World's Largest Organic Wine Show Broadens Out

Jan 26, 2015

(Wine-Searcher) - France celebrates all things organic with growing numbers attending the Millésime Bio exhibition in the South of France.

Organic wines and vinegrowing are increasing in popularity among the younger generation, according to the president of Millésime Bio, the organic trade show that is taking place this week in Montpellier, France.

The show has 800 wine producers from 14 countries present, and organizers expect 4500 people to attend the show including around 20 percent foreign visitors from 20 different countries.

Millésime Bio, first staged in 1993, has seen a dramatic increase in size in recent years, but organizers have limited exhibitor numbers to 800 for the past two years. It is run by Sudvinbio, the Languedoc-Roussillon organic winegrowers' trade association.

The January event is increasingly considered as an essential meeting place for all involved in organic wines in Europe. Many side events are organized, from wine competitions to conferences and, in particular smaller tasting events. These are often organized by producers not represented at the main show, known in France as "off" events.

Speaking to AFP last October, Patrick Guiraud, president of Sudvinbio and Millésime Bio, was positive about the future for organic growing in France: "Whereas wine producers working conventionally have problems with the next generation taking over, among the organic vinegrowers the younger generation voluntarily takes over or leads the estate to conversion," he said.

"From something bad, comes something good," Guiraud added. "We have seen a growth in opportunists who have seen the possibility of earning more without having real conviction [in organics]." Organic wine sells in France for 40 percent more than conventional wine (€8.70 compared to €6.90, or $9.80 compared to $7.75) and demand is growing steadily.

France represents more than two-thirds of the exhibitors at Millésime Bio; the latest figures available from 2013 show that French organic vineyards represent 8.2 percent of the country's total, this figure having stabilized since 2012 after tripling in the five-year period from 2007.

Having seen even more phenomenal growth than France in recent years, Spain is now the country with the largest area of organic vineyards with 82,000ha (202,000 acres). Italy comes next with 67,000ha and France is just behind with 64,610ha. Between them the three countries account for 73 percent of the world's total of organically managed vines.

Southern France, arcing from Bordeaux across to the Rhône, represents more than three-quarters of the total organic vineyard area in France, according to 2013 figures, with Languedoc-Roussillon alone covering 32 percent. However, after big increases, the actual number of organic producers has dropped a little in recent years – down 3 to 4 percent in Champagne, Alsace and the Loire and even a drop of 1 to 2 percent in Languedoc.

French organic producers export nearly half of what they produce, with Germany taking 37 percent of exports and Scandinavia considered a very important market, followed by Asia – notably Japan – and North America.


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