REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT:
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: EUROPE ADVERTORIAL Thierry Blandinières CEO, Invivo Group WE ARE FULLY DETERMINED TO BUILD AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO WINE DISTRIBUTION THROUGH A SINGLE CROSS- FUNCTIONAL NETWORK ON A GLOBAL SCALE. Taking French Wines to the World Exclusive Interview - Thierry Blandinières, CEO - Invivo Group Since Thierry Blandinières joined the leading French agricultural cooperative group, InVivo, as CEO in 2013, the group of almost 6 billion euros turnover has seen its profitability triple. This was thanks in part to the creation of a strategic plan covering the period to 2025, asserting the company as a key global player. We asked Mr Blandinières what specific ambitions he has for InVivo Wine (created in 2015) for the Chinese and greater Asian markets in the coming years when it comes to wine distribution. Invivo wine has a strong presence in Asia with eight subsidiaries located in Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Tapei, Shanghai, Beijing, Chengdu and Singapore and also two wine discovery stores located in Chengdu and Taipei. Operating in various distribution channels, such as supermarkets, specialist shops, hotels, bars and restaurant, consumer outlets, and e-commerce, making it a multi-channel specialist with a multilocal expertise. InVivo Wine Asia is a key player not only in wine business but also in services and distribution which relies on a sales team of 26 staff, all based in the region. Asia is a key development zone for our activities. We have 3 different targets: - doubling our sales over the next 5 years; - developing our key brands and portfolio; - and integrating some distribution platforms and developing strong relationships with our key partners in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong as well as Singapore and Vietnam. We are fully determined to build an innovative approach to wine distribution through a single cross-functional network on a global scale. How important is Vinexpo HK as part of your marketing efforts here? Vinexpo Hong Kong is a central piece of our show activities in Asia. We display our all ranges and portfolio and we invite a lot of customers and partners to come from all over Asia as Hong Kong is convenient and the show well organised. It gives a high visibility to Invivo Wine, as a major integrated global player delivering excellence worldwide from vine to glass (in a current market that requires playing at a global level multi-expertise) and our key brands, estates, fine wines and Grands Crus Classés from the best winemaking origins. Finally, Vinexpo is a great place to be, and it’s a pleasure to gather our team and customers together and share a lot of information about our activities, plans and the future. Vinexpo is clearly a unique platform within Asia, and all the ingredients are gathered together to make it another success: market trends, potential, in the heart of Asia with top class facilities to welcome the show and a strong organisation Level 3 / Stand ST-40 16 VINEXPO DAILY / DAY 2 / WEDNESDAY 30 TH MAY 2018
REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT: EUROPE FAMILLE FABRE UNVEILS THE LATEST VINTAGE OF THE CONFIDENTIAL CRU BOUTENAC: CHÂTEAU FABRE GASPARETS 2015 One of the tiniest appellations in the Corbières area is now making more noise: Boutenac Appellation, nestled in a paradise of garrigue. Chateau Fabre Gasparets was awarded by the Wine Advocate on April 27th, 2018 with 92 pts. The Famille Fabre has been working in the vine in Languedoc since 1605. Louis Fabre turned the vineyard into organic culture in the early 90’s, becoming a pioneer in that field Level 3 / Stand M-35 A Vegan Grand Cru Classé from Bordeaux Château Dauzac CEO Laurent Fortin talks about “making a difference” Château Dauzac wines are represented on a number of distributors’ stands at this year’s Vinexpo Hong Kong. The Château has a key differentiation point of being the first 100% “vegan” Grand Cru Classé from Bordeaux. We asked company CEO Laurent Fortin to tell us more about his company’s way of working. Biodynamics and biodiversity are part of our coherent way of managing the entire estate. In the way we manage the vineyard, the biodiversity and biodynamics and everything that revolves around it are hugely important for us. As you know, in biodynamics, you can use copper, a heavy metal which can be quite harmful to the terroir. We are going further, by replacing part or all of the copper, using algae, cultivated nearby in Arcachon. Biodynamics means we respect every living creature on our estate. We have put in 18 beehives, we have sheep that are grazing and cutting the grass for us, but we go further also in the wine. We are the first of all the Grand Crus Classés to be 100% vegan, meaning we don’t use any animal protein during the wine filtration process. We use vegetable protein, namely from potatoes, in the filtration process. We are the only one to be 100% vegan certified. Our way of working encompasses the entire estate. Tell us a little more about the estate. Château Dauzac, 5th Grand Cru Classé of Margaux in 1855, has the immense privilege of being a single tenant vineyard of 49 hectares; 45 hectares in Margaux appellation and 4 hectares in Haut-Médoc appellation. Located near the Gironde, whose influence on the vineyard’s ecosystem is capital, the estate is protected from the ocean winds by its privileged location in the heart of 120 hectares of meadows and forests. This agronomic bubble and this unique terroir have allowed us to develop a culture of precision, valuing the exceptional characteristics of this Grand Cru Classé LGI WINES – THE SOUTHERN FRENCH CONNECTION LGI Wines is at Vinexpo Hong Kong with a mission to offer a very broad range of wines from Languedoc and Gascony, with packaging adapted to each market. Contemporary yet classic, LGI sources wines that “stand up to the New World competition as an alternative to traditional French wines” Level 3 / Stand S-53 ADVERTORIAL CHÂTEAU PAUL MAS “CLOS DE SAVIGNAC” 2016 - AOP LANGUEDOC GRÈS DE MONTPELLIER The Clos de Savignac consists of 8 hectares of vines located on the hillside overlooking the Mediterranean Sea near Montagnac, in France’s Languedoc region. This vineyard is planted with low yielding, old vines of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. The vineyard lies at 80-110 meters above sea level and it enjoys an East, Southeast exposure with the cooling influence from the sea. Their vines are Terra Vitis certified. TASTING NOTES Grape varieties: Syrah 60%, Grenache 30%, Mourvèdre 10% Colour: Deep Violet colour. Nose: Complex aromas of violet, blackberry, spices, with a hint of liquorice notes. Palate: Rich aromas of wild berries (blackberry, blueberry), violet, pepper and a touch of menthol, smoky and toasted coconut notes.© Fruity-yet-dry, this very complex wine will be even better after 1 or 2 years cellaring. Food pairing: Best served at 15-17°C, with grilled rib eye and T- bone steak meat, game birds, lamb filet, braised poultry with Provence herbs Level 3 / Stand R-26 vinexpodaily.com VINEXPO DAILY / DAY 2 / WEDNESDAY 30 TH MAY 2018 17
