It’s cold, it’s grey, but it’s also Paris, one of the greatest culinary and cultural cities in the world. And it’s host to what has become one of the most significant wine and spirits trade events in the world.
That’s why from 10-12 February 2025, a larger than usual number of wine professionals will be heading for Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, to immerse themselves in Wine Paris.
This is a critical year for the global wine trade, as exports slow and consumers tighten their purse strings. But there’s still growth to be found, and Wine Paris has put together an event aimed at helping producers in every way possible.
More than 5,300 exhibitors so far have signed up — a record number. And while most of them will be spending time doing business with the thousands of visitors who will attend, there are also plenty of events on offer that are worth attending.
Unlocking growth
Rodolphe Lameyse is one of the sharpest observers of the business. The CEO of Vinexposium, the company behind Wine Paris, travels the world talking to wine producers and trade bodies, so he understands the economics of wine better than almost anybody.
On Tuesday 11th February 2025, he will be chairing a panel on the impact of global trends on the wine and spirits business. The panel will include
- Miles Beales, Chief Executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association in the UK;
- Don St Pierre, Founder of AdaptEdge Advisory Service and expert on China; and
- Nicolas Ozanam Director General of the Federation of French Wine & Spirits Exporters.
This is a must-attend event geared to helping everybody understand the challenges and opportunities in the year ahead. It’s one of a number of events that have been created to help producers unlock growth.
The ambitious Academy programme
This year, the Academy offers more than 130 sessions held by 250 speakers including debates, conferences, panel discussions and masterclasses. And, of course, they tackle the topics that everybody wants to know about right now:
- Foreign trade and exports
- New opportunities
- Emerging markets
- Sustainability and CSR endorsements
- Changing consumer patterns
One session not to be missed is Reaching Zillennial Consumers: New Rules of Engagement with Honore Comfort, Vice-President of International Marketing for California Wines, who will be co-presenting groundbreaking research into young consumers. This is some of the most robust research that’s been done to date, and the results offer a roadmap for producers who want to engage with new consumers.
You’ll find the full programme here.

Other opportunities
It’s also worth paying a visit to La Wine Tech, the area dedicated to innovation and digitalisation. It’s a glimpse into the future, and is geared to helping both wine producers and associated businesses unlock some of the many opportunities offered by new technologies, including AI.
Another must-see is a stroll through the innovations of the spirits industry, which can be seen at the Infinite Bar, the showcase for the talents of the best 20 bartenders and mixologists in Paris.
And at the end of each day, Paris is waiting, with all its many restaurants, bars and bistros. Which, all by itself, makes Wine Paris a must-attend event.