An important strategic alliance has been forged between Vinexpo, which hosts the world’s preeminent wine and spirits exhibitions, and Wine Spectator magazine, the premier media brand for the wine industry. The partnership will be launched at Vinexpo 2015 in Bordeaux, June 14–18. While Vinexpo and Wine Spectator have long collaborated, this new, formal engagement will give the publication a more prominent role in Bordeaux at a time when the event will celebrate the U.S. as its first-ever Country of Honor. Wine Spectator will also bring its expertise to Vinexpo Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong and Vinexpo Nippon in Tokyo in 2016.
Vinexpo Bordeaux, themed “Taste the Unexpected,” is set to draw nearly 50,000 professional visitors and 2,400 exhibitors from 44 wine-producing countries. Wine Spectator will capitalize on the exhibition’s spotlight on the U.S. by hosting two special programs:
- June 15 – By invitation only, the magazine’s senior editors will guide a walk-about wine tasting on the exhibition floor focusing on producers of their choosing that exemplify the strong relationship between the U.S. and global marketplace. (3-6 p.m.)
- June 16 – Open to all attendees, Wine Spectator will moderate a conference on the nuances of the U.S. wine business, ideal for wineries keen to enter or enhance their presence in the market. A panel hand-picked by the magazine, including prominent US distributors, importers and retailers, will share thoughts and best practices for mastering business in the U.S. (10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
“Vinexpo produces the world’s most important gatherings for wine and spirits professionals –events which provide opportunities to share ideas with both well-established and up-and-coming vintners. Wine Spectator has attended Vinexpo since the inaugural event in 1981. It’s where we need to be as reporters and as thought leaders for the industry,” said Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator. “We anticipate a long and fruitful partnership with Vinexpo and look forward to unveiling the details of our program in the next several months.”
Guillaume Deglise, CEO of Vinexpo remarked, “Wine Spectator brings a level of insight and cachet to our global initiatives that cannot be matched, and they have been a great supporter to Vinexpo since its inception. The programs planned in Bordeaux build upon our strong relationship and underscore Vinexpo’s commitment to designing unrivaled experiences that draw the greatest producers and influencers from the world of wines and spirits.”
Deglise’s comments were echoed by Xavier de Eizaguirre, Chairman of Vinexpo, who added, “Ours is a global business, and this partnership leverages Wine Spectator’s storied brand across all of Vinexpo’s events. We’re especially happy to see Wine Spectator join us in Asia as well as Bordeaux. We look forward to innovating programs with the publication in Hong Kong and Tokyo in 2016.”
About Vinexpo
Founded in 1981, Vinexpo has evolved into the world’s leading show for wine and spirits professionals and a partner for the wine and spirits industry worldwide. Vinexpo is held in Bordeaux in odd-numbered years; since 2006, Vinexpo Asia-Pacific has taken place in Hong Kong in even-numbered years and has become the key exhibition of the industry in Asia. Before each exhibition, Vinexpo commissions studies on industry-specific issues and presents the findings in conferences around the world. Since 1999, it has produced a world market study with a five-year outlook, as well as a variety of trend reports. For more information, visit www.vinexpo.com.
About Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator is the world’s leading authority on wine. Anchored by Wine Spectator magazine, a print publication that reaches more than 3 million readers worldwide, the brand also encompasses the Web’s most comprehensive wine site (WineSpectator.com), mobile platforms, and a series of signature events. Wine Spectator examines the world of wine from the vineyard to the table, and delivers expert reviews of more than 15,000 wines each year. The magazine also runs the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation, which has raised more than $20 million to support wine and food education and scholarship programs over the last 30 years. Foundation beneficiaries have included the University of California, Davis, Department of Viticulture & Ecology; the Culinary Institute of America; Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration; Sonoma State University’s Wine Business Institute; and Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. Marvin R. Shanken is the founder and chairman of parent company M. Shanken Communications, Inc. whose roster also includes lifestyle publications Cigar Aficionado and Whisky Advocate, and industry journals Shanken Impact Newsletter, Market Watch, and Shanken News Daily.
