The first major wine fair of the year is officially – and cumbersomely – still called Wine Paris and Vinexpo Paris. This name reflects the way that Vinexpo Bordeaux, once the world’s biggest trade event joined forces with Wine Paris after a steady decline in its fortunes led to it having been overtaken by ProWein in Dusseldorf.
Since the marriage of the two events in 2020, the Paris fair which is still referred to variously as Wine Paris and Vinexpo Paris (we’ll call it Wine Paris, for the sake of brevity) has become a key fixture in the wine trade fair calendar. The question of whether it is a serious competitor to ProWein – still the most important trade fair in the wine sector – is no longer in doubt. Although it is not yet quite as big as Düsseldorf, it is progressively catching up. Last year, nearly 36,000 guests visited the Portes de Versailles exhibition center, meeting almost 3,400 exhibitors. For comparison, ProWein attracted around 49,000 visitors and about 6,000 exhibitors.
According to Vinexposium, the event organizer, the number of exhibitors and visitors at the Parisian fair is expected to surpass previous figures significantly in 2024. It is anticipated that around 40,000 visitors will attend - an 11% increase. The number of exhibitors has risen even more - by approximately 15% with 4,026 as of mid-January.
Less Francocentric
Harking back to its heyday in Bordeaux, the organisers place great emphasis on becoming more international. Despite growing foreign participation, the Paris event has always faced the accusation of Francocentrism. Last year, 75% of the exhibitors were French. They occupied three large halls, while other countries were housed in two slightly smaller ones. Bordeaux alone filled an entire hall.
Currently, only about two-thirds of the exhibitors are French.
However, Vinexposium is succeeding in being more international, attracting 75% more non-French exhibitors – from 750 to 1,300 – and reducing this year’s domestic share to two-thirds. The number of French participants has grown too – to 2,713 – but to a far smaller extent.
Many of the new non-French exhibitors such as Tiago Cristóvão of Quinta da Boa Esperança in Portugal have been watching the fair’s progress over the last few years. “We be present for the first time, because we have seen that this event has increased in quality with the presence of importers and distributors from all corners of the world.”
The list of the other 47 participating countries (up from 42 in 2023) at Wine Paris is diverse. Alongside nearly all the traditional wine-producing countries in the world – Italy, for example, has increased its space by 40% – there are many new exhibitor countries where no wine is produced.
Strong focus on spirits
This is due to the strong focus on spirits. Peruvian Pisco and Japanese Whisky, for instance, find a home in the special show called ‘Be Spirits’. The area dedicated to spirits has grown by about a quarter compared to the previous year – a trend also evident at ProWein, as exhibition organisers react to the weakening consumer interest in wine.
This year, around 10% of the exhibitors in Paris are in non-wine categories: Spirits (294), Beer (47), Cider & Co. (25), and Soft Drinks (32).
Hall layout
The total area of the fair has grown and now covers seven halls instead of six: Italy now occupies an additional hall (2), formerly the spirits area, and shares another with Spain (5.1) which is also home to a new feature called Wines Unearthed.
Originally created for the London Wine Fair, this area is dedicated to producers that have yet to secure distribution in a number of key markets, and offers them the chance to exhibit for a far more limited cost than a traditional shell-scheme stand.
The focused approach of this part of Wine Paris and its affordability has appealed to small wineries like Sonnenmulde BioWeine in Neusiedlersee, Austria.
“Of course, as a family-owned winery, it is not possible to attend all big international wine fairs, so we always think very carefully about which fair could be successful for us… Although the main market for our organic wines still is the Austrian market, we started to export some time ago and our wines can be found in various countries. It is usually very difficult to gain a foothold in foreign markets without participating in a trade fair because the personal contact is still very important.
The rest of the international exhibitors continue to share space in Hall 5.2, while the spirits show moves into the new Hall 7.
The distribution of French exhibitors has essentially remained the same: Hall 6 with Bordeaux/Southwest France, Hall 4 with the South (Languedoc and Roussillon, Rhone Valley, Provence, Corsica), and Hall 3 with Champagne, Alsace, Jura, Savoie, Burgundy, Beaujolais and Loire.
The notable increase in German participation at the fair is striking: German exhibitors have surged from 23 to 51, more than doubling since last year. The majority are co-exhibitors, collectively represented by the German Wine Institute (DWI), and are attending as a unified German delegation with a shared booth. This significant representation is financially supported by public funding. Thanks to subsidies of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) individual exhibitors are only required to pay a nominal fee of €1,500, making it a highly affordable opportunity to participate in the fair.
At least 15 of the German exhibitors are members of VDP. "Our preference remains for an international wine fair hosted in Germany – but we are certainly keeping a close eye on the developments in Paris." explains Theresa Olkus, the managing director.
From a visitor perspective, Wine Paris has become a key event for major German buyers. Romy Abagat, the France buyer at Hawesko, shares her experience: "The intense three-day schedule at ProWein makes the addition of another fair like Wine Paris advantageous for discovering new products, tasting, networking, and engaging directly with producers. I foresee Wine Paris continuing to expand and increase in importance in the forthcoming years." Moritz Lüke, CEO of the Wein-Wolf subsidiary Grand Cru Select, adds "The presence of this second prominent fair is vital, as it allows ample opportunity for meaningful interactions with suppliers."
José Serrano of Peter Riegel, emphasizes Paris's advantages as a venue – including its cost-effectiveness, easy accessibility, and overall charm – aspects often mentioned in discussions comparing Paris and Düsseldorf.
Other exhibitors believe that Wine Paris may attract visitors who don’t currently go to ProWein. Matias Prezioso, of Los Cerros de San Juan, Uruguay explains his decision to take part in Wines Unearthed. “For a traditional winery, currently in a phase of expansion and premiumization, Wine Paris is a renowned event that attracts a wide audience, including importers, distributors and people from the wine industry in general. By exhibiting at the fair, we effectively position ourselves in a market that appreciates and seeks premium wines. After two editions participating in Prowein, in 2024 we decided to participate in Wine Paris as the time of year to have contact with potential importers to distribute our brand in different countries in Europe.”
Outlook
This year will be a telling one for Wine Paris and Vinexpo Paris. If it attracts the numbers of international visitors it anticipates and if exhibitors are happy with their meetings at the event, perhaps it will take the obvious step of simplifying its name – probably to Wine Paris. But no-one should underestimate Prowein’s keenness and readiness to maintain its position and possibly even to grow even further.
Wine Paris: key information
When?
- February 12–14, 2024
Opening Hours:
- Monday, February 12: 9 AM – 7 PM
- Tuesday, February 13: 9 AM – 7 PM
- Wednesday, February 14: 9 AM – 5 PM
Where?
- Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, 1 Place de la Porte de Versailles, 75015 Paris
Public transportation
- Metro: Stations Porte de Versailles (Line 12) and Balard (Line 8)
- Tram: Station Porte de Versailles – Parc des Expositions (Lines T2 and T3a)
- Bus: Stations Porte de Versailles – Parc des Expositions (Line 80) and Desnouettes (Line 39)
Events
Alongside the main exhibition, an extensive lineup of events is scheduled, featuring 122 seminars, masterclasses, and lectures. These sessions will cover a diverse range of topics, including Coonawarra and Bordeaux Grand Cru wines, the wine industry's CO2 footprint, underwater champagne aging, and private label strategies. For more details, refer to the event calendar for the fair: Click here
Tickets
- Visitor registration link: Click here
- Ticket Prices:
- Until February 11: €50
- On-site: €80
- Student Ticket: €10 (available for booking until February 11)
Hall Plan
Link to the hall plan with new layout and expanded area: Click here
Tips for going out:
Vinexposium, the organizer of the fair, enhances the visitor experience in Paris by curating an annual evening aftershow program, which includes a selection of cocktail bars and restaurants. This year, the program features 200 such venues – for more information, visit their website:
