The 5th Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris has turned the current economic challenges into strategic opportunities for the wine and spirits industry. This year, the event has established its credentials not only as a pivotal hub for business, but also as an influential platform, stepping up its decisive role in the business and political space globally.
Important international scope of the event
The statistics of the event shows, that the Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2024 made a sustainable economic contribution to the wine and spirits industry. Exhibitor numbers rose to 4,074 representing 48 producer countries and including a 53% growth of international exhibitors, underscoring Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris’ enhanced appeal and international scope. Comparing to the previous exhibition, visitor attendance increased by 14%:
41,253 visitors attended the event, with 41% international visitors from 137 countries, illustrating the event’s overall reach and growing influence.
Vinexposium’s commitment to business development was mirrored in the 30% rise in attendance by the main buyers from key markets. The top 5
nations represented after France were Italy, Belgium, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany. 10,146 appointments between producers and buyers were made online, highlighting the performance of the matchmaking service.
Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris, a place of influence
Placed under the high patronage of Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris received visits by three
French ministers and 27 ambassadors, including those from the United States, Italy, Portugal, Japan, Austria, Spain, Switzerland, China, New Zealand and Australia.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Marc Fesneau, and the Minister of State for Public Accounts, Thomas Cazenave, have opened the event, with input by Vinexposium CEO Rodolphe Lameyse. During the 2024 Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris opening ceremony, they highlighted the event’s role as a strategic space, where the industry can speak with one voice, share ideas and meet current
challenges while also setting its sights on a sustainable future. The significance of international trade and the collaborative efforts required to cope with geo-economic risks were also underscored.
A visit by Frank Riester, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, ended the third day by describing the event as a
major exhibition for wine and spirits exports, stressing the importance of wines and spirits to France’s export trade balance. 2023 French
export results were in fact announced at Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris by the FEVS.
The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV), with which Vinexposium works collaboratively, granted its patronage to the scientific sessions of the ON! programme. The event also offered a valuable opportunity for OIV, which took part for the entire three days, to meet many international industry personalities.
Even greater buzz for the ON! and OFF programmes
A rich ON! programme was enhanced in order to foster dialogue and provide
the industry with a precious information, with food for thought and to offer an opportunity to discussions. 126 sessions featured on the official
programme, in addition to individual presentations hosted on exhibitor stands.
Paul Robinson, wine director at Robinson Wine Merchants, tells: “As a buyer, it is my responsibility to prioritise business appointments at
Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris, but I attended two panel discussions which I found extremely interesting. The ON! programme is one of the highlights
of the exhibition”.
The OFF programme, which featured a selection of 200 restaurants and bars across the capital, invited visitors, buyers and exhibitors to continue their conversations in the evening, in a more relaxed atmosphere.
Angelo Martelli, director at Super Buyrite, found inspiration there: “With so many appointments on stands by day, I particularly enjoyed
being able to continue my business relations in the evening as part of the OFF programme. Paris truly is an ideal city for this and the selection was great. It’s that little extra that makes all the difference”.
VertdeVin Magazine has also organised an event of the OFF Programme: the annual tasting for professionals – Selection by VertdeVin, which took place on 13th of Ferbruary, in the Mercure Hotel. More than 200 visitors have had an opportunity to taste some of the best wines, reviewed by the VertdeVin team in 2023 and to meet about 40 producers from Frace and Italy.
Be Spirits reached a new level in 2024
This hall designed for spirits, no/lows, beers and ciders attracted buyers and mixologists from across the globe. Comparing with Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2023, in 2024 Be Spirits has significantly increased its offer:
- an extra 47% floor spaced
- nearly 200 exhibitors (with 54% of them new)
- 26 producer countries exhibiting
- Many French producers were exhibiting, but international attendee numbers soared by 92%.
In addition, the robust programme of debates and masterclasses aimed at deciphering markets, exploring the most revolutionary products and responding jointly to the business issues of the future attracted a full house.
Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris ends, but the year 2024 invites the industry to attend other events
Until the next Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris from 10 to 12 February 2025, the industry is invited to attend four other important events in 2024:
- Vinexpo Asia from 28 to 30 May in Hong Kong
- Vinexpo America on 24 and 25 June in New York
- Vinexpo India on 16 and 17 September in Mumbai
- World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE) on 25 and 26 November in Amsterdam