The last time Vinexpo was in America was Chicago in 2004 when US had entered Iraq and due to the French opposition to the war, there was a strong opposition in the US against France. The negative sentiment resulted in 25% less attendance than the New York Vinexpo held in 2002, reports Decanter, ‘It was not an auspicious time for Vinexpo to mount a trade fair in the US,' Beynat reportedly has said.
But now, ‘it’s the right time to get back to America, and has been for a long time,’ he said commenting, ‘in the US they drink 12 liters per capita of wine a year while in the UK it is 27 liters. If America is going the same way as the UK then it is the future.’
Beynat was speaking on the eve of 16th edition of Vinexpo 2011, which opens in Bordeaux on 19th June; it is also the 30th anniversary of the biennial wine trade fair, perhaps the best known.
There are 48 countries represented this year as opposed to 45 in 2009 although the number of exhibitors remains steady at around 2,500.
Once again, multinationals such as Constellation and Pernod Ricard and other major companies such as Torres and Gallo will not be taking stands at the fair, the reason being that 2010 was a difficult year for all these companies,’ Beynat said.
What may not surprise anyone is that Chinese delegates will be double this time at around 2000.
India is not participating in the Show due to its huge costs and because one has to plan a long time in advance for this show. Even for London, the decision was reportedly taken very late. |