Vinitaly this year will put on show its 49th edition, scheduled 22-25 March 2015 in Verona (ww.vinitaly.com). It will tackle developments in international trade in the light of the devaluation of the euro, which could well boost Italian and European wine exports. Buyers have been directly invited by Veronafiere (the organising body) from Germany, Switzerland and Austria, countries where Vinitaly International has also developed specific promotion initiatives; delegations will arrive from the USA, as well as Canada, including one from Ontario, not to mention Russia, the Adria Alps area (Slovenia, Croatia and some regions of Germany, Austria, Hungary), Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Asean countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia), South Korea, China, South Africa, Cameroon, Latin America, United Kingdom, Mozambique, Uzbekistan, Colombia, Argentina, Scandinavian and Baltic Countries, France, Spain, Romania, Bulgaria, India, Egypt, Serbia, Poland. Australia and Japan will be the focus of specific meetings dedicated to companies keen to export to these markets.

“These operators are selected from among the most important not the least in collaboration with ICE, the Italian Foreign Trade Agency,” says Giovanni Mantovani, CEO & Director General of Veronafiere, “in order to develop even more business.” In 2014 the tradeshow received 54,670 international visitors from 119 Countries, out of a total 155,109 (36.41%).

All exhibitors take part in Vinitaly to find new business contacts. However, targets differ in relation to each company’s size. A survey by Wine2Wine – Vinitaly’s B2B Observatory – showed that wineries with turnover under €100,000 prefer to look to more mature markets, particularly the EU and the USA; larger companies with more resources available look forward to new wine markets and new wine enthusiasts.
Thanks to the wide range of countries represented by invited delegations, Veronafiere is able to organise B2B appointments for every specific requirement. The International Buyers’ Lounge will offer guest buyers in the Taste & Buy Vinitaly initiative, meetings with exhibiting companies.
The International Buyers’ Lounge is located in the Castelvecchio Gallery between Halls 2 and 3. It will be the landmark for Veronafiere’s guest delegations and for all international buyers.