Wine world prepares for Vinisud 2016

By Mathew Lyons

Published: 10 February, 2016

Over 1,700 exhibitors will converge on Montpellier next week for Vinisud, the biennial International Mediterranean Wines and Spirits Exhibition.

With consumers increasingly attracted to Old World authenticity and heritage, Vinisud offers visitors an opportunity to sample wines from a region which accounts for more than 53% of the world's wine production and some 63% of the global wine trade.

This year, there will be over 1,400 exhibitors from across the south of France, including winemakers from Languedoc, Roussillon, Provence, the Rhône Valley, Corsica and guest region Bordeaux.

A further 270 winemakers from across the Mediterranean will also be showcasing their wines, including wineries from Italy, Portugal and Spain, as well as emerging wine regions such as Algeria, Morocco, Greece, Croatia, Bulgaria and the Lebanon.

The last Vinisud in 2014 attracted over 30,000 visitors from 74 different countries.

Central to Vinisud 2016 will be the Mediterranean Palace, where over 2,500 wines will be available to sample.

Other features include the Mediterranean Expression hall, which will offer examples of rare and unusual Mediterranean grape varieties, and the new Sparkling zone, a self-service area with over 200 sparkling wines will be exhibited.

The exponential growth of Prosecco has been well documented, but non-Champagne French sparkling wines have also been experiencing a renaissance, with sales volumes up 87% in the decade to 2013.

Elsewhere, visitors can enjoy a wide range of masterclasses, covering everything from specific varietals to organic wines, as well as presentations on the US market, bag-in-box wines, the protection of grape varieties and many other subjects.

Vinisud takes place in Montpellier between February 15 and 17.

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