Vinexpo prepares for Chinese surge

Vinexpo is predicting a record number of visitors from China this June, boosted by the Bordeaux fair’s creation of its first ever Chinese pavilion.

Having attracted 500 Chinese visitors in 2009, the biennial trade fair saw this amount nearly triple in 2011 to 2,340.

With early enquiries indicating a further increase in visitors from China, Vinexpo’s Chinese pavilion will feature 10 distillers from Sichuan province, as well as wine producers such as Kweichow Mountain, and Yunnan Red Chateau.

These will be joined by exhibitors including Bordeaux negociant Diva and Cognac Menuet, both of which have recently been bought by Chinese investors.

Commenting on the fair’s growing Chinese character, Vinexpo CEO Robert Beynat said: “The increasing numbers of Chinese visitors to Vinexpo reflect the growing popularity of wine and spirits in China and their hearty consumption, both of which demonstrate the attention that the Chinese pay to these industries. They come to Vinexpo to meet top professionals and buyers and to do business.”

According to research released by Vinexpo earlier this year, China is now the fifth largest wine consumer in the world, with a 142% leap between 2007 and 2011 expected to increase a further 40% by 2016.

However, Vinexpo also flagged up China’s growing status as a wine producer, predicting that it will overtake Australia and Chile to become the six largest in the world by 2016.

Vinexpo takes place from 16-20 June 2013, with organisers anticipating more than 48,000 visitors from 135 countries and 2,500 exhibitors.