Record numbers sign up to 2016 Millésime Bio organic wine fair

Millésime Bio 2015. Image © Gilles Lefrancq

Millésime Bio 2015. Image © Gilles Lefrancq

Nearly 900 exhibitors have signed up for the 2016 Millésime Bio, making it the world's leading global organic wine fair. 

Organisers SudVinBio expect over 5,000 visitors to the fair, which runs from January 25 to 27 at the Parc des Expositions in Montpellier.

Last year, visitors numbers were up 13%.

Exhibitors include wineries from countries all over the world, including this year Argentina, Greece, New Zealand, Slovenia and Switzerland.

All wines at the fair are checked by certification company, Ecocert, to ensure they conform to organic regulations.

Visitors to Millésime Bio can also attend a range of seminars and talks.

Amandine Lama, director of market research organisation Ipsos, will present the results of a survey into organic wine consumption throughout Europe.

There will be technical sessions on pest control, black rot, xyllela fastidiosa abd drosophila suzukii.

The Swedish and Chinese markets will both be the subjects of detailed presentations.

The Challenge Millésime Bio competition will also take place during the fair, which attracts some 1,250 entrants.

This years judging panel is led by Lars Torstenson, former chief winemaker and managing director at Domaine Rabiega in Provence.

The organic wine market in the UK has experienced some difficulties lately.

Supermarket sales were down 9.3% in 2014, according to the Soil Association, at a time when overall organic food and drink sales rose 2.3%.

However, organic wine sales in the independent sector appear to be robust, with some retailers reporting growth of 12% year on year.

For more information on the 2016 Millésime Bio, visit www.millesime-bio.com.

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