Vinexpo Nippon has just concluded on November 1st and 2nd, and here’s some of the feedback:
The 150 exhibitors greatly appreciate the quality of the contacts, with numerous negotiations and tastings and deals concluded, and they are particularly satisfied with the intense business discussions.
“On the first day of the show, I did the equivalent of a month’s work,” enthused Maximilien Baronnet of Champagne Bergère.
“I’ve been trying to get an appointment with this importer for months, he came to Vinexpo Nippon and we were able to meet.” said Andrés Ballesteros, Exports Director-Asia of Almaviva wines, from Chile.
On the visitor side, definitive figures will be announced within a few days, but the number of visitors registered by the middle of the second day of the show indicates around 3000 attendees. We can comment with certainty on the high quality of the visitors, with, for example, large numbers of importers (28%), wholesalers (13%), horeca buyers (19%) and retailers (11%). And while some have travelled from Taiwan, India and Singapore, 90% of the visitors are Japanese.
“This new exhibition format will help strengthen the Vinexpo brand image in Japan. High-end services, the presence of renowned international brands, prestigious masterclasses and the presence of key industry players all combine to make Vinexpo Nippon a premium event,” states Guillaume Deglise, CEO of Vinexpo.
To host the masterclasses, the brands brought in world-famous experts such as Michel Bettane and Thierry Desseauve, two of the most renowned French tasters, to share their favourite wines with a tasting of the great Bordeaux vintages. Leading figures from the Italian wine scene, Angelo Gaja (head of the Gaja winery in Tuscany) and Albiera Antinori, vice-president of Marchesi Antinori, presented in person the vintages from their respective estates.
The magazine Wine Kingdom introduced visitors to matching wines with umami (the 5th taste in Japanese cuisine) with a masterclass led by Hisao Morigami (sommelier, member of the International Sommeliers Association). And Yoichi Sato, Best Sommelier of Japon 2005, presented the greatest wines from the Rhône valley.
The Vinexpo Off The Record party was the first of a series of networking events in trendy venues that will prolong the Vinexpo experience.
Sula from India, was the first Indian wine company to take part in this high-profile exhibition.
