The wine industry has a large impact on the growth and development of international trade, and expos have a significant role in that. They gather not only producers and sellers but also specialists from other sectors like agriculture, food, technology, etc., creating the ideal environment for networking and business. In addition, the fairs are visited by journalists, blog writers and influencers from across the world, ensuring vast media attention.

Wine shows are usually organised in different sectors covering all aspects of the industry - production, packing, services, etc. Big expos will incorporate smaller events like degustations, dinners and dedicated awards to further increase the publicity of the exhibiting businesses.

The Biggest Wine Shows in Europe

European countries take the first three spots as the largest wine producers in the world and occupy three out of the five top wine consumer places. We are talking about Italy, France and Spain. These numbers show the great impact this industry has on the European economy. So let’s see which are the biggest game-changing events on the old continent.

Vinitaly - Verona, Italy

Vinitaly is the largest wine fair in the world in terms of visitors, exhibitors and exhibition area. The first edition of the expo was held in 1967, and since then the event has been a pivot for the wine industry in Europe. Its last edition in 2019 welcomed 125,000 visitors from 145 different countries. Vinitaly takes place annually at the Verona Fiera exhibition centre in Northern Italy.

The trade show focuses on exhibiting products and companies from Italy’s biggest wine areas with halls in the venue dedicated to each of the regions. Over 4,500 local vineyards and another 20 major wine-producing countries present their products divided into different categories. Smaller events run alongside and before the main show starts. These include an education program on Italian wine sorts and grape varieties; a wine competition; tastings; music celebrations across the host city of Verona and seminars held by keynote speakers from the sector.

ProWein - Dusseldorf, Germany

ProWein is the second largest international trade show for the wine and spirit industry in Europe. The exhibition and its adjacent events are held annually at Messe Dusseldorf in Germany. ProWein’s steady growth through the last five years made it an appealing platform for businesses, investors and the general public visitors. Unlike Vinitaly, the Dusseldorf wine fair is far more internationally focused.

Additionally, three areas of Messe Dusseldorf are exclusively allocated to present various spirits, champagnes and beers. This slightly shifts the centre of attention of the event from wine to the general alcoholic beverage industry and provides a bigger variety of business opportunities.

In 2019, ProWein was attended by over 6,000 exhibitors from more than 60 countries. Major companies from France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, the United States and South Africa all took part in the exhibition.

Vinexpo - Bordeaux, France

Vinexpo is France’s largest wine show. Its focus is entirely on the wine industry with exhibitors showcasing products, services, technology and solutions for the sector. Vinexpo is held in uneven years at the Bordeaux Convention Centre in the wine-growing region of Bordeaux in southwestern France. The expo has an amazing media coverage (more than 800 journalists from 40 different countries in 2019) and is attended by the best of the best in the international wine business.

The Biggest Wine Trade Fairs in North America

The USA wine market is one of the largest in the world, and the COVID pandemic influenced it. Specialists marked a 66% increase in sales at the end of March 2020 . But that is not all, as reportedly online retail wine sales jumped at 225% by April 30th . On the other hand, the Canadian market is also experiencing some positive news, with an 80% rise in wine consumption and sales. With such astonishing numbers, there is no wonder most international companies try their best to secure a steady import deal. Expos are the perfect opportunity for that, so let check which are the biggest wine trade fairs on the continent.

Vancouver International Wine Festival

Also known as VanWineFest, the Vancouver International Wine Festival is not only Canada’s top wine expo but is considered to be the most pristine one in North America. With its rich 41 year history, the expo attracts some of the biggest brands and names in the industry. It features educational seminars, gourmet dinners, culinary competitions and of course lots of wine tasting. Last year's edition was attended by 160 exhibitors from 16 different countries. The event lasted 8 days and presented more than 1400 different types of wine.

International Bulk Wine and Spirits Show - San Francisco

IBWSS is the biggest gathering of bulk wine producers in the USA. The two-day events allow its participants to learn from the leading names in the industry of private label spirits, as well as connect with other professionals in the branch. Over 120 exhibitors took part in the last edition of the expo from more than 15 countries including Singapore, China, Brazil, Scotland and Guatemala. IBWSS is held at the South San Francisco Conference Center.

USA Trade Tasting - New York

USATT is an annual trade fair/business conference aiming to help the independent wine and beverage industry to grow and be on track with the latest technologies and innovation. Here specialists, retail agents, investors, sellers, importers, sommeliers and distributors meet, learn, taste, promote their products and make profitable business deals. The expo lasts 2 days and is held at Metropolitan Pavilion in New York. In 2019 the event hosted more than 100 exhibitors from 20 different countries.

The Biggest Wine Shows in South America

With more than 500 years of experience in wine production, South American countries have created their own unique flavour. Chile and Argentina are in 5th and 11th place in the list of the biggest exporting countries in the world . Let’s check out some of the largest wine trade fairs on the continent.

Wine South America - Bento Gonçalves, Brazil

Wine South America is the largest professional wine expo on the continent. The fair is the perfect meeting place for manufacturers and sellers to meet potential investors and buyers. In addition, the professionals can enjoy a variety of different trainings, lectures, business trips to vineyards, degustations and much more. The 2019 edition generated over $3.5 million in business deals and gathered 300 brands from more than 22 countries. The expo is held at Alameda Fenavinho in Bento Gonçalves, Brazil.

ExpoVinis - São Paulo, Brazil

ExpoVinis is South America’s biggest wine show and a market entry point for businesses based outside of the continent. Additionally, half of all attendees represent Brazil, Chile and Argentine – the top wine producers in Latin America. This provides a variety of opportunities for international distributors to export overseas. The fair is held each year at Expo Center Norte São Paulo. ExpoVinis is a lot smaller in size compared to its counterparts in Europe. However, 95% of all attendees are industry experts, half of which, based in South America. This proves the trade show is a valuable source of contacts, despite its smaller scale.

Sitevinitech - Mendoza, Argentina

Sitevinitech Argentina is a unique expo, as it is a specialised trade fair for export solutions for the wine production and fruit & vegetables sectors. The show focuses on vineyard, cellar and bottling equipment, supplies, wine marketing, innovations, etc. More than 150 exhibitors and over 15 000 visitors attended the edition in 2019. The trade fair presents the ideal opportunity for business networking and creating strong contacts and partnerships. It is one of the most important and anticipated expos in Argentina. Sitevinitech is held annually at Mendoza - the country’s second-biggest producer of peach, apple and pear.

The Biggest Wine Shows in Australia

Australia is part of the “New World” market when it comes to wines. International attention towards Australian brands became more significant in the ’70s. Naturally, the growing business and viniculture of the country evolved, creating a lucrative market, where local producers and buyers meet the international brands, looking to conduct profitable deals. In fact, Australia is one of the leading exporters of wine in the world. The United Kingdom now imports more wine from the Land Down Under than from France. All the more reason to attend these expos.

Good Food & Wine Show

Good Food & Wine Show is Australia’s largest and fastest-growing consumer food and wine exhibition. The event is staged annually in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane and its last edition received a total of 120,000 visitors combined. Launched in 2001, the expo quickly became an internationally popular event. With several hundred exhibitors and over 120,000 visitors, the fair represents Australia's market in a focused, business-oriented fashion. The highlight of the 2019 Sydney edition was the guests from the famous culinary show MasterChef Australia, as well as other celebrity faces, known in the industry.

National Wine Show of Australia - Canberra

The National Wine Show of Australia is the place to be if you want to check out the best wines in the country. The purpose of the event is to showcase, judge and award the most outstanding, high-quality wines. The 45th edition of the Show in 2019 was a complete success with 1,278 exhibitors across 46 separate classes. It reported an increase of 2% in participants with 71 new brands entering the competition. The Show presents an excellent opportunity for professional buyers from around the globe to spot and connect with the best of best in the vineyard sector in Australia.

WineTech - Adelaide

WineTech is one of Australia's leading trade fair expos. It is held every three years with the last edition being in 2019 and the next one in 2022. The trade fair showcases all of the leading technologies and innovation in the wine-producing sector. WineTech attracts visitors from various industries and is highly anticipated. Over 170 exhibitors attended the last expo at the Adelaide Convention Centre. The visitors could enjoy not only the exquisite wines but also attend additional lectures and even freely ask questions and interact with the presenters.

Тhe Biggest Wine Trade Shows in Africa

The African wine market is steadily growing as there is a serious shift from locally produced spirits to branded alcohol. According to recent reports “the West Africa alcoholic beverages market reached a value of US$ 10.8 Billion in 2019.” The beverages of choice are beer, followed by wine and spirits. In South Africa, sparkling wine and champagne perform particularly well, as they are preferred by the majority of the young female consumers. Overall experts see a bright future for the vineyard industry with lots of investment perspectives.

RMB WineX - Johannesburg, South Africa

RMB WineX is one of the most anticipated events in South Africa. Held at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, the 20th edition of the expo in 2019 gathered over 150 exhibitors and presented up to 800 types of wine. The fair offers a unique opportunity for visitors to taste some of the best local brands. But that is not all, each year the international presence grows and more and more renown brands and vineyards take part in the expo.

Wine and Olive Oil Production Expo - Cape Town, South Africa

The Wine and Olive Oil Production Expo gathers local and international professionals and allows them to exchange experience and taste some of the best wines in the world. A major highlight of the event is the lectures and workshops. The expo is young, as its first edition was in 2017, regardless, it slowly gains popularity. After all, South Africa is the 7th largest wine producer on the globe. The event is held at Cape Town International Convention Centre and attracts more than 200 exhibitors each year.

Wine East Africa - Nairobi, Kenya

Wine East Africa is one of the largest wine expos on the continent, introducing prestigious international brands to the developing market of the East and Central African countries. The fair not only presents a great business opportunity for the local producers but also keeps them on track with the best practices in the vineyard industry. Due to the 2020 pandemic, this year’s edition is held completely online. But that didn't stop the organisers from preparing a rich program including live video demonstrations and product launchings.

The Biggest Wine Expos in Asia

The top leading Asian countries in the wine market at the moment are China, Japan and South Korea. Each one has its peculiarities and cultural requirements. That’s why we decided to honour them in an additional article where we reveal the secrets of the biggest wine markets in Asia. Now let’s take a look at the other countries on the continent and check which expos have an impact on the wine industry.

Wine & Gourmet Taipei - Taiwan

WGT is the only professional exhibition in Taiwan that covers every aspect of the wine market from production and technologies to promotion and sales. It is the meeting point for both local and international buyers, sommeliers, distributors, engineers, etc. In addition, the gourmet part covers a large variety of classes, lectures and degustations. Since its founding in 2011, the fair attracts more than 100 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors each year.

Uppercrust Food and Wine Exhibition - Mumbai, India

The UpperCrust Food & Wine Show is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year. The show gathers food and wine-lovers from around the world, giving them the opportunity to experience gourmet dishes and the finest beverages. The 17th edition of the fair was held at the World Trade Centre Mumbai and hosted by several actors, entertainers and celebrity chefs. The Wine Alley presented some of the finest wines from India, Argentina, Brazil as well as other countries.

Vinorus - Krasnodar, Russia

Vinorus is the only wines and alcoholic beverages in South Russia. It is held annually at Expograd Yug in Krasnodar and gathers producers, distributors, buyers and importers from around the world. The expo offers a rich program including the tasting competition «Southern Russia» with a judging panel that includes both renown local and international names. Last year’s edition included exhibitors from Italy, France, Armenia, Georgia and more.

Planning and organising a business trip to an international expo is not an easy job. There are so many things that need to be done, and the time is always pressuring you. Fair Point can offer you excellent accommodation deals saving you up to 30% when booking a few months in advance. Just send us your requirements - number of rooms, dates, budget, location, hotel chain you like and we will prepare for you a list of options you can choose from.