-day event, which reaches around 6,500 industry professionals, a third of whom are key buyers from leading landlords and retailers, and at least half from outside the EU, the TFWA says.

The opening conference is designed to give visitors and producers alike insights into the macro-economic factors affecting the global travel-retail market, including a state-of-the-industry update, along with a series of dedicated workshops throughout the week looking at different regions, channels, and issues affecting the trade.

The ONE2ONE meeting service can help visitors plan private, pre-scheduled meetings with some of the industry’s key players worldwide, with meetings taking place towards the end of the exhibition week. There are also a range of formal and relaxed networking and social events, from the opening night cocktails to the last-night finale.

For further information see: www.tfwa.com/duty_free/TFWA-World-Exhibition-Conference

 

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS FAIR

When: 9-11 November

Where: Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong

A firm favourite on the industry circuit, the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair will return for its 10th year in 2017, organised by the Hong Kong Development Council.

Last year 1,000 exhibitors packed the 16,600m2 halls in the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, with around 20,000 international visitors attending from 68 countries. Around 40% of attendees came from outside Hong Kong, the organisers noted, with a strong presence from buyers from Mainland China, Japan and Taiwan. European visitor numbers were also strong, accounting for 16% of the total, notably from France, Italy and Spain, while there was an increased number of visitors from Australia, the US and elsewhere in the world.

Running alongside the show is a packed programme of seminars, while the annual Wine Industry Conference is noted for attracting an array of industry experts from across Asia and the globe. Although the topics for 2017 have yet to be revealed, last year explored the new opportunities within the trend for cool-climate wines, offering insight and market analysis into the topic.

On the final day of the show, the doors are thrown open to the public to promote wine education and wine appreciation, typically attracting around 30,000 people.

For further information see: www.hktdc.com

 

WORLD BULK WINE EXHIBITION

When: 20-21 November

Where: Amsterdam Rai, Amsterdam

A meeting place for buyers, wine brokers, dealers, and bulk wine sellers, the World Bulk Wine Exhibition was founded in 2009 by Spanish company Pomona Keeps to cater for this important sector of the market, and has grown in size and stature over the past decade. The number of exhibitors has steadily risen and now numbers around 300 companies from 22 different countries, representing around 85% of the global supply for bulk wine exports.

Now in its ninth edition, the show is expected to attract more than 6,000 visitors from 66 countries. As well as the main exhibition area and silent tasting room, there is a conference programme looking at topics as varied as trends in bulk wine and global consumption patterns to logistics in shipping and transport.

However, the focus is also on enabling business. As well as networking opportunities, there is an area reserved for business meetings to facilitate business transactions. In 2015, the bulk wine industry accounted for 38.6% of global exports, while last year’s show saw transactions worth more than 3,500 million euros agreed during the three days, organisers said.

For further information see: www.worldbulkwine.com