The global wine trade show Vinexpo Asia will be held in Hong Kong in May.
Vinexposium, the organizer of Vinexpo, said on the 29th that it will hold the Vinexpo Asia trade show at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) for four days from May 26 to 28. Since 2023, Vinexpo Asia has been held biennially in Singapore and Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, it held the Vinexpo Asia event in May 2024.
Vinexpo is one of the world's three major wine trade shows, widely covering global alcoholic beverages with a focus on French wine. The reason Vinexpo, which has emphasized French wine, holds events in Hong Kong and Singapore is that it sees the Asian wine and alcoholic beverage markets as core markets.
Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, said, "As the global trade order is being redefined, we will strengthen our regional presence and continue to support the industry through Vinexpo Asia."
Since first launching Vinexpo Asia in Hong Kong in 1988, Vinexpo has served as a trade platform connecting producers, distributors, and buyers across Asia. In particular, this edition of Vinexpo Asia actively reflects the recent shifts in the alcoholic beverage market. Recently in China, alcohol consumption has become more casual and home-centered than before. Not only in China but also among young consumers across Asia, there is a preference for fresh and lighter styles.
In light of these changes, this Vinexpo Asia will introduce a dedicated exhibition area for nonalcoholic beverages and low-alcohol drinks. It has further strengthened the dedicated exhibition space for the wine industry and prepared an area encompassing innovative alcoholic products centered on spirits such as baijiu and soju. In particular, this time there will also be a Korea pavilion covering traditional Korean alcoholic beverages and soju.
According to Vinexposium, participation by more than 20 countries has been confirmed so far. Australia, Chile, France, Germany, Ireland, and Italy are among them. At the event held in Hong Kong in 2024, 1,032 exhibitors from 35 countries participated. The venue drew 14,203 industry professionals from 60 countries, and more than 4,200 business meetings were concluded. It was tallied that 75% of visitors were importers, distributors, or retail buyers.
This time, Vinexpo Academy has also been further strengthened. Vinexpo Academy is a platform for insights and knowledge exchange. Through more than 40 sessions, it will focus on issues in the Asian region and the Chinese market, while also highlighting major challenges and future trends facing the global alcoholic beverage industry.
The sessions will cover structural changes in the collector market, new distribution and consumption trends, the evolution of the travel retail market, the expansion of e-commerce and instant delivery strategies, and food pairing strategies. A Vinexpo Asia official said, "We have prepared a variety of conferences, roundtables, and master classes to support strategic decision-making."
Grace Ghazalé, global exhibitions managing director at Vinexposium, said, "Having grown alongside the Asian market for more than 30 years, Vinexpo Asia aims once again to provide a systematic platform that fosters communication, deepens market understanding, and activates trade exchanges across Asia, including Hong Kong and mainland China," adding, "This Hong Kong exhibition will serve as an opportunity to reaffirm its role as a leading business venue in the Greater China region and a strategic hub connecting the dynamic Asia-Pacific market."