Undoubtedly, visiting international shows provide an excellent exposure to wines of the world for professionals and amateurs alike and must be on the agenda of every aficionado to visit at one time or another. But for the first time, starting from January to May, 2019 there are 5 shows all of them focusing on a target audience that might include you. Here is a rundown on the Shows which I have visited personally- Wine Paris debuts but is co-organised by Vinisud which holds biennial Shows till a couple of years ago and has since gone annual, with the biennial Vinexpo also announcing the same from 2020. Here is a rundown for these Shows –one every month.
Madrid Fusion is being held since 2003 and showcases Madrid as world’s gastronomy capital for three days. The participation of international speakers from all around the world, along with celebrated chefs from Spain and abroad, testifies to the extraordinary draw of this event in which a different country is invited to partner every year.
Enofusión
Madrid, January 28-30
https://www.madridfusion.net/
It is now an integral part of Madrid Fusion focusing on wines as the gastronomical Show presenting its 9th edition where wine gets -centre stage within the sphere of gastronomy The first oenological event of the year has revamped to offer more space for understanding the world of wine, looking at the innovation and the latest trends. An avant-garde space that is more dynamic and rewarding, where wine and professionals in the gastronomy sector can come together.
The two exhibition rooms – Londres and Roma – have been redesigned to accommodate the new display areas. Roma will be home to this year’s two new great events: The event TopWineSpain will be held there during the first two days of Enofusión. Carlos Delgado, journalist and wine critic for the newspaper El País has curated it as he has done independently on many occasions in the past, where a wide range of Spain’s best red and white wines are showcased. These are chosen because of the superior quality and international recognition.
On the last day of Enofusión this room is transformed into Foro Enovisión where it becomes a discussion space. The first edition of ‘Vinomanía- testing wines for the restaurant industry’ will involve professionals in the sector who will share success stories and new business models to make wine a protagonist within the gastronomic context.
In addition, this year, the Londres room will also be home to specialized content in a space called Enotendencias where the most popular innovations and trends in the world of wine will be showcased in a themed way. Wine-Tasting Room will once again offer the key aspects of today’s oenological world: new wines, culinary harmonies, and oenological gems
Wine Paris
Paris , 11-13 February
https://www.wineparis.com/
Vinisud and VinoVision Paris have joined hands together with French Marketing Boards to ring in WINE PARIS bringing together 2,000 wine growers and producers and showcase different regions with diverse terroirs on February 11-13, 2019 when 25,000 buyers and influencers including journalists with over a third being expats, are expected in Paris for this first-time exhibition to taste the presentation of the 2018 vintage.
"Wine Paris takes its roots in the heart of the terroirs and will allow buyers to rediscover the 
specificities of each vineyard within a 100% business event at a key moment in the purchase schedules.
A word of caution thought-the vast majority of exhibitors are from French industry though there will be some participation from producers from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Austria (Old World) along with Chile, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand (New World), according to the exhibition’s website. Based on the pleasant experience of visiting Vinisud, it is quite certain the Show will be very successful and perhaps will compete directly with the Biennial Vinexpo which follows soon, a month earlier than usual, on 13-16 May, 2019.
For more details, visit Wine Paris International Exhibition debuts in 50 days on Feb 11-13
Prowein
Düsseldorf 17-19 March
https://www.prowein-world.com/
Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, Prowein has been consistently growing and expanding its wings to include several countries as exhibitors and has become truly global in its reach. ProWein is the world’s leading trade fair for wines and spirits, the largest industry meeting for professionals from viticulture, production, trade and gastronomy. This year 61 countries have already confirmed their presence with India represented by Grover Zampa Vineyards and Radico Khaitan. France (1461), Italy (1276) with Spain represented by 568 producers. The home country Germany is not the largest exhibitor contingent with only 922 producers participating. This makes it truly an international exhibition.
There were about 60,000 visitors last year and 6870 total exhibitors with the top 4 European countries (France, Italy, Germany, Spain) sending around 85% of exhibitors. In that sense, it is the biggest European wine Show. Supported by German Wine Institute, the Show is gaining from strength to strength and there is hardly an Indian importer one does not find here.
The Show is organised by Messe Düsseldorf with 77 of its international representatives supporting in 141 countries worldwide. They provide a wide range of services for visitors, exhibitors and the press. It also has an office in India-Messe Düsseldorf India Pvt. Ltd., located in Mumbai.
Commissioned by ProWein for the second time, the Geisenheim University surveyed over 2,364 wine experts in 46 countries about international wine markets, marketing trends, developments in online wine sales and the economic situation. This makes the ProWein Business Report globally most comprehensive trend barometer of the international wine industry, according to the organisers.
Incidentally, exporters and wine producers rate China as the globally most attractive export market, followed by Japan, Hong Kong, Scandinavia, USA, and Canada. Polled about the highest potential for new wine markets over the coming five years, wine exporters mentioned Singapore (37%), the Czech Republic (33%) and Taiwan (28%) most often. India is at the 6th place at 20%- very closely behind UAE (21%) and Vietnam (21%).
Vinitaly
Verona, 7-10 April
https://www.vinitaly.com/en/
Debuting in 1967, Vinitaly is by far the oldest and certainly most elaborate and important wine show on earth showcasing Italian wines. It has been often commented by delWine that whetheryou are a connoisseur or an amateur who loves Italian wines, this is one show you must visit at least once before you die (you might get addicted to it though!).
One can gain tremendous knowledge of Italian wines at the Show where every Italian producer worth his/her name in export markets must be present. The stands are pre-booked by the producers at the same spot year after year. There is no better way of tasting current vintages than attending the Show. Four days are not enough to get a complete handle of the industry but one can visit the area of his or her interest and B2B meetings can be organised in advance.
The Fair has some outstanding seminars, Lectures, Conferences and unless you have a good idea of all that is available for soaking or meeting the producers, you can get lot literally and metaphorically. The Showground is in the center of the city and is overcrowded with no scope of expanding. The city infra-structure is barely enough to cope up with the traffic during the 4 days. Fourth day is in any case more open to general public, making it difficult for the professionals to have peaceful meetings.
The seminars and other events are of absolute top class and one can spend all the time attending those- but pre-registration is practically mandatory.
There are a total of 4390 exhibitors. But the problem is that less than 20 countries participate in the Show which has a substantial participation from all its regions (Italy makes wine in all its 20 regions). So if you love Italian wines it is a great Show but it’s much less international in flavour.
Vinexpo
Bordeaux 13-16 May
http://www.vinexpobordeaux.com
Owned and organised by the Bordeaux Gironde Chamber of Commerce and started in 1980, Vinexpo is considered the most important event on the wine calendar of every wine merchant, producer and importer in India.
Vinexpo has brought the date of the world famous event forward by a month this year, despite initial opposition from Négociants that it might conflict with En Primeur event and the release of wine prices starting in April/May every year. Perhaps the increasing heat in June (one year when I attended it, bottles started popping open due to the extra-ordinary high 40+°C temperature and air conditioning conking out) pushed demand from the buyers to keep it earlier. Increasing popularity and relevance of Prowein could have been another factor. Now set to take place from 13 to 16 May 2019 at the Bordeaux Exhibition Centre, the event retains its lively format over the four days. It offers meetings, discoveries and networking opportunities among the major players in the sector from all over the world. A Release of the commissioned study of wine industry trends for the next 5 years is much sought after.
With four days of exhibition, 40 exhibitor countries and over 40,000 international buyers, Vinexpo Bordeaux is the not-to-be missed wine show for the traders and aficionados alike. This year will also see the first edition of ‘La Grande Degustation’ for wine lovers and novices alike when a full day of showcasing of wines by the exhibitors will be a special attraction, a day before the main event. There is of course the usual Symposium that has various topics that include the fashionable subjects like organic wines and climate change and numerous tastings, including Chateaux opening their gates to the right people.
So which Show should you visit? It depends upon you, your business needs and thirst for wine knowledge. Each one has its strengths and country focus. For French Wines it could be either or both of Vinexpo and Paris Wine. If you love Italian wines you could visit Vinitaly or Prowein. For Spanish wines, Enofusión is the right choice. But for a balanced view of the wines of the world, I believe Prowein is the key Show to visit. Language is no problem either here.
And if you do visit, please do share your impression with us and our readers through Comments in this Article after the visit. Jai Ho!
Subhash Arora