Grapes of joy

All roads lead to Asia when it comes to wine consumption these days. And more corks are set to be drawn, as Asia is likely to account for 53.7 percent of global wine consumption between now and 2015. No surprise then that the world’s leading wineries are looking east to tap into the emerging wine markets.
The Vinexpo Asia-Pacific 2012, Asia’s largest wine showcase, running from May 29 to 31 in Hong Kong, will be the rendezvous for top wineries to get to know more of Asia’s emerging wine lovers.
Two years ago, Vinexpo Asia-Pacific broke all previous records for visitor attendance with 12,617 professionals (up 42 per cent from 2008) coming through its doors from 25 countries to browse the products of 882 exhibitors from 35 countries, another increase of 27.4 per cent against 2008.
This year’s event promises to be larger with an extra 2,000 square metres, bringing the total floor area to 10,500 sqm.
For three days, Vinexpo hosts 1,038 exhibitors from 28 countries, who will present their products to Asia-Pacific trade professionals. In terms of the sheer diversity of products to be tasted, it is the largest showcase of wines and spirits in the whole region.
Europe will of course be very well represented by firms from Spain (Miguel Torres, Gonzalez-Byass), Germany (Egon Muller Scharzhof, Henkell & Co), Italy (Banfi Distribuzion, Luigi Cecchi), UK (MacLeod Distillers, Angus Dundee Distillers), Finland (Lignell & Piispanen), Greece (Sigalas, Katsaros), Switzerland (Groupe Schenk, Rouvinez Vins) and Poland (Bartex-Bartol Spolka Jawna), as well as Hungary (Torley).
As befits the leading supplier of wines to Asia, France, which exported 8.37 million cases to China in 2010 and 5.42 million to Japan, will be amply represented by its greatest exporting brands, including Remy Cointreau, Castel Freres, Maison Louis Latour, Champagnes Louis Roederer and BillecartSalmon, Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Bernard Magrez Grands Vignobles, Hugel & Fils, Georges Duboeuf, Frapin and la Martiniquaise, as well as Maison Louis Jadot.
A 1000squaremetre French pavilion will also accommodate a host of French winegrowing companies.
Attendance by Pacific producers will break all records. Nearly 50 firms from Australia and New Zealand are coming to present their products at Vinexpo AsiaPacific. Over the three days of the exhibition, hundreds of Australian and kiwi wines will be tasted ranging from Pernod Ricard to Treasury Wine Estates via Babich Wines.
Representing Asia, the Chinese pro¬ducers, including Grace Vineyard, Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine and Dynasty Fine Wines are exhibiting to leverage the impact of Vinexpo AsiaPacific on AsiaPacific distribution at large as well as positioning themselves in relation to the major international wine groups. For Taiwan, the spirits group, Holy Grail International is showcasing its whiskies.
The US will be represented by the Californian pavilions – The Wine Institute of California and Napa Valley Vintners – and by that of the State of Washington, as well as through individual corporations such as Francis Ford Coppola winery and Jackson Family Wines.
Thirty wineries from South Africa will also come to meet the Asian wine professionals. Faithful exhibitors such as Cape Wine Legends and Rupert & Rothschild will display their products alongside newcomers such as Van Loveren.
South American wines and spirits, which are gaining popularity in Asia, will be offered for tasting by companies like Concha y Toro and Montes from Chile, and Familia Zuccardi, Catena Zapata and Grupo Penaflor from Argentina, while 15 producers’ wines will be displayed at the Uruguayan pavilion.
“Being present at Vinexpo AsiaPacific is really crucial for us, because the number of Asian customers who attend the exhibition is quite unique,” said Alfonso Larrain, president of the Chilean group Concha y Toro.     

Raise a glass
Vinexpo AsiaPacific 2012 runs from May 29 to 31, 9.30am6.30pm, at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong. For more info, go to www.VinExpo.com