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Vinexpo Asia-Pacific 2014 welcomed +6.3% more Asian buyers this year |
ASIA PACIFIC. Vinexpo Asia-Pacific, now in its sixth edition, has reported a record-breaking exhibition in Hong Kong, attracting 16,778 Asian buyers – a growth of +6.3% over 2012. In particular, buyers from Mainland China were up +3% to 5,898.
Taking place at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre from 27 to 29 May, the show proves that Hong Kong “remains a privileged entry point for the Chinese market” and an accepted hub in Asia for the wine and spirits industry, Vinexpo said. Feedback from both visitors and exhibitors has also been “very positive”.
“This market is more sophisticated than ever; you could feel it in the business done as well as in the overall atmosphere of the exhibition,” affirmed Vinexpo Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Deglise.
Hong Kong trade professionals, representing 42% of all visitors, numbered 7,064. Among the top six visiting nations after Hong Kong and China came Taiwan with 705 visitors (+10.6%), Korea with 370 (-0.5%), Japan with 355 (+6.3%) and Singapore with 341 (+20.5%).
The show saw a significant jump in visitors from Southeast Asia: visitors from Thailand grew +26.25%, Malaysia by +15.5%, Vietnam by +25.2% and Indonesia by +19.27%.
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Vinexpo Asia-Pacific 2014 featured about 1,300 exhibitors from 34 countries |
Exhibitors, which hailed from 34 countries, numbered 1,300. New this year was the Vinexpo-designed Spiritual concept bar which featured celebrity mixologists from Hong Kong’s leading hotels.
Running alongside the exhibition was a programme that included conferences, seminars and 54 tastings, one of which was a blind tasting led by Paolo Basso, title-holder of Best Sommelier in the World in 2013.
The China Wine Forum, focusing on the future of the Chinese wine market, introduced four well-known panelists: Judy Chan from Grace Vineyards, Don St Pierre Jr. from ASC Fine Wines, Dixon Yuan of yesmywine.com and Simon Tam of Christie’s.
Vinexpo’s upcoming events will take place in Tokyo on 1-2 November 2014 and in Bordeaux on 14-18 June 2015.
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Paolo Basso, named Best Sommelier in the World in 2013, led a blind tasting at the show |
