Vinexpo prepares to take on New York

Vinexpo has released details of its upcoming exhibition in New York – the fair organiser’s first exhibition in the Americas since 2002.

Vinexpo New York will showcase hundreds of exhibitors from the wine and spirits industries, representing a total of 16 countries.

Vinexpo New York will take place over two days, from 5-6 March 2018, and will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. More than 200 exhibitors have already registered, representing 18 countries including Australia, Austria, France, South Africa, Spain and the US, as well as from Argentina, Chile, Croatia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Moldova, Russia, Sweden and Uruguay.

Among the producers attending, 10 will hail from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, a region that can trace its winemaking history  to the 14th century, when the village became the summer residence of the papacy and Pope John XXII granted its wine the rank of “Vin du Pape.”

At Vinexpo New York, the pavilion will comprise 10 estates where visitors will be able to taste a rare 100% Mourvèdre Châteauneuf-du-Pape from Domaine Les Semelles de Vent, as well as a range of Châteauneuf-du-Pape whites, including Brotte’s succulent 100% Roussanne.

Other introductions will include a traditional red cuvée from Domaine Font de Michelle mixing eight grape varieties, a 100% Grenache from Cellier des Princes, and three single-vineyard cuvées from Domaine de la Charbonnière.

Wines of South Africa will also be at the show, with producers including Boschendal, Bouchard Finlayson, Ken Forrester and Waterford among the 16 estates making the trip.

As of mid-2017, South African sales were up by 13% in the US, according to wine analysts Gomberg-Fredrikson, led by Steen (Chenin Blanc), the country’s most-planted grape variety, with Cap Classiques – traditional-method sparkling wines – rosés, and other varieties also contributing to the growth.

Elsewhere, eastern European drinks producer Tarifa Varrilado will present Platinvm Fragrances, a unique collection of pearlescent cocktails that combine wine with natural fruit and flower extracts.

Created by TAVASA, an innovative Spanish family distillery founded in 1847, the range includes No. 3 Rose Petals & Orange, No. 5 Strawberry & Mint, No. 6 Violets & Wild Berries, No. 7 Pineapple & Coconut, and No. 8 Green Apple & Amaretto, as well as a Summer Edition Yuzu & Ginger.

Bodegas Altanza – a Spanish winery in La Rioja – has been earmarked by Vinexpo as a “brand to watch”, having recently won a gold Berlin Wine Trophy for its new Club Lealtanza Reserva 2010, and has also recentle introduced its Spanish Artists Collection Reserve Sorolla 2010.

The latest in Bodegas Altanza’s series of research and development projects to improve viticultural practices is a weather station that provides real-time, site-specific data, and tracks the microclimate of the vineyard, including temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, solar radiation, wind speed, vegetative activity, and more.

Other wines on show will include Almaviva Puente Alto 2015, JamesSuckling.com’s Wine of the Year 2017 having scored 100 points. Almaviva is a joint venture between Domaines Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Concha y Toro.

“This is a wine that epitomizes greatness with its intensity, structure and balance [and] highlights how South America, specifically Chile, has come into its own as a wine area, producing superb wines that can compete with the best in the world,” wrote Suckling.

On the spirits side, UFT Europe (Unique Food Technology) will be showcasing its Russian Sikera Tartaria – a strong drink made from Siberian herbs with a unique character, delicate taste, and the aroma of sweet berries and fruit. 

Sikera Grand Tartaria and Sikera Nikitas 50 recently won a gold and silver medal, respectively, at the drinks business’ sister title, the spirits business’, Global Spirits Masters competition in London in the Luxury Spirits category.