BORDEAUX, FRANCE – June 19, 2017 – Small growers and niche producers are enjoying the spotlight at Vinexpo Bordeaux 2017, the world’s leading show for wine and spirits professionals, now underway at Bordeaux’s Parc des Expositions. In addition to offering special programming ranging from up-and-coming wine regions in Spain to Serbia’s new wave of winemaking, Vinexpo debuted two new pavilions devoted to smaller-profile growers and producers to boost their visibility alongside the major players on the exhibition floor.
Wines of Serbia were the focus of a presentation this morning by the president, vice president and international relations consultant of the Serbian Sommelier Association, which was founded in 2003 as a new wave of Serbian winemaking gained momentum. The presentation introduced attendees to Serbia’s wine-growing regions, grape varieties and styles, and included a tasting of six Serbian wines. A few takeaways:
- Though the greater industry is most familiar with Serbia’s younger wines — reflecting the effects of regional conflicts that repurposed much of its wine-growing land — the country has a 2,000-year history in wine production.
- Replanting efforts over the last decade have focused on indigenous varieties, including Prokupac, Smederevka and Prokupac. Non-indigenous varieties such as Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon are also growing well in Serbian terroir.
- In 2011, Serbia finalized its wine classification system, which includes four main designations. This has improved the country’s standing in the global marketplace and aided exports with improved legitimacy.
Uruguay may be a small wine country but it’s quickly becoming a hot South American exporter. Daily presentations at the Wines of Uruguay pavilion have included a guided tasting through the diverse styles of Tannat being produced in both new and traditional regions of the country, notably including the world’s only sparkling red Tannat. With Spain as the Country of Honor at this year’s Vinexpo, a great deal of programming is being devoted to that nation’s wine regions. Several up-and-coming winemaking areas were showcased in yesterday’s Great Wines along the Ebro River, a seminar by master of wine Pedro Ballesteros. Georgia, the Cradle of Wine was also the subject of a presentation on the nation’s 8,000-year winemaking tradition yesterday afternoon.
Two new pavilions have broken down barriers to entry for small, niche and newer wines and regions, and are drawing steady traffic on the exhibition floor. Emil Mehdin of Stina Winery with the Croatian delegation noted, “We are an old world wine region working to tell our story in the new world. Our mission at Vinexpo is to educate buyers on the high quality of our small production.”
For many of the pavilions’ boutique exhibitors, like Simeon Molard, sake sommelier for Osake, this is their first showing at Vinexpo. He noted, “We chose Vinexpo because we were told by industry colleagues that this is where we should be. More than any other exhibition or event, Vinexpo is where producers come to build relationships and get face-to-face time with important business partners.”
And there’s more to come. Tomorrow, June 20, will bring an intriguing look at emerging and ancient but lesser-known wine regions with The New World Order. Located in Hall 3 from 3:15 – 4 p.m., this special tasting will offer visitors an introduction to wines from Russia’s Alma Valley, Japan’s Château Mercian, and Lebanon’s Château Kefraya.
For the full program of events, visit www.vinexpobordeaux.com.
About Vinexpo
Founded by the Bordeaux Gironde Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1981, Vinexpo is 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 1998, Vinexpo Hong Kong (formerly known as Vinexpo Asia-Pacific) has taken place in even-numbered years, and in 2014, Vinexpo expanded to the Japanese market with the debut of a third biannual fair Vinexpo Tokyo. The two have become key exhibitions of the industry in Asia. In 2017 Vinexpo launched a new concept, Vinexpo Explorer, featuring two days of business meetings and discovering vineyards. Vinexpo New York, which takes place for the first time March 5-6, 2018, will open doors to the U.S. market for international exhibitors.
