New World breakaway faction not a worry: Vinexpo chief
May 15, 2008
By Richard Woodard
Vinexpo chief executive Robert Beynat is not worried about a New World alternative to the biennial wine fair, insisting the countries involved will ask for 'square metres' as they always do.
Beynat was responding to the news that – out of growing dissatisfaction with Vinexpo – generic associations from Australia, New Zealand, California, South Africa, Chile and Argentina may consider staging their own event just before next year's Vinexpo.
Beynat told decanter.com he is seeking legal advice on an email survey sent out by the informal grouping of producers, designed to gauge feelings about the proposed event.
'I will call my lawyer, because they used our name,' he said. 'I don't like people utilising the name of Vinexpo on this kind of questionnaire.'
But he said the prospect of a New World wine event – in London or elsewhere in Europe – did not worry him. 'At the end of June 2008 we will open the doors for 2009. I'm sure before the end of the summer, all these countries will ask for square metres.
'The more shows there are about wine in the world, the more people will appreciate wine and the more buyers will appreciate the shows – and in the end they will come to Vinexpo. No, I am not afraid.'
Beynat rebutted claims that there were ongoing logistical issues with Vinexpo, saying there had been one 'small problem' with the air conditioning at last year's event.
And he suggested that New World wine companies had suffered because of their own lack of preparation for the show, rather than because of any perceived bias towards France and the Old World.
Beynat said he had no immediate plans to meet the New World generic associations, although all except Australia would be at Vinexpo Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong at the end of May.
'Probably they will prefer to sell their wine rather than speak to me. But if somebody asks for a meeting with me, why not?'
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How embarrassing: Beynat sitting on his thrown, threating people with his lawyer and bragging that these countries will ask for square metres anyway. Please, please, New World countries, pull out of the Vinexpo and do you own show in London or somewhere else (how about Germany?!).
H. Hagener, Germany
How far was his thrown throne?
Derek Flack
Maybe it will be grateful for the new world industry to get the own expo. I agree to make it in London. At this moment all consumers and traders know that this is the real wine capital and always support new world wines; or good wines from all over the world. Beynat does not need legal advice, maybe need some commercial advice.
Lucas, Argentina
So reassuring to learn from M Beynat that last year's airconditioning problem was "only small" because the principal problem which drove most New World producers away from Vinexpo was eight conscutive Vinexpos where the airconditioning (together with discriminatory location) a really BIG problem. And the New world was inexplicably always in the worst affected area. He and his predecesors always denied there was an airconditioning problem and/or always said it would definitely be fixed 'next time', which it never was.
French denial was what gave the new world its initial foothold and subsequent successes in France's traditional wine markets. How reassuring it is to know that we don't have to worry about a change of attitude any time soon.
Chris Anstee, Australia
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How embarrassing: Beynat sitting on his thrown, threating people with his lawyer and bragging that these countries will ask for square metres anyway. Please, please, New World countries, pull out of the Vinexpo and do you own show in London or somewhere else (how about Germany?!).
