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Unmissable spirits exhibitors at Vinexpo Bordeaux

Bordeaux is the setting for this year’s Vinexpo event, and as well as a focus on wine, the world of spirits is of growing importance to the fair.

Bordeaux will become the buzzing hub of the international drinks trade when Vinexpo returns to host its flagship event this month. From 13-16 May, the fair will welcome an expected 1,600 exhibitors from 30 countries and fill 70,000 square metres of the Bordeaux Exhibition Centre. Spirit brands will occupy 10% of the space and represent a growing focus for Vinexpo Bordeaux organisers.

This year, the biennial event will launch a raft of new features, including a first-of-its-kind series of talks dedicated to exploring the effects of climate change on the wine and spirits industries, specifically its scientific, technical and economic implications. The Vinexpo Symposium, launched in association with Nouvelle-Aquitaine Regional Council, will take place on the second day of the show (14 May). It will be broken up into three sessions, led by some of the foremost scientists, economists and academics in the field. CNN correspondent Jim Bittermann will moderate the sessions, which will be followed by expert roundtables and debates.

Christophe Navarre, chairman of Vinexpo, said organisers chose to launch the symposium because of the “fundamental challenge that climate change represents for any professional involved in the wine and spirits industries”.

He adds: “It was felt this is a sufficiently universal and profoundly serious challenge for the future, such that it merited a day’s symposium to try and assess the impact of climate change on global vineyards, and provide answers to the increasingly urgent issue of how to produce and adapt in unstable environmental conditions.”

Another new initiative will be Les Dîner du Palais, which will allow exhibitors to invite their guests to the elegant Palais de la Bourse, where their wines will be served alongside a menu designed by award-winning chefs. Another key highlight in Vinexpo’s social calendar will be The Blend, the show’s official after-work party, which will offer a selection of spirits, wines and Champagnes on pour.

Vinexpo Bordeaux will launch another feature this year: La Grande Dégustation. In collaboration with Terre de Vins, the event will see Vinexpo open up to members of the public for the first time, inviting oenophiles to sample a selection of international wines. It will allow winemakers to receive instant feedback from consumers and form a valuable understanding of the market.

Tasting time: the booth, the whole booth and nothing but the booth

Green-minded winemakers and distillers will once again take the spotlight in the Wow! World of Organic Wines area, where 150 producers from nine countries will exhibit their wares. The feature made a successful debut in 2017.

Vinexpo Bordeaux will host around 40 educational events under the Vinexpo Academy umbrella. Spanning the duration of the show, the programme will include talks, tastings and masterclasses. A notable highlight will be the ‘What it takes to sell wine online’ conference, in which leading stakeholders will discuss the changes set to mould the fast-growing e-commerce drinks sector over the next decade. Speakers will include: Chris Tsakalakis, CEO of Vivino; Marco Magnocavallo, CEO of Tannico; Mark Meek, CEO of IWSR; and Martin Ohannessian, CEO of Le Petit Ballon.

As interest in Asian drinks continues to bloom around the world, there will also be a “strong Japanese theme” in the seminar list, with two masterclasses on shōchū and two on koji.

Vinexpo is once again expecting to welcome a high-calibre of industry influencers and senior executives following its last Bordeaux exhibition in 2017, when 65% of attendees were identified as ‘decision makers’. According to Navarre: “Vinexpo sets itself apart from the other trade shows as a high-level meeting place, bringing together CEOs, presidents, expert producers and approved buyers in a generous four-day timeframe in which to thoroughly access expertise across all the different categories of wine and spirits.”

While Bordeaux will remain Vinexpo’s flagship event, the trade fair has ramped up its international expansion in the past year, announcing the launch of events in New York (March 2018), Shanghai (October 2019) and Paris (January 2020). Vinexpo also launched its travelling exhibition, Vinexpo Explorer, in 2018. Globally, Vinexpo’s attendance figures are higher than ever, but the show maintains that it is aiming for “quality not quantity” with an expanding programme of localised events that “provide more targeted business”.

Going forward, the exhibition will be led by new CEO Rodolphe Lameyse, who has taken over the role from Guillaume Deglise. Based in Singapore since 2014, Lameyse most recently managed Informa Group’s Food & Hotel Asia portfolio, Asia’s largest trade show dedicated to the food, beverage and hotel equipment industry. Before this, he worked as a consultant in the exhibitions industry, and as head of marketing and client services at Reed Midem in France.

“Vinexpo has grown thanks to the quality of the offer available at each of its shows, the relevance of its content and the return on investment it generates,” Lameyse said at the time of his appointment. “We’ll continue to expand Vinexpo shows together, in France and internationally, and provide our customers with solutions, to cement our role as the global leader for all players in the international wine and spirits sector.”

Click through the following pages for a look at some of the top spirits producers exhibiting at Vinexpo Bordeaux.

For more information on the show, visit www.vinexpo.com.

Angus Dundee Distillers

Stand: AB222, Hall 1

Independent Scottish firm Angus Dundee Distillers has some interesting new products to showcase in Bordeaux.

The distiller and bottler will exhibit its relaunched 15-year-old Glencadam Scotch whisky, which returns to the market following a two-year absence. In addition, a new gift box presentation for the 21-year-old Tomintoul expression will be on display.

Those with an interest in gin can sample Chelsea Royal London Dry Gin, which is inspired by the Chelsea area of London, and is made in the heart of the city using batch distillation.

The group believes Vinexpo to be a valuable event for members of the international spirits trade, thanks to its high number of visitors from Asia.

According to Duncan Baldwin, Angus Dundee’s regional director, the firm will also use Vinexpo Bordeaux as a platform to make plans with its existing European importers for the year ahead.

BBC Wines & Spirits

Stand: B61, Hall 1

Founded in Bordeaux in 2010, BBC Wines & Spirits specialises in Japanese spirits and will bring its full range to Vinexpo.

One of the stand’s highlights will be Etsu Gin, made on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido using green bitter-orange peel, coriander, liquorice and angelica root.

The botanicals are macerated in neutral cane spirit for 24 hours before copper-still distillation takes place, then diluted using water from the Taisetsu Mountains.

BBC Wines & Spirits will also display its Kurayoshi blended whisky range, which includes no-age-statement, 12- and 18-year-old bottlings.

The firm says that it will aim to make contacts with French drinks retailers, as well as European and North American buyers.

“As a Bordeaux-based company, Vinexpo is very important to us,” says North America sales director Guillaume Holtzmann-Suss. “Our expectations in terms of business and visibility are high.”

Bottega

Stand: B71, Hall 1

Italian drinks maker Bottega will display a wide range of spirits alongside its eye-catching Prosecco bottles, and will also unveil some new products.

The group will launch Bottega Ginger at the show, an organic liqueur that responds to the ‘super food’ trend and contains organic ginger sourced from Vietnam and China. The liquid undergoes a process of cryo-maceration, traditionally used to create “intense and elegant” wines.

Two new versions of Bottega Gin Bacûr will also be on display: a 50ml miniature format and a 100ml ‘spray’ for bartenders, confectioners and chefs. The company says that the product can increase the aromatic character of food and drinks. Bottega Gin Bacûr is a dry gin made using double distillation.

The organic iteration of Bottega Limoncino will also be available for visitors to sample. It is created using only certified organic ingredients: Femminello Siracusano lemon peels that have “high-quality” essential oils, organic alcohol, organic sugar and organic essential lemon oil.

Dellepiane Spirits

Stand: C253, Hall 1

Argentina-based Dellepiane Spirits, founded in 1898, will use Vinexpo Bordeaux as a platform to launch a new addition to its portfolio: Tambo.

The dulce de leche cream liqueur uses a century-old recipe from the Dellepiane family and is said to have luxurious sweet and natural flavours of vanilla and toffee, and a soft and creamy mouthfeel. The product is targeted towards “indulgent consumption” occasions.

Dellepiane is one of the foremost producers of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks in Latin America. The firm owns a 30,000-square-metre production facility in Villa Mercedes, San Luis, that boasts an annual production capacity of 10 million six-bottle cases.

The group is now hoping to garner greater exposure in the European market by exhibiting at Vinexpo Bordeaux.

“We seek to make known our key attributes as a leading company in South America, and show the versatility and knowledge that we can contribute in the development of spirits,” says export manager Santiago Di Paolo.

Famille Naud

Stand: D251, Hall 1

French distiller Famille Naud will introduce Vinexpo Bordeaux visitors to its ultra-premium Naud Extra Cognac, which has been given a luxurious design makeover.

The family-run distillery, which has operated for five generations in the Cognac region, will also showcase its wider portfolio at the fair, including its entire range of Cognac, gin, pot still vodka and “exotic” rum.

“We feel that Vinexpo is the right place for premium spirits,” the team says. “Bordeaux remains a reference in the world for high-end wines and spirits.”

During the event, Famille Naud will aim to promote the expertise of its leaders – father-and-son team Jean-Michel and Pierre Naud.

“Our point of difference comes from our mastery of distillation,” the independent group added.

Fraternity Spirits

Stand: BC253, Hall 1

Mexico’s Fraternity Spirits sees Vinexpo Bordeaux as “one of the most important” drinks trade fairs in Europe.

The group will seek to “solidify” relationships with its global partners during the course of the show, and “build awareness” of its portfolio, as well as take in new trends and gather insights into the market.

Fraternity will bring its full Tequila stable to Bordeaux, highlighting the Tequila Corralejo range, made at the 18th-century Corralejo hacienda using 100% Weber blue agave. The extra añejo Corralejo 1821, made using Tequila that has been aged for 36 months in small American oak barrels, is sure to intrigue agave lovers.

The 100% agave Tequila Los Arango range, which is named after the Mexican revolutionary Doroteo Arango, also known as Pancho Villa, will also take to the stand. Meanwhile, the “unique and sophisticated” Reserva 22 rum will exhibit its blend of 22 American oak barrel-aged rums, which have been matured in a solera system.

The Hacienda Corralejo was founded in the 18th century in Pénjamo, Guanajuato, which was the birthplace of Miguel Hidalgo, leader of Mexico’s fight for independence.

La Martiniquaise-Bardinet

Stand: BD216, Hall 1

French group La Martiniquaise-Bardinet will be using its home turf to showcase the breadth of its portfolio.

In terms of whisky, the group will highlight its newly acquired blended Scotch brand Cutty Sark, which it purchased from Edrington at the end of last year. The deal allowed La Martiniquaise-Bardinet to become the world’s fifth-largest producer of Scotch whisky.

As well as Cutty Sark, Scotch brands Label 5, Glen Moray and Sir Edward’s will also occupy the stand and will showcase a number of new launches, including Glen Moray Cabernet Cask Finish and Sir Edward’s 12 Year Old.

Representing the rum contingent will be Saint James, Negrita and Depaz. Earlier this year, Saint James launched a cocktail bitters designed to complement its agricole rum in mixed drinks, which will also be on display at the show.

In addition, visitors will be able to learn about the group’s Poliakov vodka, Gibson’s gin, Bardinet brandy, Beehive brandy and Porto Cruz Port. Recently, Beehive updated the recipe for its VSOP expression and added a new XO bottling to its portfolio.

Bardinet, a Bordeaux company that joined La Martiniquaise in 1993, has been participating in Vinexpo Bordeaux since its inception in 1981.

Maison Ferrand

Stand: A162, Hall 1

Cognac, rum and gin producer Maison Ferrand will bring its core expressions and innovations to Bordeaux this year.

In particular, the team is looking forward to introducing new products in its Ferrand Cognac range, including Ferrand 10 Générations. The new edition has been created by master blender Alexandre Gabriel using grapes grown on vines exclusively in the Grande Champagne cru.

Ferrand 10 Générations is bottled with a bespoke label that depicts the face profiles of the 10 generations of the Ferrand family who have passed down their expertise in the production of Cognac since 1630.

The maison will also display the new edition of its Pierre Ferrand Sélection des Anges Cognac, as well as its Citadelle Gin and Plantation Rum brands. Last year, Plantation extended its range with the launch of Xaymaca Special Dry.

Designer Wines and Spirits of the New World

Stand: E130, Hall 1

Products from Oude Molen Distillers will be exhibited at the stand of Designer Wines and Spirits of the New World, which represents premium wines and spirits from Australia and South Africa.

Oude Molen, based in the Elgin Valley in South Africa, produces a variety of brandies, including VS, VSOP and XO expressions. The company will seek to pioneer the nascent Cape brandy category at Vinexpo Bordeaux.

“Cape brandy is achieving significant momentum in South Africa as a luxury category, and we are excited about spearheading its establishment in Europe with the Oude Molen brand,” the company says.

The distiller adds: “Vinexpo is the perfect platform from which to launch Cape brandy as a category, and Oude Molen as the deluxe brand within it.

“When it comes to premium brandy, one needs to establish quality credentials in a very cluttered environment. The message is as important as the liquid.”

Oude Molen is hoping to meet buyers who are seeking to discover a premium spirit that “transcends perceptions of brandy”.

Walsh Whiskey Distillery

Stand: DE253, Hall 1

Walsh Whiskey’s full Irish whiskey portfolio will be exhibited in Bordeaux, where it will also launch a new expression.

In addition to established Irish whiskeys from The Irishman and Writers’ Tears, the group will showcase Writers’ Tears Double Oak, created using American oak casks from Kentucky and French oak casks from Cognac. The liquid itself is a blend of single malt and single pot still whiskey.

The team at Walsh Whiskey, whose brands are sold in more than 50 countries worldwide, is looking forward to meeting its existing network of distributors and also engage with potential new partners.

“Building and improving our route to market is an ongoing objective for the commercial team and Vinexpo is a perfect opportunity to meet new industry people,” says commercial director John Kelly.

“As one of the leading independent Irish whiskey companies it’s a great opportunity to showcase our wonderful portfolio.”

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