A ringing endorsement for the Vin De France category from international buyers from 14 countries
ANIVIN DE FRANCE, the organization responsible for promoting VIN DE FRANCE wines, is delighted to announce that 130 wines have been chosen as ambassador wines for 2019. The wines were selected during the Best Value VIN DE FRANCE Selection Tasting in early February this year. Some 434 wines were entered from a total of 93 French wine companies. This year wine buyers from Taiwan, South Korea and Brazil joined the international panel alongside the USA, Australia, Japan, China and Europe. In total the panel consisted of 28 buyers from 14 different countries.
The 130 winning wines (see list attached) were split into two categories: 29 gold medals; and 101 silver medals. The total number of award winning wines amounts to 30% of the total samples entered, the standard set by the OIV (Organisation Internationale de la Vigne et du Vin) which is respected in the judging process.
The wines were chosen in Paris at a blind tasting, which was moderated by members of the Union des Oeonologues de France.
Medal winning wines will be used across all marketing activities in 2019, including being shown on a free-pour tasting in the ANIVIN DE FRANCE area at Prowein in March – Hall 11, stand A89; and at APAS in Brazil in May.
Some comments from the panel of international wine buyers:
- Julie Nelson, Cost Plus World Markets, U.S.: “If I had only six words to use to describe VIN DE FRANCE they would be: clear, easy-to-understand, logical, discovery and value.”
- Danny Wong, WAI SHING, Hong Kong: “For me VIN DE FRANCE means value for money, quality, consistency, and France!”
- Alexandre Bal, Yapp, UK : “These wines are all about pleasure – that is what I am looking for from VIN DE FRANCE.”
- Jeremy Stockman, Park ‘n Shop, Hong Kong: “In our market VIN DE FRANCE is about trust and reliability. People use the category as an endorsement.”
- Peter Nixon, Dan Murphy’s, Australia: “VIN DE FRANCE means making French wines accessible to the new consumer. This has never been done before!”
- Alexandra Pouderoyen, Hema, Netherlands: “You can see that producers are trying to make something new instead of only the popular international varieties. This is very good I think as it gives French wines its own new identity.”
- Dionisio Chaves, Zona Sul, Brazil: “It’s a really pertinent time for VIN DE FRANCE to enter the Brazilian market. Brazilians don’t really know about appellations and regions – it’s too complicated. But they do know about France, and the France label has a real cachet for them.”
U.S. Campaign
In the U.S., VIN DE FRANCE wines are gearing up for another year of promotion with both chain and independent retail partners following a successful 2018. Supported by promotional and marketing initiatives, the VIN DE FRANCE category continues to show tremendous velocity in the U.S. market. In 2018, imports of VIN DE FRANCE-designated wines were up +21% in volume and +19% in value over the previous year. Today, the U.S. is the second export market in value. The 2019 retail promotions seek to continue to support this success.
Key Vin De France statistics:
- 434 wines entered into the blind tasting, with a set limit of 30% gaining medals
- 93 companies presented their wines
- 130 award winning wines
- 29 gold medals
- 101 silver medals
- Total award winning varietal wines: 44% white (48% in 2018); 9% rosé (10% in 2018); 47% red (42% in 2018)
Valérie Pajotin, Director of ANIVIN DE FRANCE, summarizes: “It is always exciting to welcome new country market representatives into the judging panel, and particularly from emerging wine markets like Taiwan, South Korea and Brazil. This proves that VIN DE FRANCE is now an established category which appeals to both traditional and new export markets. I‘m looking forward to showing the medal-winning wines on our stand at Prowein soon; our first visit in May to APAS in Sao Paulo; and then across the marketing activities in a host of other countries over the course of 2019.”
