Vinexpo Asia-Pacific, the largest international wine and spirits exhibition in Asia will begin in Hong Kong from 27 to 29 May 2008. More than 7, 500 visitors are expected to meet the exhibitors from all over the world. 700 exhibitors from 30 countries will be present at the exhibition.

To satisfy the many requests from producers, a further 1,200 sq m of floor space has been added in the main hall of the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, reaching a total stand area of 7,000 sq m.

Production in the Pacific region will be represented by Australian companies Salena Estate, Xanadu and Mount Langi Ghiran Ltd. New Zealand will be represented by Framingham Wine Company Ltd and Clos Henri Vineyard.

On behalf of Asia, the emerging producer country China will be represented by Dynasty Fine Wines Group Ltd, MC Group, Oeno Wines Ltd and Bugeaud Wine Limited. Singapore will be there with Red & White International Ltd and for the first time there will be a Korean pavilion accommodating about ten producers.

The US, another major production area will attend with a Californian pavilion (The Wine Institute of California). South America will be represented especially by Argentina and Chile, whose wine sales are booming in some Asian countries, with country pavilions but also with stands of prestigious companies such as Concha Y Toro and Santa Rita. Venezuela, Mexico, Uruguay and Canada will attend Vinexpo Asia-Pacific for the first time. They will be represented by Destilerias Unidas, Tequila Corralejo SA, Traversa and Mixology Inc.

For South Africa, KWV Ltd, Leopard's Leap Wines Ltd and Robinson & Sinclair are coming to meet the Asian wine and spirits trade professionals. Europe will be represented by companies from UK (Macleod Distillers, Hayman Distillers Ltd, Wemyss Vintage Malts, etc.), from Italy (Banfi Distribuzione, Santa Margherita, Casa Vinicola Zonin, Cavicchioli U & Figli and others), from Spain (Marqués de Cáceres, Masia Vallformosa, Marqués de Riscal), from Portugal (Sogrape, Sogevinus Fine Wines, Quality Estates), from Germany with many major companies (Henkell & Söhnlein Sektkellereien, Racke Gmbh., Langguth Erben Gmbh.), from the Netherlands, from Rumania and even Bulgaria (Vinex Preslav). Moldavia, Macedonia and Switzerland will also be represented.

France, the leading supplier of Asian countries with a 34 per cent market share in Japan and China, confirms its position as the main exporter to Asia with many exhibitors. As in 2006, a 100 sq m French pavilion managed by Sopexa, will host a large number of French winegrowing companies. Some reputed names will also exhibit around this French area within the exhibition: Baron Philippe de Rothschild, Lanson International, Castel Frères, Maison Louis Latour, Les Grands Chais de France, Maison Louis Jadot, Champagne Thiénot, CVBG Dourthe Kressmann and Rémy Cointreau. This diverse French offering will total almost 3,500 sq m of stands.