A new off for Wine Paris: the 1855 classification council of Médocs and Sauternes comes into contact with buyers and professional prescribers the day before the show to support Grands Crus Classés in search of a commercial rebound.
The Wine Paris show already has many off-season events before its opening: Degré Zéro show for alcohol-free, Demeter for biodynamics, etc. - photo credit: Adobe Stock (Georges Blond): Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, Musée des Arts Décoratifs et de la Publicité.
Although they will meet on Sunday 8 February 2025 at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs (rue de Rivoli, Paris I), the 54 Grands Crus Classés in 1855 from the Médoc and Sauternes meeting there for the first time will not be there on the eve of the Wine Paris trade fair (Monday 9-Wednesday 11 February at the Porte de Versailles). Reserved for professionals in the wine industry (buyers, prescribers and journalists, by invitation from 1 to 6 p.m.), this first edition affirms the ambition to be "the opening event of Wine Paris 2026" with the objective of "becoming a new annual, unifying and influential event" to raise awareness of Bordeaux wines among professionals and thus support the mobilization of the many merchants marketing the great vintages on Wine Paris. Where the great tasting of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGCB, a hundred properties is already being held on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 February in hall 7.1 of the exhibition centre).
A place for innovation
Unlike the latter, which only offers 2019 and 2022 vintages from UGCB member properties only, the 1855 tasting is open to wines other than those of the classified property. Whether it's a classic second wine from the Médoc, a dry white from Sauternes... "Each property will present three wines: its great wine in the 2020 vintage, another vintage of your choice and a complementary cuvée," says the press release, pointing out that "this selection will allow visitors to understand a broader reading of the terroirs, vintages and oenological approaches that shape the Grands Crus Classés today", in particular in a logic of "continuity of the historic classification and [of] new energy instilled by the technical and viticultural departments of the properties", whether "by integrating the environmental, climatic and oenological issues of its time, while preserving the identity of each cru".
1855, "this classification more modern than ever" told by the menus
"We need to increase contacts. It was a request from our members to do tastings of additional deliverables, opening up to more ready-to-drink vintages and second/other wines," Sylvain Boivert, director of the Grands Crus Classés Council, told Vitisphere, reporting a strong interest from professionals in an event held before the frenzy of the show in a central cultural venue. And not in a hotel lounge like other off-duty lounges. "Being in a historic place is well suited to great wines," says Sylvain Boivert, who points out that this off-event does not compete with the UGCB and has the support and approval of Wine Paris' organiser, Vinexposium, which ensures that international invitations are sent out for this event, enriching the show's environment without cannibalising it. But by adding moments of contact to revive sales in the Bordeaux market.
Because necessity is the law, even the Grands Crus Classés must innovate and mobilize to support their marketing, which has been affected by the general deconsumption of wine (affecting the red wines of the Médoc and the sweet wines of Sauternes), the ever-increasing global economic uncertainties (from exchange rates to geopolitical tensions) and the latest en primeur release campaigns that have not met with the expected success (despite the pricing efforts and profiles qualitative).
Source:Vitisphere - Alexander Abellan 8 jANUARY 2026
