New York, March 6^th 2019 – Vinexpo New York’s 2019 show more than lived up to the high expectations set after last year’s successful debut, securing its position as North America’s leading international exhibition exclusively for the wine and spirits trade. Held at Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, the March 4-5 show featured more than 400 exhibitors from 26 countries and 3,000 wine and spirits professionals – including a mix of importers, distributors, wholesalers, buyers and e-commerce specialists from over 40 U.S. states and seven Canadian provinces – for two days of educational sessions and networking opportunities.

This year’s hard-hitting conference program filled both afternoons of the show for a total of six sessions, kicking off with a conference addressing global climate change and its impact on the wine industry led by John P. Holdren, former advisor to the Obama administration and a Teresa & John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy at Harvard University. The 2019 program also drew leading industry experts to discuss topics ranging from emerging technologies in the wine and spirits industry to trends in the U.S. wine market, as well as an intriguing exploration of gender perceptions and wine. A robust schedule of nine master classes ranged from a deep dive into grenache to a presentation on the influence of glass shape on the wine drinking experience.

Vinexpo New York 2019 also introduced several special features to the show, including the WOW! World of Organic Wines pavilion, which provided a prominent platform for more than 20 organic wine producers from five countries. Other new features included a Wine & Spirit Education Trust Pop-Up Classroom; Uncork New York, sponsored by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation; the Wine Spectator 90+ Showcase and Tasting Bar, spotlighting wines that have earned scores of 90 points or higher in Wine Spectator’s official blind tasting reviews; and a showcase of Biodynamic® wines by Renaissance des Appellations. In addition, One to Wine Meetings, Vinexpo New York’s complimentary matchmaking service, facilitated pre-scheduled meetings between attendees and exhibitors, making important connections seamless.

“This was our second year attending Vinexpo New York, and we were once again delighted with the caliber of buyers and the number of appointments that we had,” said Lientjie McLachlan, speaking on behalf of South Africa’s Robinson and Sinclair. “Thanks to services like One to Wine Meetings, and our own extensive planning before the exhibition, we had two days jampacked with fruitful meetings, which was a good problem to have!” She continued, “I’m glad we returned this year. It was well worth it, and we have already started planning for Vinexpo New York 2020.”

Speaking of their return to Vinexpo New York, Cédric Duquenoy, sales director of France’s LGI Wines noted, “It was so wonderful to see the exhibition’s growth this year—there were even more customers and more large retailers. We were so pleased.” He added, “This a big deal for us, and we want to continue to invest in the U.S. market. I believe in the Vinexpo concept because there isn’t another U.S. wine market like it, and New York is a great choice, too. There’s really no doubt about that—we will be coming back.” 

“Strong attendance figures—and the quality of those attendees—at this year’s show underscore that in just one year, Vinexpo New York has already established itself as an essential event among the most important buyers and decision-makers in the U.S. wine and spirits market,” said Mary Larkin, president of Diversified Communications USA, which produces the show.

“We’re thrilled with the results of this year’s Vinexpo New York, which validate the momentum we felt in the wake of last year’s inaugural show,” added Vinexpo commercial director Mathieu Vanhalst. “Its success reflects the combined efforts of the Vinexpo and Diversified teams and the ever-growing importance of the U.S. market on the global wine and spirits industry.”

Plans for Vinexpo New York 2020 are in motion. It will return to Jacob K. Javits Convention Center March 2-3, 2020, and attendee registration will open in September.