| It is a Show dedicated to the professionals in the wine sector where producers and importers come from all over the world to carry out some of the biggest wine transactions of the year, according to the organisers. This is the strength of an exhibition whose challenge is to preserve its reputation through three essential features: consolidation, internationalization and sustainable growth.
According to Otilia Romero de Condés, the Show’s director, “we are the exhibition of THE BUSINESS, where the largest quantity of wine is mobilized worldwide. The event provides the unique opportunity for wine buyers all over the world to have access to an offer of approximately 30 million hLs of wine. It also provides the visitors first hand information about a wide range of wines that the 2013 harvest has produced on the five continents in a strictly professional environment.”
Participating countries
France continues to be the biggest participant with 47 wineries present. The participation of large producers such as Valorbieu/Uccoar, Producta, Men in Bulk and the Languedoc Roussillon Cooperative which groups 16 wineries from the region, makes it an important bulk wine source. Italy will have extensive representation at the event through 22 wineries including some of the largest producers in Europe like Gruppo Collis, Cevico, Cantina di soave, Caviro, Cantine dell'Ancellotta and Consorzio Vini d'Abruzzo.
Other regions that will have an important presence are Spain, Argentina, Chile, Australia and South Africa. Wineries from Liechtenstein, United States and Uruguay will also participate again. It is an indication of the growing influence of this Show that producers from Canada, United Kingdom, Montenegro, Moldavia and Bulgaria will present their wines for the first time this year.
The World Bulk Wine Exhibition does not claim to be a wine fair oriented towards mass participation. But according to the organisers, 30% of total world production showcasing their products ensures that the buyers are offered good choices. Unlike most other wine shows, the World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE) is targeted at professionals interested in large volumes of wine.
Men in Bulk
John Salvi MW, a regular contributor for delWine from Bordeaux and heading a panel of discussion, says, ‘It’s a show organisd by the Spanish and is very Spanish in the way things are organised. However as bulk wine shipments are increasing exponentially in many countries, it is becoming very important and is attracting major buyers such as the Canadian and Scandinavian Monopolies. Whichever way you look at it, bulk wine shipments are massive today-even in England. Bag in box, cheaper shipping costs and carbon footprints are major reasons for it.’
Bag in Box in today’s classification is categorized as bulk wine. Federico Castellucci, the Director General of OIV in Paris, elaborates, ‘Definition of bulk wine is rather nebulous at the moment. Any container beyond two liters is considered bulk. This gives us no transparency for statistics of the huge Bag in Box market and similar containers. OIV has requested the World Customs Organisation (WCO) to modify the combined nomenclature taking this issue into account. We believe that containers beyond at least ten liters should be considered as bulk.’
Commenting on the issue of wines bottled by producers in their wineries vs. that of the bottlers, he admits, ‘of course the bulk wine trade gives more advantages to the traders than the growers. But it may help the growers in some surplus situations.’ Since long, OIV has established a set of rules for safe bulk wine transportation and storage and supports the Exhibition.
Indian producers looking for bulk wines or importers looking for low end wines would be interested in WBWE-especially since many of the participants offer bottling facility and private labeling as well. No other venue presents as grand an opportunity as WBWE to taste bulk wines from 180-200 producers. Paul Robert Blom, a Dutch wine broker living in the north of Amsterdam, is a regular visitor and supporter of the show and the venue. ‘Other big cities like London and Frankfurt are not very convenient venues. Amsterdam is a very central hub and there are trains to the venue Amsterdam RAI every 7 minutes from the airport. One can even come in the morning to the show and go back to the airport the same evening,’ he says. He does caution though that the Show is more a trade oriented than winery oriented event.
Besides the show also offers debates and discussions on the topical wine subjects.“Which wines do consumers prefer? A journey across the favorite varieties and wines of consumer countries” is the theme of the Seminars to be inaugurated by Mr. Federico Castellucci.
International Bulk Wine Competition
The organisers, Pomona Keepers, have also announced the 3rd edition of the International Bulk Wine Competition on 24th of November. Wines from all over the world can take part if they are produced in a minimum quantity of 10,000 liters. The Competition represents a step forward in promoting the quality of wines of large volumes. The wines are awarded silver, gold and super gold medals with the total number of awards not exceeding 30% of the labels submitted. The Best Wine Award will be given to the wine earning the highest score in any of the participating categories-white, red, rosé and special wines, aged in wood or not, and in addition to those which possess a variety denomination, a geographic indication or a designation of origin. For red wines, there are two additional categories: the 2013 wines and those of previous vintages. The Competition seeks endorsement from the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) and the Union Internationale des Enologues (UIE) in order to confirm its universal appeal and acceptance. Wines can be submitted till November 21.
Visit http://www.worldbulkwine.com for details.
Cooking Show Area
Another novelty of this edition will be the creation of a cooking show area, where the Spanish Chef Francisco Piñeiro from Galicia will craft dishes inspired by the wine regions of the participating countries. Here are a few of the creations that the attending professionals will be able to taste:
- White Pickled Baby Vegetables and Eel (Netherlands)
- Fresh Sprouts, Gouda, Red Tuna and Wine Aspic Salad
- Charcoal-grilled Octopus with Sweet Garlic Sauce Powder
- Glazed Oxtail Press (Spain)
- La Chilena Ceviche (Chile)
- Fried Mini-Pizzas from Naples stuffed with Seaweed (Italy)
- Truffle Foie Bites with bean sprouts and sweet wine reduction (France)
- Kangaroo with Pistachios and Quince Sauce (New Zealand)
The WBWE seems to offer an exclusive venue to showcase and discover the best bulk wines worldwide, just after the end of the current grape harvest. Last year WBWE had 130 producers participate from 11 countries with a thousand buyers and 4000 visitors who came from over 40 countries.
For more details, visit www.worldbulkwine.com or contact press@worldbulkwine.com
For previous related articles in delWine, you may also visit:
World Bulk Wine Exhibition 2013 in Amsterdam
World Bulk Wine Exhibition in Amsterdam
Subhash Arora
Tags: World Bulk Wine Exhibition (WBWE), Otilia Romero de Condés, Amsterdam, Federico Castellucci, Bulk Wine, International Bulk Wine Competition, Francisco Piñeiro |