Vinexpo reveals details of New York show

International wine and spirits exhibition Vinexpo head has announced further details about the new business-to-consumer wine tasting event.

The show is to be held in New York between the presidential election and Thanksgiving in November.

Rendez-Vous by Vinexpo, takes place at the Javits Center on 655 West 34th Street between November 16, 17 and 18, 2012. Consumers will be asked to pay US$180 a day and attendance of one of the masterclasses will cost a further $300.  Exhibitors will pay $6,000 to show their wares.

Robert Beynat who was in London today (January 11) to brief journalists on Vinexpo Asia-Pacific (see separate story) and on Rendeze-Vous.

Beynat said that importers are not allowed to exhibit at the Vinexpo shows but he was aware of demand from both suppliers and consumers to stage a tasting-based exhibition.  He emphasised that exhibitors will not be able to sell wine as it is illegal  for producers to sell alcohol direct to consumers under the US three-tier system. Exhibitors will have to refer interested consumers to the local distributor.

Rendez-Vous is expected to have 150 exhibitors and attract between 5-6,000 visitors in the run-up to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Beynat said that a new company will come into existence in March to manage Rendez-Vous by Vinexpo. Shareholders include Marvin Shanken, best known as the owner and publisher of Wine Spectator, and the Chocolate Show which, as the name suggests, runs consumer tasting shows in 17 countries. To secure involvement of US wine producers and other suppliers, the Vinexpo CEO said shares will be offered to companies such as Constellation Brands and Kendall-Jackson.

Beynat said he expected participation from all the major wine-producing countries and hoped that the likes of French chateaux owners and even chefs will conduct and be involved in the tastings and master classes. 

He sees the show as primarily for wine lovers who want to know and taste more but he also expected major brand owners to be present at Rendez-Vous to cater for new wine consumers.

Beynat revealed that R-V New York will be the first of several.  He cited London and Tokyo as likely future venues, the second around 2013/14, as they fitted the profile of sufficient interested consumers within an hour of the city.  He cheerfully ruled out Paris, quipping that it was "too close to Bordeaux", therefore not necessary.

According to Vinexpo the United States are forecast to drink 3.8 billion bottles of wine in 2012, making America the leading consumer market, ahead of Italy and France. The US per capita wine consumption remains at a modest 14 litres a year compared to Italy and France in the 50s and the UK at around 25 litres per person.