PORTLAND, Maine – January 27, 2022 – As stakeholders from the global wine and spirits industries prepare to convene on American soil on March 9-10 for the first time since 2020, the organizers of Vinexpo America and Drinks America are finalizing a hard-hitting educational agenda exploring the biggest trends and challenges shaping the industry. Special attention will be paid to the impact of the global pandemic on the beverage alcohol landscape, from the transformative changes in consumption to the expanding role of technology.
Featuring two full days of exhibits, educational programming, business meetings, tastings and networking at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan, the trade-exclusive joint exhibits will provide US buyers and decision makers with .and Canada access to new and established brands looking to enter and expand in the North American market. To date, the growing list of exhibitors exceeds 300 from 24 countries on six continents.
One French pavilion organized by Business France alone has 62 exhibitors, including Taste France, which is making its first trip to the US The French government launched the full-service broker in 2020 to connect the French agri-food industry with buyers, importers , distributors and other decision makers around the world. Japan, the Czech Republic, Spain, Chile, Brazil and the US will also host pavilions on the show floor.
While the full program of lectures and masterclasses will be available online as the show gets closer, here are a few highlights:
Conferences:
- Understand US alcoholic beverage trends and drivers of future consumption. Brandy Rand, IWSR COO, Americas, will share insights into post-pandemic developments in the U.S. alcoholic beverage market. Among the questions she’ll explore: What trends are having the biggest impact on what we buy, where do we buy it and how do we consume it? How are consumer sentiment and behavior evolving? What does this mean for the industry and future trends?
- Wine Spectator & Whiskey Advocate present: Selling Wine and Spirits in a Post-Pandemic World. Executive Editor Jeffery Lindenmuth will lead a panel discussion on a wine and spirits landscape permanently altered by COVID-19. Consumer conveniences such as online ordering, home delivery, grab-and-go food and beverage, and video tastings are likely to be here to stay, and the balance between off-premises retail, in the facilities and the producer is constantly changing. Representatives from these sectors will share how they have faced the pandemic and what they see for the future.
- Search and selection of import and distribution partners. Presented by the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University, this session will offer important information for new and established businesses.
Also on the conference agenda is a session on the growing role of technology in spirits and a session presented by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.
Master classes:
- The National Revenue Agency of Japan will present a program that explores the world of Japanese alcohol, including sake, shochu and more, introducing attendees to a variety of beverages, their characteristics, and the best ways to enjoy their various flavors. The program will be led by Sara E. Guterbock of Sake School of America, CBS, ISS, ASP, CS, CWE, DipWSET, JSA Sake Diploma, WSET Level 3 Sake Educator, International Kikisake-shi.
- The Alliance Les Crus Bourgeois du Médoc will present its 2020 Ranking for the first time in the US in a presentation and Q&A session led by Mary Gorman, MW, and Alliance President Franck Bijon.
- Noted oenologist and master winemaker Lorena Deaconu Stoian will guide attendees through a sampling of eight award-winning wines from Romania in “Discovering the Hidden Treasures of Romanian Wines,” a presentation by The Iconic Estate, a member of the Alexandrion Group.
In addition, Inter Rhône will present two master classes focusing respectively on wines from the north and south of the Rhône Valley, while the famous glassmaker RIEDEL will present his collection of seven RIEDEL Winewings glasses.
Registration is available online through March 8 for $50; attendees can register at vineyardxpoamerica.com or drinksamerica.com to gain access to both shows. Registration on the site is priced at $100.
For information on the COVID-19 protocols required by New York City and the Javits Convention Center, please refer to the safety plan posted on the Vinexpo America and Drinks America websites.
About Vinexposium
Jointly owned by Comexposium and Vinexpo Holding, Vinexposium is the world’s leading organizer of wine and spirits trade events. Vinexposium offers an enhanced range of high performance events, tailored to different market segments, with a portfolio of iconic and renowned events: Wine Paris and Vinexpo Paris, WOW! Meetings, Vinexpo America & Drinks America, Vinexpo Hong Kong, WBWE Asia, Vinexpo Bordeaux, Vinexpo Shanghai and WBWE Amsterdam, as well as Vinexpo Explorer and World Wine Meetings.
About Diversified Communications
Diversified Communications is a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face conferences and exhibitions, online communities, and digital and print publications. As producers of these market-leading products, Diversified Communications connects, educates and empowers business communities in more than 15 industries including: renewable energy, health care, natural and organic, food and beverage, and technology. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA, with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a third-generation, privately held family business. For more information, visit www.divcom.com