First-time exhibitors
Dedicated to a single region of production, the Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair is one of Europe’s leading vine-and-wine events. Visitors can (re)discover the 82 AOC and IGP rated wines – reds, rosés and whites, dry and sweet, still and sparkling – that make up France’s third-largest wine-producing region. Every year, the fair attracts nearly 600 exhibitors and 9,000 visitors from France and beyond. In 2012, 28 trade operators (private cellars and a cooperative cellar, federation and négociant) will present their business and wines for the first time. One such newcomer is a local growers’ federation, the Syndicat des Viticulteurs pour la Défense de l’Appellation d’Origine Vins du Haut Poitou. “It’s a big debut for us, and this year is a unique opportunity – the Haut Poitou area used to be VDQS rated, but now, after 20 years of representations, we have just been awarded AOC status. The Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair is an effective event and an outstanding global showcase for our new appellation and our latest vintage. And we intend to be regular attendees in the future ,” says Pascale Bonneau from the Syndicat.