Report from Wine Paris: the professional fair breaks attendance records

The Parisian exhibition centre hosted this Monday the inauguration of a historic edition of Wine Paris, which is consolidating itself as the world’s leading commercial event for wines and spirits. The atmosphere in the aisles reflected the magnitude of the event: 6,500 exhibitors and an expected 61,000 professional visitors representing increases of 23% and 22% respectively compared to the previous edition.

A merger bearing fruit

The growth is no accident. This edition is the result of the unification of three fairs that previously competed with each other: Vinovision, focused on Rhône Valley wines; Vinisud, specialising in southern wines; and Vinexpo Bordeaux, the Aquitaine reference. The first joint edition, held in 2020, attracted 2,800 exhibitors and 29,280 visitors, figures that have now more than doubled.

Walking through the pavilions reveals the diversity on offer: from small family wineries to large international groups, including cooperatives seeking visibility in foreign markets. The stands reproduce the French and European wine geography, with a notable presence of Italian producers.

A sector under pressure

Beyond the optimistic attendance figures, conversations in the aisles reveal concern. The wine sector is going through an unprecedented crisis, marked by a combination of climate challenges, structural changes in consumption and geopolitical tensions directly affecting exports.

Exporters present express their concern about current tariff conflicts and call for institutional support to open new commercial destinations through free trade agreements. The contribution of French wine to foreign trade has fallen notably: US tariffs and the Chinese economic crisis—aggravated in the case of cognac by an anti-dumping investigation—have significantly reduced export volumes.

Concrete demands on the table

Among professionals circulates what could be called a «book of grievances». Although the Government has announced an agricultural plan worth 130 million euros—with the application deadline now open—the sector awaits concrete and rapid responses on several fronts.

A prominent request is the release of European funds worth 80 million euros earmarked for crisis distillation programmes, on which Brussels remains silent. There is also concern about the review of phytosanitary treatments against mildew recently tightened by the French health agency, a measure affecting both organic and conventional viticulture.

Other pressing issues include the deployment of aid for cooperative restructuring—following an audit carried out in 2025—the revision of legislation on fair remuneration of wine prices, and the pending publication of a decree on Producer Organisations, a long-awaited commitment.

There is also an underlying cultural demand: institutional backing for moderate wine consumption as part of French tradition, a topic on which there is demand for legislative reform from the producer base.

Reinforced institutional presence

The opening day featured notable governmental presence. In addition to those responsible for French Agriculture and Foreign Trade, the Italian Minister of Agriculture attended, evidencing the European dimension of the event and the strategic importance of the wine sector.

This confluence of authorities at the professional fair represents a significant political gesture at a delicate moment for the industry. Attendees interpret this presence as recognition of the sector’s economic weight, although they expect it to translate into concrete measures beyond symbolic gestures.

Meanwhile, in the aisles, tastings, commercial negotiations and professional encounters continue—which are, after all, the essence of Wine Paris: a global showcase where wine is simultaneously product, culture and diplomacy.