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 Amsterdam has become the international center for this unique and so far the only wine show which focuses on the business of bulk wines, where both the sellers and the potential buyers meet annually every November for 2 days since the last eight editions.
During these two days on November 21-22 this year, the World Bulk Wine Exhibition brought together the largest offer of bulk wine worldwide. The 8th WBWE was of strategic importance for this sector, which transacts more than €3,500 million per year. Approximately 300 producing companies from diverse countries like Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, China, France, Georgia, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Malaysia, Moldavia, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States presented their wines to more than 6,000 visitors, from 66 different countries.
International Bulk Wine Competition
 Held a day before the Exhibition, this is the only competition in the world devoted to bulk wine and large volumes of wine (even bag-in-the-box containing over 2 liters, falls in this category). International judges are invited at the competition in which Subhash Arora has also been a regular judge for many years. There were 143 samples this year- an increase of 27% in the number of samples compared to last year. The wines of Cooperative Jesús del Perdón from Ciudad Real (Spain) and Vinicola San Nazaro from Reggio Emilia (Italy) won Grand Gold Medals. The details can be seen in another Article
Conferences and Seminars
One of the most important and unique aspects of WBWE is the Conferences on related topics and Tasting Sessions called Discovering Wine where guided tasting sessions are conducted from different participating regions.
 Regular visitors look forward to the opening presentation every year by the Secretary General of OIV who gives the overview of the global wine market but with focus on Bulk wines which controls around 38% of the world trade. People waited eagerly for Jean Marie Aurand, Director General of the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), who arrived late thanks to the glitch in the railway network but gave a lucid talk on the “The global wine market during 2015, with special emphasis on bulk wine”.
This was followed by a seminar on “The wine sector in North Africa” by Belgacem D´Khili, enologist and director of Vitis Company (Tunisia). He talked about the wine market in Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco.
 Another important must-attend seminar every year is by Rafael del Rey, director of the Spanish Wine Market Observatory (OeMv). He talked about“New scenarios for bulk wine: Towards products of greater added value”, presenting authentic data collated by the institute. “The impressive growth of sparkling wines in the world: Prosecco case” by Andrea Boaretti, oenologist and Prosecco advisor, was a look into the exploding market of Prosecco in the world, giving a lot of opportunity for bulk producers (although I found the prices of the bulk Prosecco rather high-despite the market having turned flat after last year’s phenomenal rise).
“New trends in Romanian wine consumption”, presented by Marinela Vasilica Ardelean, director of the 'Romanian Wine Festival' and author of 'A Wine Guide of Romania and Moldova' was quite interesting and lucid. “The great region of Languedoc-Rousillon: The foremost region in the world of wines of origin and quality wines”, presented by Bernard Augé, Deputy Director of Coop. Languedoc-Rosellón was another regular feature.
 “Wine market development in China. Past, today and near future”, presented by Yongzhong Zhang, manager of Wine and Alcohol Circulation China magazine was very insightful presentation that tried to throw some light on the burgeoning wine industry in China, still an enigma for most and the role of bulk wines in its market, given that there are no laws regarding the use of bulk wines.
Tasting Sessions- Discovering Wines
The exhibitors and visitors like to have one-on-one tasting of their wines at their stands. But there is also a rather large professional Tasting Room where participants are welcome to showcase their wines with detailed information so that the tasters can taste without any interference or ‘pressure’ from the exhibitors. They may also taste the wines first and then visit the stands they find interesting, for further discussion.
Another regular feature is the guided tasting through a structured programme called Discovering Wines where one or more experts from certain specific regions conduct a guided tasting of their wines. This year the emphasis seemed to be on Italian and Spanish wines with the following tastings carried out:
Italian taste- Venetian soul by Bosco Viticoltori.
Grapes from Marche: Pecorino, Passerina and Rosso Piceno by Vinicola Carassanese
Great reds from Castilla-La Mancha – Coop San Isidro - Quintanar del Rey
Tradition and innovation – Cantine Solferino - Apulia 2017
Navarra Wines - Bodegas Viñedos de Calidad de Navarra
Mediterranean Wines - Coviñas - D.O. Utiel Requena
Autochthonous varieties from Salento - Cantine Vigne & Vini
Bulk Wine Club
 This year’s edition also saw formation of the Bulk Wine Club-a virtual club for the gathering of information and business concerning bulk wine, as well as information for the members. It is designed to allow members to have direct, real time access to what is happening in the bulk wine sector worldwide: sales data, prices, trade flow and trends. Membership in the Bulk Wine Club will bring exclusive insider information in advance about crops, climate and atmosphere-related issues, market development and news from the industry worldwide, thanks to a top-level correspondents’ network within strategic points in the sector.
Voice of Vine
 For the last 5 editions, WBWE has been recognizing different organizations who promote wine in their countries overseas . Voice of Wine is an award created by the World Bulk Wine Exhibition in or Voice of Vine
For the last 5 editions, WBWE has been recognizing different organisations who promote wine in their countries overseas . Voice of Wine is an award created by the World Bulk Wine Exhibition in order to recognize and praise the work carried out by people and groups who defend wine and its values and who fight for this sector which is so important economically, culturally and socially.
 This year’s Award, 6th since it was started , went to Wines of Moldova which received the award “for the efforts of its winegrowers, wineries and public administration in the promotion of bulk wine, for its ability to adapt to international markets and for the quality of their wines”. Incidentally, Wine of Moldova participated with 13 wineries, displaying the best of their wines and leading a professional tasting session within the area “Discovering Wine”.
der to recognize and praise the work carried out by people and groups who defend wine and its values and who fight for this sector which is so important economically, culturally and socially.
This year’s Award, 6th since it was started, went to Wines of Moldova which received the award “for the efforts of its winegrowers, wineries and public administration in the promotion of bulk wine, for its ability to adapt to international markets and for the quality of their wines”. Incidentally, Wine of Moldova participated with 13 wineries, displaying the best of their wines and leading a professional tasting session within the area “Discovering Wine”.
WBWE truly offers professionals in various segments of the Indian wine industry a unique opportunity. The two-day visit is well worth it for the serious players.
Subhash Arora |