In attendance at the world’s leading organic wine extravaganza were 2700 professional visitors, 58% up on 2009’s 1700, with 489 exhibitors, up from 354 in 2009, including producers from 13 countries and buyers from 26 countries.
Italy fielded the highest number of exhibitors from a single country, at 10.5% of the total, followed by Spain, 9.5%. Growers from South Africa and Romania came back for their second year.
“The ongoing success of Millésime Bio reflects the quality of the event,” says organiser Ubifrance. “Participants appreciate the stringent certification procedure for the wines on display, as well as the diverse, representative selection of wines.”
An unusual feature of the show – appropriately equitable given the nature of the organic sector – is that all exhibitors have identical booths, thereby increasing the focus on the wines themselves.
In the show’s tasting competition, Challenge Millésime Bio, the jury recognized 173 wines out of 660 entries. There were 35 Gold awards, of which five, all from France, were selected for the jury’s Special Prize:
- Champagne André & Jacques Beaufort Brut Grand Cru 1996
- Domaine Delmas Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2007
- Ch. La Baronne Corbières 2008 Les Chemins
- Ch. La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 Cuvée des Cadettes
- Ch. Miaudoux .Saussignac 2006
For full results, go to http://www.challenge-millesime-bio.com
Millésime Bio is organized by the Interprofessional Association of Organic Wines from Languedoc-Roussillon (AIVB-LR), founded collectively in 1991 by the region’s organic wine growers.
Next year’s Millésime Bio show will take place at the Montpellier Expo Centre from Jan 24-26 2011.
