The Vinexposium group’s flagship event opened at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles this morning, marking the return of large-scale trade events after a two-year hiatus. The official opening ceremony, attended by Mr Julien Denormandie, French Minister of Agriculture and Food, launched the three-day exhibition punctuated by tastings, business meetings and the major reunion of every strand of the industry in Paris this February.

The Minister praised the courage and determination of the organisers and the attendees for staying focused in order to make the event a reality. He particularly wanted to send out a message of confidence to producers: “Rest assured that we are by your side to honour these wonderful products and a love of wine which I share and which I am delighted to see celebrated here at the exhibition”.

During the official opening ceremony, Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, stressed the significance for the wine and spirits trade of resuming business: “Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris in February is a key date in the buying calendar. Today, we are gathered here in Paris and it is a huge pleasure to meet up once again. May the celebrations continue!”

As the first round of business meetings set the tempo for the first day, the prevailing mood throughout the exhibition aisles on the eve of the second day was one of joy.

“What a feeling to attend the first international wine fair after two years. Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris is already a success because it stuck to its original program. It was a bold decision. Respect...” comments Ilaria Ippoliti, export director at Tenuta del Buanamico.

“It’s the right time of the year for buying Northern hemisphere wines and Paris is so easy to get to from the UK », adds David Gill, Specialist Sales & Wine Development at Kingsland Drinks.
 

Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris continues through to 16 February at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles. The event is hosting 2,864 exhibitors from 32 countries, visitors from over 100 countries and a programme packed with 100 conferences, masterclasses and panel discussions.

 

 

WHAT TO EXPECT ON TUESDAY 15 FEBRUARY

 

OFFICIAL VISITS

 

10:00 am
Valérie Pécresse, a candidate in the Presidential election, will visit WINE PARIS & VINEXPO PARIS with Xavier Bertrand, chairman of the Hauts-de-France regional council, after meeting with members of the wine and spirits industry. She will then give an off-the-cuff press briefing.
[Start of the visit, entrance to Hall 3; press briefing, entrance to Hall 6]
 

10:30 am
Visit BY THE PORTUGUESE AMBASSADOR TO France
His Excellency Mr Jorge Torres Pereira
[Hall 5 - Entrance B]
 

10:30 am
Visit BY ANEV (national Association OF VINE AND WINE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES)  
25 MPs AND SENATORS BELONGING TO ANEV
Including Ms Nathalie Delattre, Co-Chair of ANEV and Vice-Chair of the Senate and Mr Philippe Huppe, Co-Chair of ANEV
LOUNGE [Hall 5.3 – Aisle F 247]

 

MUST-ATTEND CONFERENCES AND EVENTS
 

9:30 am
ANNUAL FEVS PRESS CONFERENCE (Federation of Wine and Spirits Exporters)
Results of French wine and spirits exports in 2021
Presented by César Giron, Chairman of the FEVS with Antoine Leccia, Chairman of the Executive Board of ADVINI and Philippe Casteja, Chairman and CEO of Borie Manoux
Presentation of the results of French wine and spirits exports.
THE WINE TALKS [Hall 6 - Aisle H 192]
 

10:30 am
La WineTech & Vinocamp PANEL DISCUSSION
New digital resources for gaining a better understanding and introduction to wine.
Manuel Peyrondet - President and Co-founder of Chais d’œuvre, Benjamin Sonet – Founder of My Balthazar, Anne-Victoire Monrozier - Miss Vicky Wine – Vinocamp – Château des Moriers
Camille Brachet – Founder of Ceux qui nous lient, Jean-Jacques Boutaud – Sociologist – Burgundy University.
La WineTech Perspectives [Hall 4. Aisle AC Stand 026]
 

11:30 am
VINEXPOSIUM PANEL DISCUSSION
Will the proposed new rates of excise duty in the United Kingdom make wine unaffordable?
With Andrew Catchpole - Moderator, Miles Beale - Managing director of the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, Hal Wilson - Managing director of Cambridge Wine Merchants and Justin Howard-Sneyd MW.
The ON!  [Hall 6. Aisle H Stand 192 ]

 

1:30 pm
Chef/Sommelier Duo
Florent Martin, France’s Best Sommelier 2020 - Head Sommelier of The Peninsula Paris Hotel
and David Bizet, Executive Chef of The Peninsula Paris Hotel (L'Oiseau Blanc gourmet restaurant)
[Hall 3. Salle 2 ON! The Masterclasses]
 

2:30 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION HOSTED BY LA WineTech & Vinocamp
E-commerce, online exhibitions, new virtual experiences: what can we expect for 2022?
La Wine Tech Perspectives [Hall 4. Aisle AC Stand 026]

 

3:00 pm
THE HMS (HAUT-MEDOC SELECTION) LIVE SESSIONS: CHATEAU QUITUS
With Guillaume-Alexandre Marx – Château Quintus (Domaine Clarence Dillon)
 

3:30 pm
DISCOVER THE SPIRIT AND DIVERSITY OF AN OUTSTANDING TERROIR BOTTLED BY THE QUEBEC CRAFT DISTILLERS
Quebec craft distillers organisation
[Hall 3. Be Spirits]
 

4:00 pm
THE HMS (HAUT-MEDOC SELECTION) LIVE SESSIONS: CHATEAU SMITH HAUT LAFFITE
With Florence Cathiard & Camille Meyrou – Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Maison Marques et Domaines from the USA, Philippe Tapie & Véronique Dupin-Aymard – HMS
 

5:30 pm
Vinexposium THE BATTLE OF THE Sommeliers
[Hall 3. Room 2 ON! The Masterclasses]