Wine Paris 2025: here’s the verdict from Italian wineries

Wine Paris 2025? Producers and companies have responded with generally positive feedback. The numbers tell the story: 5,300 exhibitors and over 50,000 visitors for the exhibition organised by Vinexposium, with a significant increase in international attendance as the industry awaits Prowein’s response. Once again, this edition reignites the rivalry between the two international trade fairs, which compete on various factors, from organisational aspects to the return on investment that companies achieve through connections made with local and international buyers.

Another hot topic is the trend of alcohol-free wines, which continue to spark curiosity and interest, regardless of their actual quality in the glass. Lastly, there is increasing reflection on the role of trade fairs as the nerve centre of business, especially in such a delicate period.

WineParis_2025

A convincing sixth edition

Unlike the previous edition, the general feeling is that Wine Paris played its cards well. “I didn’t have high expectations for this edition of Wine Paris,” says Andrea Vesco from Rallo winery. “It was well organised. Functional services and easy access made it easier to attend my appointments. Besides that, I managed to secure two new contacts. The trade fair model may be outdated, but I’ll be here—unlike Vinitaly.”

Flavio Geretto, director of Villa Sandi, echoes this sentiment: “Overall, it went well. I say this because we managed to do business, and that’s the key role of a trade fair.”

It was also a positive experience for those attending for the first time. “We had never participated before and were open to any possibility. We are quite satisfied. In the future, we need to prepare more thoroughly, but we will return for at least a couple of years to ensure continuity,” says Paolo Pasini.

The fair managed its available space well, generating positive results in terms of connecting companies with buyers. “It was a crucial opportunity for discussion, especially in such an uncertain period. Even when making strategic plans with clients, you can sense this climate of uncertainty. They are the first to look at the data, and we need to be smart in maintaining our market positions. Above all, we need to study the market and understand its direction. Sparkling wines have proven to be an important reality, no longer just a commodity. Many companies and producers are expanding into sparkling wine due to increasing consumption and interest in bubbles,” says Geretto.

WineParis_2025

Managing No-Alcohol wines

One of the key topics of this edition was alcohol-free wines, a category that wineries are increasingly engaging with. “Everyone asked about them at our stand, even major producers,” says Geretto. “I believe we’ll see a decline in this trend in the future, but it is a reality we must face. We cannot completely disregard it. We should consider it as a category that still belongs to the wine sector. I’m not saying it should be included in the DOC classifications, but it should be labelled as a wine category rather than being handled by external brands. And, above all, it should not be controlled by giants like Coca-Cola but remain within the wine industry.”

Paris, Düsseldorf, or Verona?

When discussing trade fairs, comparisons are inevitable. The general consensus is that Wine Paris is a confirmed choice for next year, while Prowein remains a question mark. “Looking at Prowein, if the Düsseldorf event does not change, the shift towards Wine Paris will be definitive. The quality of visitors is high. There is a lack of South American presence, and for African production, only the French sector is represented, but Asia and the United States are well covered. Meanwhile, European presence is comprehensive and extensive. If Prowein does not show significant improvements in organisation, Paris will be the new go-to destination,” Geretto continues, but warns, “Be careful with Prowein. The dead can rise again.”

What does the future hold for Düsseldorf? “Prowein will probably become more of a ‘local’ German trade fair. We produce Lugana and Valtenesi, and for us, Germany is the main market,” says Pasini, while Francesco Bolognini from Rocca di Castagnole has no doubts about which fair to choose.

WineParis_2025

“I go against the tide of those who think Wine Paris has overtaken Prowein. In this edition of the Paris event, there were few people in the Italian pavilion. The inconvenient location didn’t help, as visitors had to take quite a walk from the entrance to reach it. As far as trade fairs are concerned, our business hub is in Germany. We wanted to be present in Paris, but for us, Düsseldorf remains essential.”

Now, all that remains is to wait for Prowein (16-18 March) and Vinitaly (6-9 April) to draw the final comparisons.