Attended every year by the main players in a sector in need of fresh impetus and new business opportunities for its wines, the fair registered around 6000 visitors from 58 countries.

Global bulk wine trade generates over 32 million hL of salesamounting to around €2.450 billion (of year-on-year sales up to August 2023), representing 32.4% of the overall volume of wine traded with a safe assumption that WBWE is the most important fair for the heart of the wine business as it features the largest representation of bulk wines from both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

Even in the current year when harvests have been smaller worldwide, there is still a surplus of wine in all wine-producing countries and requires wineries to find alternative outlets for their unbranded quality wines.

“It’s the WBWE, and I learn so much every year there: wine without the bullshit. It’s also where growing volumes of organic wine are traded,” says Robert Joseph, the well-known British journalist, critic, international Speaker, wine judge and now a producer, making about 4 million bottles of French wine every year.

“Bulk wine is extremely important because it gives people flexibility, especially start-up companies. Our company is creating a new wine brand and is quite challenging because wineries are quite expensive to start. If you want a ten million euro winery, then start with a twenty million one. I don’t think many people have that kind of money to start from scratch, so bulk wine is very important for entrepreneurs who want to get into it. I work with specific wineries in that line of work, and as we expand our range we certainly look to the bulk wine market to find the best flexibility, better quality wines and good quality/costing”, says Andrew Ingham, CEO of Interpunkt.

Also Read : WBWE: Visit Mecca of Bulk Wines in Amsterdam on 21-22 November

“With impeccable eco-credentials, bulk wine now ticks all the boxes for businesses looking to become more sustainable, enabling them to explore alternative packaging solutions, slash their carbon footprints, and tap into consumer preferences for environmentally friendly practices. The increased switch and interest in bulk wine from buyers at more premium ends of the market comes at a time when attitudes amongst both consumers and legislators towards packaging and waste are undergoing a seismic shift,” quotes the Buyer magazine.

WBWE is an excellent hunting ground for those wine professionals looking for developing a new brand, or distributors who want to broaden their network of contacts and improve their wine portfolio with new varieties, In the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic a new paradigm has emerged in the wine sector and if you do not want to be left behind and would like to understand what is happening in the marketing place WBWE is the place to visit in Amsterdam.

The 2 day show takes place annually, usually in the 16-30 November slot at RAI Exhibition center in Amsterdam and is a must-visit exhibition for Indian importers who feel burdened heavily with high import duties. Even though the volumes may not justify packaging at destination, there is merit in looking at these wines that constitute over 32 % of world trade.

World Bulk Wine Exhibition has been organized successfully for the last 15 years by Pomona Keepers of Spain and Vinexposium of France which also organizes jointly with InterAd Exhibitors of India, Vinexpo India the next edition of which is being organized on 7-9 December, 2023 in Delhi at the India International Convention and Exhibition Center (IICC) also known as Yashobhumi.

The 5th edition of Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris organised by Vinexposium, the first large-scale, international exhibition in 2024, will take place from 12 to 14 February at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles.

For the list of exhibitors this year, click https://www.worldbulkwine.com/en/exhibitors/ For more details, visit www.worldbulkwine.com or contact them at info@worldbulkwine.com, or call 0034 645 964 149

Subhash Arora