Paris is never a bad idea, and when Vinexposium is on – a global wine show of immense length and breadth – it’s definitely Eurostar time.
Seven exhibition halls, one devoted to Low and No alcohol drinks (a first this year), and one just for spirits.
The venue on the outskirts of Paris throngs with importers, exporters, buyers, sommeliers, media and celebrities (Kylie was there, promoting her range of wines), and I can honestly say that I didn’t taste a single bad wine across the many continents and countries I visited.
The Lows and Nos are a fast-developing story, showcasing innovative new products, and a new way of thinking about mindful drinking (and not drinking).
There were masterclasses on trends, business, food and wine pairings, forums on trade relations and tariffs, shifting consumer behaviour, climate change, sustainability, and the over-arching desire to embrace wine as a tool of global influence.
Emerging and strengthening markets, including both India and the African continent as a whole, all present great opportunities for education, premiumisation and market diversity at a time when the wider wine world is trying to redefine and transform itself.
In South Africa, the Chairman of Wines of South Africa, Wahed Khan, introduced me to Cape Dreams, a company set up by his wife, Bunty, with a vision of diversity and inclusion in a still largely pale, male environment. The wines, all produced along the Breede River Valley in Robertson, are textbook examples of the value South Africa is delivering. From lean mineral-driven Sauvignon Blanc to a vibrant Chenin Blanc, an unoaked Chardonnay (given 90 points for value by Tim Atkin in his SA Report), a pale Pinotage rosé with ripe summer fruit, and an unusual 100% Colombard that sings with honey and beeswax (great summer drinking at just 11.5% abv) the Cape Dreams collection has loyal fans from Tokyo to Tennessee. It would good to see these on supermarket shelves in the UK.
The Ayah Family Collection is their premium range, the Chenin Blanc spends 8 months on lees in a variety of oak, amphora and clay pots before blending. The oak is not prominent, adding texture and finesse to a wine that sings with tropical fruit. The red Matriarch is Pinotage-led with Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon in attendance, 500-litre French oak barrels lend warm spices to the blueberry, cherry and chocolate on the palate.
I then went straight to Uruguay (so easy, just around the corner!), to taste a flight of Bodega Garzon Albariños, from the dry salinity of the barrel-aged 2025 Reserva to the highly aromatic Single Vineyard and then the lean and mean Petit Clos Albariño, salty and textural.
I stopped in Hungary to taste several Fűleky Tokaji wines including two very different vintages of the Mestervölgy from a single vineyard in Tarcal – the 2024 lean and mineral with oodles of lime, the 2021 mellow and mature with pear and honey notes. Fűleky has recently released a Steiner Estate kosher wine, with a focus on quality. A late-harvest, botrytised dessert wine that is intense and honeyed with dried fruit.
What a treat to roam the world in one place, to taste, chat, meet connect and learn.
Thank you, Wine Paris!
(This is Part I. More to follow)
© Linda Galloway 2026