Sessions

Fines wines have never had it so good. New fines wines are flocking to La Place De Bordeaux from all over the world and the last 18 months have seen a marked increase in purchasing, both from existing and new investors. Will climate change threaten this success story?

Panel discussion: Will wine and spirits’ aromas and flavour profiles change between now and 2030? What about typicity? What production guarantees and eco-certifications will consumers demand?  Which back story will capture their interest? Change is afoot and the first panel discussion – moderated by Jane Anson, founder of janeanson.com – will examine this multi-dimensional issue through the lens of the 2030 consumer.

Panel discussion: Sustainability is now acknowledged as a priority for both consumers and businesses in most Western countries. How is this impacting the world of wine and spirits? What action are the main stakeholders taking? This panel discussion moderated by Lucy Britner, editor of Drinks Retailing, will explore the many innovations preparing a greener future for wine and spirits.

Panel discussion: From frost and drought to early harvests and small crops, winegrowers are on the front line of climate change. A plethora of specialist resources and consultants have emerged in recent years but what are the priorities and how can we help growers identify them and anticipate the future? This impactful theme, moderated by journalist Rupert Joy, will be discussed with a panel of stakeholders involved in research and noteworthy initiatives in the industry across the globe.

Digitalisation has changed and continues to change the world we live in at great speed. Google, only founded in 1998, has become not just one of the best-known companies in the world but an indispensable professional resource to many in the wine and spirits business. Looking in from the outside xx, xx at Google will share his vision of the future with Robert Joseph.

Excise duties, tariffs, outright bans: governments have always used an array of measures against the wine and spirits business. The war in Ukraine has seen Russian spirits banned in many counties and international wine competitions offering free entries to Ukrainian wines. In this session, Christophe Navarre, Vinexposium Chairman, will share with Thomas Gomart, Director of the French Institute of International Relations, his analysis of the impact of geopolitics on the wine and spirits business.

Panel discussion: Responsible production is one of the priorities identified by the 2030 Agenda and has become a growing concern for many consumers. What changes should be incorporated into tomorrow’s viticulture, how can we help producers identify good practices and what role should the authorities play? This panel discussion will be moderated by consultant and author Rupert Joy and will bring together a panel of winegrowers from a number of French and international wine and spirits regions alongside experts in technological and digital innovation as well as political figures.

Panel discussion: Globalisation, e-commerce, the rise in prices and decarbonisation of the supply chain, price transparency on the Internet, a plethora of information for the consumer... How can and should producers and marketers reinvent themselves in a sustainable way to adapt to and benefit from current trends? This panel discussion, moderated by Drinks Business editor-in-chief Patrick Schmitt, will round off the Symposium with a panel specialising in wine and spirits distribution and communications with tomorrow’s consumer.

Break: 15h30 – 15h45 

To conclude the symposium, Christophe Navarre, Vinexposium Chairman will summarise in a conversation with Robert Joseph, the key learning points of the last two days.