VINEXPO

One of the largest and most important international wine fairs for producers, traders, journalists and consumers, which was first held in 1981. At the first edition, the two wine icons Robert Mondavi (1913-2008) and Baron Philippe de Rothschild (1902-1988) were present in person. Since then, this event has been held every two years in June in Bordeaux (France). Since 1997, the VINEXPO has been held in a specially created event village in the north of Bordeaux on the edge of Bordeaux Le Lac (lake). The site covers an area of 90,000 square metres with the exhibition halls and gardens, the Club du Lac, restaurants, conference and tasting rooms and all services.

There are over a dozen special events, such as auctions, lectures on current topics from the world of wine, cercle for sommeliers and awards. There has been a cooperation with the US magazine Wine Spectator since the first VINEXPO. In 2014 (in parentheses the figures from 1981), there were 2,400 (524) exhibitors from 44 (21) countries, 1,290 journalists and 48,858 (11,000) visitors from around 150 (50) countries. In 1998, a VINEXPO was also held for the first time outside France under the name VINEXPO Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong. In 2002 the VINEXPO Americas was held in Chicago for the first time. Parallel to the VINEXPO, the Challenge International du Vin competition is held in Blaye-Bourg. See also under wine events.