Business France is introducing 40 wine & spirits producers & merchants to Vinexpo, the annual New York gathering for wine professionals looking to expand their portfolio. The French pavilion will represent 20% of the show’s exhibitors and showcase many wines produced sustainably.
New York, January 30 – For the first time this year, Business France is bringing together 38 wine producers and 2 spirits makers to Vinexpo New York, from March 2-3, 2020. Representing 20% of the entire show, the French pavilion is a testament to the determination of French winemakers to let their wines be discovered, enjoyed and shared in the US.
One Pavilion, Many Appellations.
For this first edition, the French pavilion will gather a wide array of AOCs from the most prominent regions of France, making it a mini expo for sourcing French wines. Here is a breakdown:
| Region | Presence | AOCs & IGPs |
| Alsace | 2 producers | Riesling, Pinot gris, Pinot noir, Crémant d’Alsace
|
| Bordeaux | 4 producers | All major AOCs (Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux, Entre-deux-mers, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Côtes du Roussillon-Villages, Saint-Georges-Saint-Emilion) |
| Champagne | 8 producers | niche grower champagnes and renowned houses
|
| Languedoc | 3 producers | all major AOCs, including Costières de Nîmes and Côteaux du Languedoc, La Clape, and many IGPs |
| Loire Valley | 7 producers | Val de Loire, Menetou-Salon, Touraine, Sancerre, Vouvray, Pouilly-Fumé, Chinon, Muscadet-Sèvre-et-Maine, Crémant de Loire |
| Provence | 2 producers | Côteaux d’Aix-en- Provence
|
| Rhône Valley | 15 producers | All major and many niche AOCs (Côtes du Rhône, Vallée du Rhône, Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Ventoux, Lubéron, Cairanne, Rasteau, Côte Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph) and a few IGPs |
| Spirits | 2 producers | Absinthe and Cognac varieties
|
Sustainable Practices.
The 2010s were undeniably the decade of change for French Wines: many wineries turned to more sustainable practices for more natural wines and a better impact on the environment. As a result, the pavilion naturally shines a light on these greener wineries: out of the 40 producers taking part in the pavilion, more than half of the exhibitors is engaged in a sustainable strategy – 13 producers are introducing organic wines, 2 are bringing biodynamic cuvées and 14 are Terra Vitis-certified. Many of them are also in the process of converting their vineyard to organic standards.
“Organic, Natural and sulfite-free wines have known a boom in France since the early 2010’s, prompting many producers to turn to more sustainable methods. Close to 7000 wineries have already converted their vineyards to organic standards in France” said Santiago Diaz Herrenschmidt, head of the Wine & Spirits division at Business France Paris. “Biodynamic, organic or Terra Vitis practices are now common in France and we wanted our French pavilion to be a good reflection of this trend.”
Find the French pavilion at booth 707-917 (floor plan).
About Business France
Business France is the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, responsible for fostering export growth by French businesses, as well as promoting and facilitating international investment in France. It promotes France’s companies, business image and nationwide attractiveness as an investment location, and runs the VIE international internship program. Business France has 1,500 personnel, both in France and in 58 countries throughout the world, who work with a network of partners.
