This was the 14th and last ViniSud in its current form – next year it is merging with VinoVision to make a colossal French wine fair based in Paris.
ViniSud was already pretty big. This year there were 1,420 exhibitors visited by over 25,000 industry members, 28% of which were international buyers from 76 countries.
Spot the Brit.
For those not wanting British fish and chips, the cuisine was pretty damn good – pt 1 of a 3-course lunch.
Business-wise, here’s your bluffer’s guide:
1/ Mediterranean wines are becoming more premium.
The sector grew 1.2% in volume, but 4% in value
2/ Sparkling wine is the key growth driver of Mediterranean wine exports
Still wine exports declined in volume 0.4% compared to sparkling’s 13% rise
3/ Exports to France, China and the US are on the up (non-EU markets growing faster than EU markets)
The US is still the main market for Mediterranean wines (in value)
4/ Exports to Germany, UK and Belgium are on the way down
(All figures are from 2015-16)
Q: So what is Mediterranean wine?
A: All of the countries with a Mediterranean coastline, including the whole of Spain, Italy and Greece
With France it is the South of France. That includes the Rhône (including the North Rhône). Why? Noone had a very good answer.
Ethics and sustainability were big themes this year, with fair director Pascale Ferranti, responsible for its success. Here she is in front of the stand of the pro-cork lobby.
The conferences and masterclasses were impressive and interesting. Although this one about eight disease-resistant grapes had the Nerdy volume turned up to 11. Good though.
The team in the Languedoc Roussillon have got eight varieties 100% resistant to mildew, almost there with oïdium, and the grapes can survive drought and produce less alcohol. Nifty eh?
Highlights? – many. For us it was the Wine Mosaic area that is an EU-funded project aimed at saving and re-discovering rare grape varieties.
What is the EU? Behave.
Worth going? Definitely. Watch out for more in-depth features over the coming weeks.
Be good too to see how it pans out in 2019. Enjoy the rest of your day.
