10th biannual VINISUD int'l exhibition to be held in France

SHANGHAI -- Vinisud,one of the world's largest international wine and spirit exhibition organizers, held a press conference in Shanghai recently, and forecast the the 10th biannual VINISUD international exhibition, which will be held in the Parc des Expositions in Montpellier, France, from Monday 20th to Wednesday 22nd February 2012.

Chinese wine traders and wine lovers are warmly welcome, as the country is rapidly absorbing more wine from countries like France, Italy and Spain, said Olivier DARRAS, one of the organizers, noting that Vinisud will hold a grand wine exhibition in Shanghai next year.

Launched in 1994 by the Languedoc-Roussillon Region, over the years Vinisud has established itself as one of the best-attended events in the world of wine.

With thousands of different wines on offer, the new 2011 vintage to discover and numerous activities and themed tastings at stands, the Mediterranean Palace presenting free access to tastings of more than 2,500 products, master classes led by renowned sommeliers like Gérard Basset OBE, World’s Best Sommelier 2010 and Olivier Poussier, World’s Best Sommelier 2000, a programme of lectures on market/product trends, VINISUD most certainly helps to promote Mediterranean wines and their marketing worldwide.

Over 3 days, professionals can taste, discover, select and purchase wines to meet their customers’ Expectations.

China is the world's fastest growing market for still light wine and is forecast this year to overtake Britain as the fifth-biggest market, according to a September report by UK-based International Wine and Spirit Research.

The report forecast that China's wine consumption will double to 250 million 12-bottle cases by 2016, from 125 million in 2010. If growth rates remain unchanged, the country could become the world's biggest wine market in the next 20 years, the report said.