Registration is underway for two co-located events, Vinexpo America and Drinks America, which debut in New York on 9 March 2022.
The trade-only expos, held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, will provide U.S. and Canadian buyers with access to new and established brands looking to enter and expand in the North American market.
The program will prove an efficient reunion for the beverage alcohol industry, giving buyers and exhibitors an opportunity to discuss products and conduct business in one location.
Vinexpo America will focus exclusively on wines from around the world and is a repositioning of the former Vinexpo New York, which launched in 2018. Drinks America is a new expo that will feature spirits, beer, sake, ready-to-drink (RTD), and related products and services.
Attendees will have full access to both events. A sample of exhibitors already confirmed include Amber Beverage International, Aquitaine Wine, Bernard Magrez, Bruno Lafon Selection, Business France, Castilla La Mancha, Château Ramage La Batisse, Maison Ginestet, Perdeberg Wines, Serena Wines and Vueve Ambal.
The latest industry insights from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis underscore the importance of connecting the wine and spirits trade at a combined North American program. Beverage alcohol consumption is up 2% in the U.S., reflecting the largest gain for the country since 2002, and the U.S. is poised to become the largest alcohol ecommerce market in the world by the end of the year, after a value growth of 80% in 2019-2020.
Attendees of Drinks America will note the rise of RTD as the fastest growing beverage alcohol category in the U.S. market, with a growth of 62.3% by volume in 2020. Spirits sales in the U.S. last year posted the largest volume increase at 4.6% for the spirits category since 1990, with value increasing by 7.7%.
Over the course of two days, Vinexpo America and Drinks America will present a series of educational programs that address important trends and opportunities for the beverage alcohol industry. Program details will be introduced in the coming months.
David Talbot, Co-founder and principal of Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC), has joined the Vinexpo America and Drinks America advisory board. UBC conducts the annual Ultimate Spirits Challenge competition for all types of distilled spirits, and the Ultimate Wine Appraisal, which offers rating and review services for wine producers and marketers. Talbot is also founder and principal of consulting firm Limitless Libations LLC, focused on the needs of independent wine and spirits retailers.
Talbot joins 11 other U.S.-based wine and spirits industry leaders who contribute to the planning and growth of Vinexpo America and Drinks America, including John Beaudette (MHW, Ltd.), Cheryl Durzy (LibDib), Valerie Gerard-Matsuura (Sopexa USA), Monique Houston (Winebow), Helen Mackey (Darden), Vela McClam Thomas (Lemae Group), Steve Melchiskey (USA Wine West, LLC), Brandy Rand (The IWSR), Brian Rosen (BevStrat LLC), Manilay Saito (Business France) and Aaron Sherman (SevenFifty).
