I NEWS I © Christophe
I NEWS I © Christophe Beauregard Relaunching international markets: Wine and spirits industry shows the way The Relance Export Tour 2022 offers wine and spirits makers the support and tools to market their products overseas. The relaunch plan was presented during a live press conference at Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2022 by Franck Riester, French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Vinexposium CEO Rodolphe Lameyse. Minister Riester said: "I’m pleased to meet you here this afternoon for the Relance Export Tour and would like to thank Rodolphe Lameyse and his team for the success of this trade show despite the many challenges. Once again, Paris and the whole of France finds itself at the heart of the wine and spirits industry with results for exports in 2021 that are beyond what we were expecting. In this way, the wine and spirits industry is showing other sectors the way when it comes to the international market." He commended the country's wine and spirits makers for their "quality" and "audacity" after exports grew 27% in 2020 and 11% in 2021. The government, he says, is working hard to make the lives of French producers easier by promoting the wine and spirits industry, cutting red tape and reducing tariffs. He explained: "Thanks to plans like Relance Export even small vineyards are able to have a presence on international markets with digital exposure of their products." Echoing the minister's enthusiasm on the success of Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris, Mr Lameyse said: "This trade show is the primary platform in France for the export of wines and spirits. We have 2864 exhibitors and all of the country's wine regions are represented. And we've put them face-to-face with the same quality of buyers as in 2020" From Picasso to climate change, Bordeaux Wine Week promises to deliver Vinexposium's two events, the Symposium and WOW! Meetings, will shine a light on the industry's 10-year plan and drive business. The Bordeaux Wine Week, taking place between 16 and 26 June 2022, was presented during a press conference at Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2022, attended by the Mayor of Bordeaux Pierre Hurmic and Vinexposium's CEO Rodolphe Lameyse. Mayor Hurmic applauded the event, saying: "The specific message that I would like to get across, and which I have been repeating since the beginning of my mandate, is that the city of Bordeaux depends heavily on the Bordeaux Wine Week to highlight its wine industry and put forward its organic production efforts." In honour of the Wine Week, the Cité du Vin is hosting an exhibition of works by the world-renowned © Christophe Beauregard painter Pablo Picasso titled "Picasso, the effervescence of shapes" from 1 April. The Bordeaux Wine Week has been divided into four sections, starting with a weekend dedicated to Bordeaux's Grand Crus, followed by the Symposium "Act for Change" on the 20 and 21 June, where a number of round-table conferences will explore what the wine industry will look like in 2030. Mr Lameyse stressed this "collective endeavour" will explore key topics over the two days including the desirable taste of future wines, climate change and new modes of distribution. He said: "Our industry is undergoing radical change because of the distance it has had to cover in terms of digitalisation, the direct impact of climate change, forces of globalisation and because it is sometimes taken hostage in geopolitical conflicts." The debates will be followed by two days of business meetings dedicated to certified wines, dubbed the WOW! Meetings, involving between 200 and 250 producers and merchants. Unlike at Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2022, these business meetings will be scheduled in advanced. Last but not least, the wine week will close with the Bordeaux Wine Festival, with entertainment taking place along the banks of La Garonne 4 • THE DAILY • WEDNESDAY 23 RD FEBRUARY 2022 vinexposium-connect.com
I VINEXPO TALK I A consortium that is attracting plaudits Dating back just five years, the Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC Consortium is already having a positive impact - and it had a strong presence at Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2022. The Pinot Grigio delle Venezie DOC Consortium, founded in 2017, has strengthened the presence of this grape variety in international markets, a trend reinforced by Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2022. Indeed, 96% of production belonging to the DOC is sold in international markets, key ones of which include Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom. "We created the Consortium in 2017, to ensure the quality of the production, guaranteeing the origin and stricter analytical analysis. It's in order to ensure the values are good for everybody, for every part of the production chain," said Nazareno Vicenzi, representative of the DOC, at Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2022. Wineries producing wines from the DOC were out in force at the show, among them Allegrini, Piera, Seiterre and Villa Sandi. Others present included Astoria, Botter, GIV, Moltelvini, Pasqua and La Marca. When it was created in 2017, the Pino Grigio delle Venezie DOC Consortium replaced an existing Typical Geographical Indication (IGT). Each wine has to pass through the tasting commissions of professional oenologists and its identity is guaranteed thanks to a government seal. Scents and flavours vary, but the easydrinking characteristics and freshness are common to all. Thanks to the creation of the DOC, there has been a reduction in yields per hectare to guarantee quality. The DOC covers three wines - Pinot Grigio Frizzante, Pinot Grigio Spumante and Bianco - produced from 27,000 hectares of Pinot Grigio vineyards in the Trentino autonomous province and the regions of Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. A grape variety grown widely around the world, Pinot Grigio is found in Italy in a diverse range of terroirs stretching from the Dolomites and Lake Garda to the lagoon of Venice, where the winemaking tradition stretches back 2,500 years Villa Sandi - A winery that focuses on quality A third-generation winery where the fourth generation is actively involved, Villa Sandi produces wines including Pinot Grigio Veneto DOC 2020. "It's quite a new DOC in the production," said Consuelo Donetto, export manager, Western Europe, Middle East and Africa. "We have a couple of wines in our portfolio being part of this consortium, which is already appreciated worldwide. It's particularly favoured by markets that are sensitive to an appellation." Exporting to 18 countries, Villa Sandi is opening up new markets, including in South America, on the back of 40% export growth last year, much of it driven by the popularity of the winery's Prosecco Exciting times ahead after a very good year Botter, the Italian winery, exports 90% of its production, and Luca Botter, the founder's grandson, was glad to be at Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2022 at an exciting time for the company. Last year it merged with another winery and also has venture capital involvement, with Luca remaining as a shareholder. Founded in 1928, it produces 100 million bottles a year, much going to the US, UK and Germany. "We had a very good year last year," said Luca. Within Botter's very extensive range, the organic Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie DOC, characterised by its straw yellow colour and large and fresh bouquet with apple notes, caught particular interest during the show THE DAILY •WEDNESDAY 23 RD FEBRUARY 2022 • 5
