A Spanish accent for the greatest wine show on earth

It is the trade fair to end all trade fairs and the party to end all parties is you are a member of the wine business. 

Founded in 1981, Vinexpo is the world’s leading show for wine and spirits professionals and is held in Bordeaux in odd-numbered years. 

Vinexpo leads to sold-out hotels and restaurants and some of the flashiest cocktail parties around, as well as some serious business transactions.

For first-timers (I have only been once), its scale is overwhelming, but it does provide a chance to rub shoulders with wine's most powerful movers and shakers and taste wines you may never have seen before.

Initial figures suggest 2350 wineries from 42 countries and a staggering 48,500 trade visitors from over 150 nations. 

Oh look, there is Domenico Zonin, managing director, Casa Vinicola Zonin, and yes, that is Peter Gago, chief winemaker from Penfolds. And are you going to the party hosted by Martin Krajewski from Chateau Cantenac? 

And in recent years Vinexpo has expanded. Since 1998, Vinexpo Hong Kong (formerly known as Vinexpo Asia-Pacific) has taken place in even-numbered years, and in 2014, Vinexpo expanded to the Japanese market with the debut of Vinexpo Tokyo, also held in even-numbered years. 

Vinexpo is back in Bordeaux this year; from June 18-21 and this year will see a special Spanish focus on June 19, with an exclusive tasting party pairing fine Spanish wines with foods by some of Spain’s top chefs. 

Everyone will be looking for tickets to this soiree at the Palais de la Bourse in Bordeaux’s historic city centre. 

“A Taste of Spain is shaping up to be one of the most provocative and essential events of Vinexpo Bordeaux 2017,” said Vinexpo CEO Guillaume Deglise. 

“We’re proud to work with Wine Spectator to attract such a prestigious line-up of bodegas to the exhibition. Their presence will add a new dimension to Vinexpo parties and will offer great opportunities to international buyers throughout the show. The tasting itself will be a must for any Vinexpo attendee.”

A Taste of Spain will shine a spotlight on the great wines of Spain with more than 100 Spanish bodegas invited to present their wines alongside food from the likes of chefs Ferran Adrià and José Andrés.

For details: www.vinexpobordeaux.com/