The biggest fair dedicated to wines, but also to beers and other alcoholic beverages, from organic farming, is preparing to meet professionals, face-to-face, in Montpellier. The 29th edition of this unmissable fair will be held from February 28 to March 3, at the Parc des Expositions.
Nearly 1,500 exhibitors expected (including 400 new ones from vineyard conversions in particular) and 20 countries represented. For its return to face-to-face after a digital edition in January, the Millésime Bio show is back with auspicious attendance forecasts. “It seems essential to us to rediscover the friendly atmosphere of the show and to be able to taste our products together, notes Jeanne Fabre, President of the Millésime Bio Commission. We were one of the last shows to take place before the pandemic, we are delighted to be one of the first to resume!”. Several new products will be introduced this year, while the consumption of organic wines and alcoholic beverages (beers, ciders, spirits) continues to grow (see also below). The health crisis will not have slowed down the movement, on the contrary.
More than 40% of the French organic wine offer presented in Montpellier
In the news section: the arrival of organic beer in the aisles of the show. An obvious fact in view of the market shares nibbled away sip after sip by this drink which is attracting more and more consumers. A master class on “Organic beer and cheese pairings” will even be hosted on February 28 by a member of the Bierissima Academy. In France, some 600 breweries are already certified for a turnover in the sector up 37% in 2019. The show is not mistaken, which rewarded during its Challenge, and for the first time, several organic beers.
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If beer is still a niche, organic wine has become a must. More than 40% of the French offer will be presented in Montpellier, but foreign offers also arrive in large numbers. “The international dimension of the show is confirmed with almost 1 out of 5 foreign exhibitors”, rejoices Jeanne Fabre. Locally, note that the Aude is the 5th French department in number of organic winegrowers (529), the Pyrénées-Orientales, 7th (362). Hérault is second behind Gironde.
Organic: a big success in figures
29% of Europeans buy organic wine (36% of French people), 46% are under 35 years old.
€14: the average price of an organic bottle in France compared to €11.70 for a bottle of traditional wine (€19/€12 in the United Kingdom, €10/€9 in Germany).
Beer is also a booming market that appeals to:
44% “to try, test” (49% in France).
38% “because its cultivation and production respect the environment more” (42% for the French).
29% “because it promotes a fairer sector” (and 32% for the French).
In France, organic wine covers 137,000 ha in 2020, i.e. 17% of the total vineyard (+ 22% compared to 2019) and weighs 1.2 billion euros in turnover. 9,748 organic farms listed in 2020 compared to 8,039 in 2019 for 2.32 million hectoliters placed on the market
In Occitania, 50% of total French production (1.4 million hectoliters) is produced in the region, the leading region in France for organic wine, thanks to the work of 2,942 farms on 42,424 hectares grown organically or in conversion. , i.e. 37% of all French organic vineyards.
Sources: European Observatory of Organic Wine Consumption, Millésime Bio / Ipsos study, 2021 and Agence Bio/Millésime Bio
Infos : www.millesime-bio.com
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