True quality is that which is not only concentrated in the peaks of excellence, but when it is a widespread characteristic at every level of a production system. And the quality of Italian wine racks up awards not only with the great appellations and famous labels but also with bulk, undifferentiated wine. This is what emerged in recent days in Amsterdam from the 17th edition of the World Bulk Wine Exhibition, the international event dedicated to bulk wine.
A segment that first and foremost, judging by the success of the event (240 producing and exhibiting companies and 2.150 operators from 60 markets, +8% and more than a thousand wines and spirits tasted) does not seem to suffer from the same difficulties as packaged wine, which is increasingly grappling with theuncertainty of US tariffs.
But Italy’s excellent performance on bulk wines was also mentioned. In Amsterdam, in addition to product trends, the World Bulk Wine Exhibition also shed light on the structural dynamics of the sector and promoted the best references through a key initiative: the International Bulk Wine Competition (IBWC). A competition at which, through a blind tasting conducted by a jury composed of 25 international experts, buyers, sommeliers and oenologists, Italian products (wines such as Rosso Piceno, Primitivo di Manduria, Nero di Troia, Rosso Veneto IGT) wona good 9 medals out of 39. Italy alone, and out of ten participating producing countries (Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, Georgia, Italy, Lebanon, New Zealand, Romania and Spain), therefore wentone quarter of the prizes up for grabs.
It should be added that a bulk distillate won the gold medal, confirming a growing openness towards high-quality bulk distillates both within the competition and at market level.
“After 17 editions, the World Bulk Wine Exhibition continues to evolve,” commented the CEO of the organising company Vinexposium, Rodolphe Lameyse. “It follows the market, supports its changes and is now a key tool for the bulk wine and spirits sector.
Further evidence of the ferment in the bulk wine sector besides this year’s robust buyer participation is the forthcoming split of the event planned for next year. In fact, while the 18th edition of the World Bulk Wine Exhibition will continue to be staged in Amsterdam from 30 November to 1 December 2026 next June, the exhibition is scheduled to be spun off in the Southern Hemisphere.
Dining and Cooking