 For its tenth edition, to be held from 20 to 22 February 2012 in the Parc des Expositions in Montpellier, the VINISUD fair will enter a whole new dimension by opening up to digital communication. To define and implement its global digital strategy, VINISUD will use the services and expertise of SOWINE, an international marketing and communication agency specialising in wines and spirits.
For the first time VINISUD will devote an exclusive area for digital communication on wine throughout the duration of the Exhibition. Pavilion 2.0, located in the heart of the Fair, will hold various workshops and presentations on the converging interests of the Web and the Mediterranean wines. It will form a veritable platform for exchange, and will also act as a special area for meeting wine bloggers, including ambassador bloggers from France, Spain, Italy, England, Germany, the United States and China, who will participate in Pavilion 2.0 throughout the Fair.
VINISUD has the usual wide range of events, a large permanent tasting area with the ‘Palais Mediterranean’, themed conferences and tastings, exhibitions of books, photographs, paintings, etc.
The event is fast becoming a very important meeting place for wine professionals interested in the Mediterranean wines. Dominé André, the well known German author (of ‘Wein’ in English) who lives in Roussillon and has attended all the Shows from the beginning, says ‘I always prefer attending this Show since it has an increasing presence of Mediterranean wines-this includes of course, several wineries from the South of France. I have never missed a show since it started, though I will have to miss it this year since I will be in Uruguay and there has been a clash in the dates.’
Michel Bettane, one of the best-known French wine critics, who also publishes the annual guide of French wines, informs delWine that he prefers to attend this Show since Vinexpo has become too big. Vinisud is slightly more relaxing. ‘Over the years, the Show has been becoming more important as many producers from other countries like Spain, Italy and Portugal have been increasing their participation in the Show,’ he says.
There will be of course, more exhibitors from South of France- including Provence, Languedoc, Roussillon, Cote du Rhone, South-West of France- but don’t expect Bordeaux or Burgundy. Gerard Bertrand who is one of the biggest producers in the region- his wines are being imported by Aspri in India, was at the previous Show in 2010 and will again be here in 2012 is quite excited about it-being ‘on my home ground’. He informs me.
 There were a total of 1,626 exhibitors of Mediterranean wines in 2010 edition. Over 32,000 visitors, including about 9,000 international wine professionals came from Asia, USA, Mexico, Brazil and of course Europe. This year, the numbers are expected to be crossed.
VdP and table wines, also a part of the Show like the AOC wines, always attract the Indian buyers and from several other countries where the taxes are high and one must look at good value-for-money wines. The Show organised by Adhesion Group of Montpellier every alternate year (when there is no Vinexpo) offers a good opportunity to such buyers and visitors who like to see their wine produced under the influence of sun and sea. For details, visit www.vinisud.com or
contact vinisud@adhes.com
Subhash Arora |