An Australian contingent of 74 wineries headed to Singapore this week to be part of the Australian wine pavilion at Vinexpo Asia – one of the largest exhibitions for wine and spirits professionals in the Asia Pacific region.
The three-day B2B trade show, held 23 to 25 May, brought together nearly 1,000 producers from 35 countries to pour their wines, connect with distributors and create business opportunities.
More than 8,000 trade visitors and buyers attended the event, which was held at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre.
Australia was one of eight countries to host a pavilion – along with Austria, France, Singapore (who had two), the USA, Argentina and Chile.
Following its ‘Country of Honour’ role in 2018 (the last time Vinexpo was held), Australia returned to Vinexpo Asia 2023 with 1,000 wines from 40 wine regions – as well as 9 masterclasses, exploring the rich history and diverse range of styles, varieties and climates found in Australia.
The Australian wine pavilion also featured four regional bars showcasing some additional wines from other producers in their regions: Riverland, McLaren Vale, Yarra Valley and Western Australia.
This was Vinexpo Asia’s first in-person trade show in four years due to COVID-19, and the first time the event was held in Singapore.
Speaking from the event:
- Wine Australia General Manager, Marketing, Paul Turale said, “It’s great being back in market for Vinexpo in Singapore, with visitor numbers appearing to be recovering post-COVID. And we’re so pleased to have 74 Australian wineries represented, connecting with trade and unlocking the growing opportunities from markets across Asia.”
- CEO of Wine Yarra Valley Caroline Evans said, “We’re actually thrilled with what’s happened while we’ve been here. We have eight producers on our stand – from really tiny one-and-two-person businesses through to some of the bigger players. And so far, I think I’ve seen well over 25 really strong leads from importers and distributors through to chefs at five-star resorts and hotels.”
- Michael Hatcher from Bunnagamoo Wines in NSW said, “There’s a really diverse mix of buyers, distributors, hotels… We’ve had some really interesting conversations. The position of the Australian wine pavilion was great. Right near the front doors. There’s a very strong visual presence for everyone coming through the doors, which has been fantastic for that flow on of traffic.”
Wine Australia’s masterclass schedule and full list of exhibitors is available here:
