Asia in the Spotlight at Vinexpo 2015 in France

June 21, 2015

Asia was one of the major highlights of the 18th edition of Vinexpo 2015 in Bordeaux, and plans are well underway for the upcoming editions of the exhibition: Vinexpo Hong-Kong (May 24-26, 2016) and Vinexpo Tokyo (Nov. 15-16, 2016).

The Vinexpo brand has had a presence in Asia since 1998, and continues to grow and support the business goals of wine and spirits professionals in that part of the world. 

Considered Asia’s business center, Hong Kong is a promising market for the wine and spirits industry. The 2016 Vinexpo Hong Kong will be a major international event, held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, according to show organizers. 

It will include a program featuring conferences and tastings hosted in collaboration with Wine Spectator

“Hong Kong remains the gateway to the Chinese market and holds a prominent position as one of Asia’s leading business hubs for the wine and spirits trade. The market is more sophisticated than ever, a trend that can be seen in both the business transactions that take place as well as in the general atmosphere of the show,” said Guillaume Deglise, CEO of Vinexpo.

In 2014, Vinexpo Hong Kong welcomed over 1,300 exhibitors of 34 nationalities, who presented a record-breaking number of wine and spirits to 17,000 visitors over the course of three days. 

Tailored to the expectations of the Japanese, Vinexpo Tokyo will be held at the Prince Park Tower Hotel. For its second edition, the exhibition will again offer the opportunity to connect with key industry players, and tastings and conferences have been scheduled.

“Japan is a market like no other,” said Vinexpo Chairman Xavier de Eizaguirre. “By making Vinexpo Tokyo a recurring event, Vinexpo provides exhibitors the opportunity to better approach this sophisticated market as well as identify its trends.” 

During its debut year in Nov. 2014, Vinexpo Tokyo attracted 3,200 Japanese professionals and over 500 wine and spirits brands, some of which were entering the Japanese market for the first time.

There also was a strong presence of key importers (28 percent of visitors), wholesalers (13 percent), on-trade buyers (19 percent) and retailers (11 percent).

Professionals from Taiwan, China, India, and Singapore attended Vinexpo Tokyo (formerly known as Vinexpo Nippon), but the majority (85 percent) of visitors were Japanese. 

 Over the past few years, Asia has stood out as one of the driving forces behind the growth of global wine and spirits consumption.

This trend can be strongly observed within the aisles of Vinexpo 2015, which concluded recently in Bordeaux, France.  Throughout the five days of the exhibition, several conferences and tastings were dedicated to the Asian market while also featuring its products.

Chinese actress Carina Lau, who became famous in the 1980s for playing girl-next-door characters in film, is now presenting her new wine brand.  She has collaborated with the Bordeaux trader, Maison Ginestet.  

The French wine magazine Revue du Vin de France organized a tasting of nine Chinese wines that attracted  visitors, including  Best Sommelier of the World 2007, Andreas Larsson. And the Japanese highlighted the premium quality of their products by organizing a tasting of six grand sakes with Miyasaka Brewing Co.

Add new comment

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact