BORDEAUX, France -- Japan is firmly back on the agenda for many wine exporters despite its continued economic slump, and value for money at the lower end should improve further. However, futures prices already indicate the prestige 2000 Bordeaux vintages won't be cheap.
That was the message that came out of the 11th Vinexpo, which recently took place here. The conference is the largest annual get-together of wine-makers, retailers and distributors, and this year 55,000 visitors from 43 countries perused the wares of 2,400 exhibitors.
The event, which was held in Hong Kong in 1998, will head for Tokyo's Big Sight arena next June. Among 300 exhibitors recently surveyed by Vinexpo, Tokyo is the best and most logical location to host the event outside of Bordeaux. For most producers, Asia is again becoming the key growth market after a small supply-related downturn during the Asian economic crisis.