The countdown has officially begun to Vinexpo Bordeaux 2017, the world’s leading show for wine and spirits professionals. Held at the Parc des Expositions June 18-21, the exhibition will take place about 20 minutes from Bordeaux’s historic town center and some of the world’s most storied vineyards.
In 2015, the exhibition drew 48,500 professional visitors from 151 countries, and Americans represented the second largest segment of international visitors. This year, an anticipated 2,350 exhibitors from wine regions around the world will participate in a groundbreaking, four-day line-up of conferences, tastings, seminars and networking events.
New features in 2017 include WOW!, a space devoted entirely to organic and bio-dynamic wines, complete with a 100 percent organic restaurant; dedicated Riesling tastings and masterclass; and two new pavilions focused entirely on wine growers and niche wines. Spain, the third largest wine producer worldwide, will take the spotlight as Vinexpo’s Country of Honor—a title held by the United States in 2015.
At this year’s exhibition there will be a number of vintners from California’s Napa Valley. These winemakers, responsible for one the smallest yet most diverse winegrowing regions in the world, will be hosting pop-up seminars and tastings to educate attendees on the Napa Valley region, its many connections to France and its commitment to sustainability, among other topics.
From the complete program for Vinexpo Bordeaux 2017, the following are just a handful of what attendees – and attending media – can look forward to during the exhibition:
Sunday, June 18
- “Fire and Rain: Climate Change and the Wine Industry” conference
Monday, June 19
- “Influence of Organic and Biodynamic Methods on the Taste of Wine” conference
- “The Potential for Spanish Wines on the Export Market” conference
- “Taste of Spain” celebration, a tasting that will showcase 112 Spanish wines complemented by classic regional dishes created by acclaimed, young Spanish chefs
Tuesday, June 20
- “Riesling Masterclass”
- “Vinexpo Confronts the Challenge of Brexit” conference
- “The Blend,” the official Vinexpo party, is the perfect opportunity to network with industry professionals while enjoying a unique selection of wines, Champagnes, cognacs and spirits
Wednesday, June 21
- “E-commerce Talk & Online Wine Sales” conference
- “Vinexpo Challenge” masterclass and blind tasting “Riesling Masterclass”
Chief among Bordeaux’s own attractions is La Cité du Vin, a bold new architectural landmark museum that houses an extraordinary facility devoted to wine and culture. On permanent exhibit is “Wine Planets,” a tour showcasing the wealth of global wine talent and terroirs, and reflecting products presented at Vinexpo, one of the museum’s builder patrons.
