A couple of weeks ago, the beautiful city of Paris, also known to be the gourmet food capital of the world, hosted Wine Paris Vine Expo for the third time, a massive event dedicated to all wine and spirits professionals.
The first edition was held in 2019 and the second one followed in 2020. These first two years had a very positive response from attendees and exhibitors. Rubert Millar from The Drink Business, a magazine dedicated to the B2B business for beer, wine, and spirits industries, declared that this event was “setting a benchmark as a key event in the wine professional’s calendar”.
The cancellation of the event in 2021 only increased the desire and excitement of the visitors for the 2022 edition, and the event didn’t disappoint. More than 2,700 wine and spirits exhibitors from all around the world (besides France, countries like Portugal, Spain, Italy, Argentina, USA) were present, and more than 20,000 visitors attended the event, ourselves included.
If you are a new-timer and planning to attend next year, then here are some of the pro-tips that can help you make the best of this memorable event:
Plan Ahead: If you already know what you are looking for (wines from Bordeaux, Champagne, Reds, wines from the south of France, etc); organizing your meetings in advance will save you a lot of time; you can review wineries' websites ahead of time so you can have a clearer idea of their business.
Plan Your Agenda and Location: This year, Wine Paris Vine Expo returned to the city's Expo Porte de Versailles, and if you’ve been there, then you would know that it's a massive venue. Our advice is to plan a thoughtful agenda. For example, if you’re looking to taste different wines from Bordeaux, start your day in the Bordeaux hall, so you don’t lose time walking from one hall to the other.
Prepare for the Masterclasses: Wine Paris Vine Expo is packed with an impressive line-up of masterclasses. You'll have the opportunity to attend multi-format talks from well-known professionals in the industry; if attending a masterclass is on your calendar, make sure you arrive at the spot at least 15 minutes before so you can get a seat. Also, don't forget to check in advance if the masterclass you're attending will be delivered in a language you’re familiar with.
Be Early: Big events like Wine Paris Vine Expo usually have long queues, and one way to avoid them is to be early at least 10 to 15 minutes earlier than the start time.
Maximize Your Lunch Break: This 3-day event took place from 9 am to 7 pm, exciting and exhausting at the same time. Be sure to take at least a 30-minute break to eat and get a quick dose of mindfulness. You can grab a quick lunch inside the expo, from typical French boulangeries to McDonald's.
What to Wear?: Your attire speaks for you so you can't afford to go wrong, so be sure to dress appropriately for the event but never forget to wear comfortable shoes, because you will be walking almost all day. Be sure to have a bag or purse in your ensemble to carry all the brochures, magazines, and business cards you get from suppliers.
And Finally, Our Advice: An event as important as this, can sometimes be overwhelming (even more if it is your first time), so make sure you have clarity of what you are looking for, and organize that information to share with potential suppliers you need to make the best choices.
If you’re an importer or distributor, Wine Paris Vine Expo is a great chance to discover new wines, new estates, new potential suppliers, and new opportunities!
About One Vine Wines
One Vine Wines is a nontraditional importer and distributor of fine wines founded in 2005. Their expert team tastes thousands of wines a year. They offer clients only wines that represent outstanding quality and value.
With a direct email campaign and an online shop, One Vine Wines eliminated many of the inefficiencies of the wholesale trade.
One Vine Wines is paving a better way to conduct business in the wholesale wine trade.