Paris: Why am I going to a wine fair? Wait… there’s more!
Paris, finally! Sharlafied is back to see what’s happened in her 3 year absence. This year the Wine Paris &Vinexpo Paris fair will have 27 categories of spirits and they have dedicated an entire hall for them--- that’s the spirit!
Sharlafied is back in Paris for the first time post COVID. There is a lot of catching up to do and I am taking the opportunity to attend the Wine Paris &Vinexpo Paris fair at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from Feb 13-15, 2023. I asked Camille Malavoy, PR Officer for the event, what I can expect.
Hi Camille, I am excited to come to the event, what is the theme this year?
The “World in Motion” is the theme, embracing constant change with a mission of venturing into uncharted territory through over 100 tastings, masterclasses and multi-format discussions.
The fair expects over 30,000 visitors and 3,387 exhibitors from 41 countries to celebrate the extensive diversity of the wine & spirits world.
What space are you dedicating to spirits?
BE SPIRITS is the area focusing on spirits and mixology, moving to the very heart of the exhibition this year with the entire Hall 2 dedicated to it.
Tell me more about BE SPIRITS.
The mission of Be Spirits is to showcase spirits and craft beverages from all backgrounds, from high-potential craft distilleries to recognised brands, hard tea to rum infusions and from Japan to Iceland, France Germany and the United States.
How many spirits will be represented?
We have 27 categories of spirits : Anise based drinks, Armagnac, Cachaça, Calvados, Cognac, Cream Liqueurs, Brandies, Gin, Mezcal, RTDs, Rum, Rum infusions, Sake, Alcohol-free, Tequila, Tonic, Vermouth, Vodka and Whisky. New alcoholic drinks will enter the Be Spirits repertoire: Absinthe, liqueurs, bitter, Pisco, Hard Tea and Shochu along with ciders and beers.
Wow, I can’t wait to dig in, especially to discover new products.
Well, 44 % of our spirits are new exhibitors. Alongside the many French exhibitors, international attendance will be very strong with the return of Belgium, Canada, the United States, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Romania, the United Kingdom and Switzerland.
Newcomer countries for 2023 are Uzbekistan, the Czech Republic and Vietnam.
I understand you have a new area called the Speakeasy. What is that about?
The 2023 Speakeasy by Wine Paris & Vinexpo will take an enterprising approach to on-trend topics in the world of spirits and mixology, yet maintain a very convivial atmosphere. The battle of the Mixologists, a new event, will bring together the industry’s most creative figures.
Oh, you have to tell me more about the battle of the Mixologists!
In front of an audience of 50 people, and under the critical eye of a panel comprising Lionel Albano, founder of La Mentheuse, Marc-Antoine Fulconis, co-founder of Beeche (Bulles de Ruche), Gauthier Zucco, brand ambassador with Bollinger Diffusion, and Benjamin Flavigny, brand ambassador with Maker’s Mark France, 4 renowned mixologists chosen from the selection of cocktail bars featuring in the 2023 OFF programme will be pitted against each other. They will be asked to produce 3 cocktails revolving around a surprise theme revealed on the day. After the panel has reached its decision, the winning cocktail will be available for everyone to taste!
Will you also hold masterclasses in the Speakeasy section?
Yes! Speakeasy will also be the venue for masterclasses, conferences and panel discussions devoted to new trends and challenges in the global spirits market. The line-up already includes:
Masterclass on brandy curated by Lucien Bernard
Spirits masterclass by the WSET
‘Sowine’ conference hosted by Marie Mascré
Z (for zebra?): younger generations and their relationship with wines and spirits
Masterclasses by the Japan Sake and Shochu Association.
I understand there will also be a Craft Pavilion, what about that?
The Craft Pavilion is new for this year and it is reserved for the upcoming generation, with young producers of spirits, RTDs, alcohol-free drinks, ciders and beers, allowing them to promote their products in an outstanding international setting.
Can you give me a few previews?
We have gin and pastis from the Distillerie de l’Ort, produced organically by a brother and sister duo in the Perigord region; rum infusions from K’ribean Cocktail-Taleya, a family venture in Guadeloupe. Gin with lavender accents by the Le Vadrouilleur-Maison LC 1901 distillery in Haute Provence; and the craft aperitif Vylmer Apéritifs, also produced in Provence and inspired by the 1950s.
And there will be the Infinite Bar…
We want to turn the spotlight on the creative spirit of the top mixologists attending Be Spirits, so the Infinite Bar will welcome 5 European bars, 5 bars from French regions and 10 Parisian bars this year, which will share an extensive 40-metre-long bar.
Can you name some names of bars and bartenders?
You can find them among the OFF selection! But I will mention a special guest: Maxim Schulte who has an interesting project called @theherball.
Can you tell me le ON! and le OFF! Programs?
Le On! is is a high-level educational program exclusively provided by Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris. It revolves around one hundred or so events designed in a variety of dynamic formats – from tastings and masterclasses to challenges, demonstrations and one-of-a-kind encounters.
Le Off! Are 180 bars and restaurants showing off Paris’ diversity with great cuisine, fine wines and spirits and a feel-good atmosphere. You can find a list at leoff-paris.com.
There will be a competition as well, tell me about that.
It’s called Spirits of the Year, held on Monday Feb 13 from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. It’s organized by a trade media called “Cavistes et e-commerce” to present newly launched products from the previous year. Throughout January, wine merchants and delicatessens do a pre-selection of the applicants, judged not only on the innovative nature of the product, but also on its suitability in terms of communication mix / price positioning / product specifics.
Following this pre-selection, a jury of experts and journalists meet to award one trophy per category (8 categories in total) + 2 special trophies.
93 candidates will be present at this edition with candidates from some of the big players as well as smaller producers!
The categories are:
1. Whisky
2. Rhum
3. Gin
4. Other white spirits (tequila, pisco, grappa, vodka…)
5. Other brown spirits (armagnac, brandy, calvados, cognac…)
6. Liqueur, cream & compound spirits
7. Aperitifs (pastis, vermouth, bitters, ready-to-drink cocktails, etc.)
8. Alcohol-free
Special trophies:
– Amorim Top Series Trophy for French spirits or aperitif
– Adelphe Trophy for eco-responsible packaging
Well let me throw this out there, one of the winners will be featured in an interview on Sharlafied! Thank you Camille. I look forward to discovering this fair for the first time. And, I can’t wait to see Paris again!
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