+ News and Press
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Top Wine Expo Draws in the Experts
"The Cayman Islands Journal", October 2007
by Lindsey Turnbull
Wine consumption has escalated over the last ten years,
with Europe still leading the way as the world’s largest
wine drinkers, and North and South American consumers hot
on its heels. As a testament to the big business that wine
has become, this year’s VinExpo, the biggest exposition
for the world’s wine trade held biennially in Bordeaux,
attracted record crowds. The Cayman Islands was represented
at this important event by Jacques Scott.
Anyone who is anyone in the wine industry makes a point of
visiting Bordeaux’s VinExpo, held every two years for
professionals from all over the world to appreciate the newest
wines available, as well as catch up with market trends and
network with suppliers, distributors and producers.
At the event, VinExpo Chairman JeanMarie Chadronnier
stated, “VinExpo 2007 is evidence of the vitality in
the industry on a world scale.”
This year’s event was attended by 50,433 trade visitors
who had come from 154 countries in all (although two thirds
of event goers were from France itself). The event is well
documented on a global scale, with over 1300 journalists
reporting on VinExpo this year.
Apart from appreciating newest releases by the hundreds of
producers exhibiting at VinExpo, event-goers were also able
to learn more about the wider business of wine, including
finance, wine appreciation, packaging, wine tourism and e-business.
Seventy staged wine tastings took place and were attended
to capacity.
In a bid to highlight those wines that deserved special attention,
an international team of 16 wine tasters selected the
three most innovative wines on show (white, rosé and
red), as well as one top spirit which succeeded in marrying
taste with attractive packaging.
According to the organisers, the challenge was daunting
because VinExpo is the biggest showcase in the world, drawing
2,400 exhibitors from over 140 countries. The choice of the
Jury Découvertes 2007 was truly international
and mirrored the global scale of VinExpo with discoveries
from the USA, Chile and Spain.
Thirty- two wines from five continents were pre-selected
by the jury in preparation for a blind tasting to name the
white, rose and red wine discoveries. The final choice tipped
in favour of the New World with California and Chile taking
two places out of the three. Europe was represented by Spain.
Eleven spirits were selected in the first round followed by
a blind tasting.
The Grand Prix for red went to De Loach 2005 - Pinot Noir
from Sonoma Coast ( California) – produced by Boisset;
the top rosé was Santa Digna 2007 – Cabernet
Sauvignon from Chile – produced by Miguel Torres, while
the best white was Nelin 2005 – Priorat from Spain –
produced by Clos Mogador. The Grand Prix for Spirit was awarded
to Calvados pays 12 year old, produced by Lecompte.
Ross Philips, marketing manager with Jacques Scott was in
attendance at VinExpo this year and agrees that there were
some interesting discoveries to be made.
He states, “While Jacques Scott does not anticipate
bringing in to our stores any of the specific above-mentioned
winners, customers will be able to buy some exciting French
rosés that I enjoyed at VinExpo. One in particular
that caught my eye was the Chateau de Pibanon Bandol Rosé.
I had this wine in Lyon, Burgundy and Paris with different
types of cuisine.
When I reached VinExpo I was happy to see that Eric de St
Victor, owner and winemaker of Pibarnon, had a stand there.
We met and tasted their wines again and placed an order on
the spot.”
He continues, “This is a full- bodied rosé but
delicate and lively at the same time. It has a great mouth
feel and has aromas of peaches and oranges. A beautiful Chablis
from Domaine William Fèvre is also on the list for
Cayman. This is better than any Chablis we have had in the
past.”
Ross used the opportunity while in France to visit some producers
who have held long standing relationships with Jacques Scott,
accepting an invitation by Joseph Drouhin, which was a three
day event for the wine producer’s top 100 distributors
around the world.
Maison Joseph Drouhin is a familyowned Beaune-based
wine producer established in Chablis and is popular for its
classic Burgundies. The business is led by chairman Robert
Drouhin and he entertained guests during the three day event
with a gala dinner celebrating his 50th anniversary with the
company held in the famous 15th century Hospice du Beaune.
Ross says, “We spent three informative days touring
the vineyards, attending workshops and tastings, some
held in the Drouhin cellars that added to the atmosphere of
the event. The three days culminated in a banquet held in
Robert Drouhin’s honour and celebrated the producer’s
wines as well as the cuisine of the area.”
For the diary: Vinexpo AsiaPacific takes place in
Hong Kong from 27 to 29 May 2008 and the 15th Vinexpo in Bordeaux
takes place in June 2009.
