Expertise, discovery and sharing were the three main objectives for the thirteenth Vinisud show in Montpellier which ended on Tuesday January 31. On all three counts, the gamble paid off. In addition to the number of buyers who attended the show – 20,775 over the three‐day event, including 6,673 international visitors from 70 countries – the quality of visitor attendance was praised by the 922 exhibitors. For 2018, innovation and sales development will continue to be top priority.
The obvious choice of an annual format
The first annual version of Vinisud convinced both buyers and exhibitors. Ruslan Gorbach from Metro Cash & Carry in Ukraine, attending the show for the first time, “rapidly found new suppliers, clients that will be able to respond to the needs of the Ukrainian market both in volume and quality terms. I’ll be back next year!”.
Gérard Bertrand believes that “Vinisud is an opportunity to share the spirit and friendliness of wine growers from the South of France. It is also the right time every year to present the new vintage”.
After rising to the challenge of introducing an annual format, Vinisud now joins the ranks of the essential annual fixtures for buyers and exhibitors, alongside the major international wine shows.
Vinisud and Millésime Bio
As the number of wine shows continues to increase, joining forces with Millésime Bio – an idea put forward by Vinisud in 2016, and one which was the topic of many conversations during the show – is still a relevant, indeed essential opportunity to ensure success for all strands of the wine industry. All players stressed the importance of focusing on doing successful business.
Jan Stork of Wein Stork Gmbh & Co. Kg in Germany explained: “We had an excellent time in Montpellier and made many new contacts. The atmosphere was excellent for our business relations. We put in a lot of orders. For us to be able to work even more effectively, it would be ideal if Vinisud and Millésime Bio were to begin discussions again on organising the two shows at the same time and in the same place, especially for foreign buyers and visitors like us. It would really be better”.
A viewpoint shared by Françoise Antech Gazeau of Antech Limoux: “My only regret, and one that is shared by most of my clients too, is that Millésime Bio and Vinisud were not organised in the same place at the same time. It would make life easier for everyone”. Basile Saint Germain of Domaine Les Aurelles agreed: “We made some good quality, effective contacts. The only negative side was the irritation voiced by buyers who felt they had been shown a lack of respect. Everyone bemoaned the waste of time, energy and money when they could finally have had the two shows side by side”.
The team at Vinisud remains convinced that the two shows can join forces and that they can collaborate effectively for the benefit of all. The proposal is still very much open.
Next stop, 2018
The team at Vinisud is already preparing the 2018 event which will remain loyal to the city of Montpellier. The show will continue to remain focused on its core objectives of innovation and sales development. The new formats introduced in 2017, including the programme of events centring on wine tourism and the New Wave area, which were both a resounding success, will be complemented by new innovations, again aimed at increasing opportunities for exhibitors and buyers to connect.
Vinisud, the international showcase and benchmark event for wines from the South, also provides buyers, exhibitors, journalists and bloggers with insight from research and the observatory and tools for developing sales all year round. Its ambitions serve the interests of all stakeholders in the French and international wine industry.
For Bernard Magrez, “Vinisud is extremely well organized and from a sales perspective, they are extremely efficient. It is a wonderful initiative for France – you only have to look at the number of foreigners here”.
Gérard Bertrand adds: “Vinisud epitomizes the global emergence of Languedoc-Roussillon and the South of France. Languedoc-Roussillon is now one of the five most important regions in the world. It is buoyed by our extensive range of wines and in particular our rosés, our terroir wines and the organic bottlings we sell worldwide. The team at Vinisud has done an amazing job for many years. I hope they can bring together all strands of the Southern wine industry to make the show’s 2018 vintage a lively one!”
First testimonials from exhibitors and visitors VINISUD 2017
BUYERS
Brent Butler (USA) / LOT18
« It’s a chance to connect directly with suppliers and producers around the world, talk to them one on one, learn what they do, they can learn what we do, and plan out special projects together. I will definitively be back, for sure!”
Ari Gorenstein (Brazil) / E-VINO COMERCIO DE VINHOS LTDA
“Every year, organization of the show is impeccable and even better than the previous event. We also enjoy some wonderful reunions. Our entire stay in France during Vinisud is very productive and efficient. We are already beginning to reap the rewards”.
Wen Ping Hiu (China) / SHENZEN BO-AO WINES CO LTD
All is very very wonderful, perfect
Jan Stork (Germany) / WEIN STORK GMBH & CO. KG
We had a good time in Montpellier with lot’s of new contacts. A very good atmosphere for professional working. We ordered a lot. For more effectiv working on top it would be great if ViniSud and Millesime Bio will start discussing again for a trade fair at one place. Especially for the foreign customers as us, it would be better.
Orlando Jimenez (Colombia) / IMPORTADORA LIBATION
We have already initiated some business with at least 10 wineries exhibiting at Vinisud. These are some excellent opportunities that we need to consider. The first samples have already been delivered.
PRODUCERS
Jean-Claude Mas (Languedoc)/ DOMAINES PAUL MAS
“For me, Vinisud is a way of connecting with buyers from around the world. At the same time, it allows them to come and see the region and awaken all five senses with everything the region has to offer, both through its wines and everything related to it. Wine is not just a product, it is also an experience. Vinisud has to be the standard-bearer for Languedoc and wines from the South of France. I produce wines in Languedoc and will continue to do so – I will be staying in Languedoc and I need communication media such as Vinisud for engaging with the trade. The greatest experience I had at Vinisud from a sales perspective was when I was starting out. It was with my agent and together we developed the Dutch market really well. It was a truly great experience, linked to a great story, and it made me who I am today. What makes me want to come back every time is that I have realised that the show just keeps getting better. I have just one thing to say to the team at Vinisud – keep up the good work, keep taking it to new heights“.
Laurent Dal Zovo (Rousillon) / DOMAINE VIAL-MAGNERES
“We have just finished and are pretty delighted! Visitors were quite qualified – there were a lot of wine merchants and restaurateurs. I think we have done quite a lot of business so we’re very satisfied. See you next year!”
Nicola Thornton / SPANISH PALATE – Spain (nationwide)
“Our experience in 2017 was really, really positive, both in terms of the quality and quantity of buyers, which increases every time. We will most definitely be coming back next year. This is a good time of the year for presenting new products to existing distributors and importers and also for securing new clients who come in ‘discovery mode’ to find new wines for the year”.
Bernard Magrez (all regions) / BERNARD MAGREZ
“I come to Vinisud because I learn a lot. I spend time with top quality wine growers and merchants and engaging with them is a rewarding experience. Changing the show to an annual format is an improvement because distributors across the world are used to travelling and if some of them can’t make it one year, they can come the next. Consequently, you don’t tend to miss many worthwhile people.
Vinisud is a wonderful initiative for France – you only have to look at the number of foreigners here. It is extremely well organized and from a sales perspective, they are extremely efficient. If there is one word I would say to the team, it would have to be – Bravo!”
Gérard Bertrand (Languedoc) / LES VINS GERARD BERTRAND
“Vinisud epitomizes the global emergence of Languedoc-Roussillon and the South of France. Languedoc-Roussillon is now one of the five most important regions in the world. It was challenging in the beginning but we are now finally starting to ride the wave of success, buoyed by our extensive range of wines and in particular our rosés, our terroir wines and the organic bottlings we sell worldwide. We really are world experts in wellness and sensible, quality drinking.
Vinisud is an opportunity to share the spirit and friendliness of wine growers from the South of France. It’s also the right time to present the latest vintage.
The team at Vinisud has done an amazing job for many years. I hope they can bring together all strands of the Southern French wine industry to make the show’s 2018 vintage a lively one!”
Marc Benassis (Roussillon) / CHATEAU DES HOSPICES DE CANET
“This was the first time I took part in Vinisud. Overall it went well. Obviously we will gauge this over time but we made some contacts and I hope they will pan out. Discovering the show and connecting with importers was a wonderful experience for me”.
Françoise Antech Gazeau (Languedoc) / ANTECH LIMOUX
“We are delighted, Vinisud was an excellent show for us. We have been coming since the outset and even went to Nimes for Vinicom, right at the beginning. We really met some very professional people who were here to work. There were a lot of export visitors which is extremely important for us because around 80% of our sales are exports. We saw good clients, professionals and people who were here to do business. My only regret, and it’s one that most of my clients expressed too, is that Millésime Bio and Vinisud are not held at the same time and in the same place. It would make everyone’s life much easier.”
Basile Saint Germain (Languedoc) / DOMAINE LES AURELLES
“Making the show annual is an obvious choice – we produce a vintage a year. The quality of the buyers was not lacking and we made some good quality, effective contacts. The only negative side was the irritation voiced by buyers who felt they had been shown a lack of respect – or even been taken hostage – by the departure of Millésime Bio. Everyone bemoaned the waste of time, energy and money when they could finally have had the two shows side by side. The disregard shown by buyers and wine growers is anything but ecological, not to mention the carbon footprint. Everybody loses out – the buyers, producers, the region and Montpellier.”
Marine Dubard (South-West) / VIGNOBLES DUBARD
“We left the show delighted by the number of promising encounters and by the quality of visitors and their level of commitment. We welcomed a number of wholesalers and agents and above all, met more foreigners – from Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Lithuania and the USA – than we’d hoped for”.
Marie-Clothilde Bailbé (Roussillon)/CHATEAU LAS COLLAS
“We established contacts with importers from Denmark, China, Japan, Holland and Sweden during the show. Obviously, the essential next step is that orders follow… I don’t understand why Vinisud and Millésime Bio separated when there is room for both… To be honest, even for importers it’s a rush – they have to be at two shows at the same time. It’s not manageable.”
Marie Dupuis / OENOTOURISME.COM
“Our start-up chose Vinisud as its first event and we are delighted. We were in the wine tourism hall, an area that thronged with creative people and innovative projects. Many visitors and future partners came and we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of visitor attendance. See you next year!”
Rosó Gabarró / TORELLO CAVA – Spain (Barcelona)
“Congratulations for your excellent organization and for the number of importers you managed to attract to Vinisud. In terms of the range of trade and industry members, it was a very interesting show for us. We didn’t stop!”
Jon Zubeldia / ASTOBIZA – Basque country
“As the manager of Astobiza, I want to thank you for the attention you paid us before and during the show. On our stand, we were able to meet buyers from more countries than we had expected. We met some interesting people and were able to present our wines and get instant feedback. Business opportunities were confirmed over the three-day event as potential buyers returned to our stand. Also, several buyers came straight from the “ Palais Méditerranéen “ tasting area”.
Mathieu BLET / LA CAVE MAVROMMATIS – Greece
Very satisfied about our second participation to Vinisud Wine fair in partnership with Wine Mosaïc. The quality of exchanges make us hope some great market opportunities for our selection of autochthons Greek grape variety. Foreigners’ buyers were strongly present at this edition (Scandinavia, USA, UK, JAPAN, UK…) as well as numerous contact and interests from national French buyers, sommeliers and wine merchants. At Vinisud we take the opportunity to present our selection of Greek new vintages wines early in the new year and we strongly plan to join next edition in 2018.
