PARIS EXPO FEB 2025
A Taste of Things to Come: Our First Visit to Wine Paris
A cold, grey February day on the south side of Paris. Looking up at the flags fluttering gently in the breeze, there was almost a moment of calm—if not for the thousands of people streaming through the gates of the Porte de Versailles exhibition centre. I’d been told to expect crowds and chaos, but nothing prepared me for the scale of it. This wasn’t a quaint London or Lille wine fair. This was the epicentre of the global wine trade—fermented, bottled, and poured into a few exhilarating days in the French capital.
Wine Paris & Vinexpo brought together more than 40,000 visitors from 137 countries and over 4,000 exhibitors from 48 nations. It’s an industry titan—and one you can’t approach without a plan. For us at Entente Cordiale, it was all about business. We had a series of key meetings with our partners at MW Wines, presented our core range at their booth, and spoke at length with potential clients about the domaines we represent. Whether pouring wine or sitting down in the breakout areas with retailers and distributors, we gained invaluable insight into the opportunities ahead.
Naturally, the French section of the fair was enormous. It was encouraging to see such strong representation across the country’s many regions—both the established and the emerging. France truly has something for everyone, in colour, style, and philosophy. And any talk of a "decline" in the French wine industry? Nowhere in sight.
One of our main goals was to discover new producers whose energy and approach could help shape our future portfolio. The Nouvelle Vague section, dedicated to young domaines less than five years old, was the perfect place to start. Many were showcasing their first vintages—a thrilling reminder of how dynamic and forward-thinking the French wine scene remains.
One standout for us was Domaine du Matin Calme, an exciting new producer from Anjou in the Loire. The domaine is run by a talented young couple who bring both viticultural and winemaking expertise to the table. Their lineup of six 100% Chenin Blanc wines was a masterclass in terroir expression—taut, refreshing, and deeply reflective of each parcel of land. They also work with Grolleau Noir, an underappreciated Loire varietal, using carbonic maceration to create an incredibly vivid, red-fruited wine bursting with cherry, redcurrant, and raspberry. This domaine embodies what we love most about French wine: deep-rooted tradition infused with bold, modern sensibility.
To keep our palates sharp and our curiosity alive, we tasted beyond France too. A few honourable mentions: the precise, bone-dry Riesling from Living Roots in New York’s Finger Lakes; the stunning orange Gewürztraminer Cuvée Masquée from La Balle in Alsace; and the beautifully expressive wines from Domaine Pelican in the Jura.
There were far too many exceptional people and wines to mention in one post—but above all, it was a privilege to connect with so many passionate producers, distributors, and professionals from around the world.
Here’s to the year ahead—and to Wine Paris 2026. Santé!
— Entente Cordiale
