The first edition of Fenavin Match, promoted by the Diputación de Ciudad Real on June 2 and 3 as a complement to the National Wine Fair (Fenavin), which is held biennially, has concluded by consolidating itself as a “useful and productive” tool for the wine sector of Spain and Castilla-La Mancha.
This was highlighted this Monday by the president of the Diputación de Ciudad Real, Miguel Ángel Valverde, at a press conference where he reviewed the event, which, he said, exceeded initial expectations and contributed to reinforcing Fenavin’s role as a benchmark fair for the Spanish wine business.
Valverde detailed that 350 wineries finally participated in this first edition, of which 24.4% were from the province of Ciudad Real, 21.4% from Castilla-La Mancha as a whole, and the rest from other producing areas of the country.
Among the most significant indicators, the president of the Diputación focused on the attendance of 259 international buyers from 49 different countries and 195 national buyers.
In this regard, he underlined the notable increase in the presence of markets such as Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, or Costa Rica, as well as the participation of Italy, a producing and consuming country that, as he indicated, has shown interest in Spanish wines.
Valverde argued that the Diputación’s goal is for Spanish wine “not to feel better represented at any other fair in the world than at Fenavin,” a purpose that, in his opinion, has once again materialized with Fenavin Match.
The Wine Gallery also had a special prominence in this first edition. According to data provided by the organization, it brought together 640 references, distributed among the different tables set up in this professional space. Of the total, 46.71% were red wines, 32% white, 6.11% sparkling, 5% rosé, and 2% non-alcoholic wines.
The president of the Diputación emphasized that these figures also show an upward trend towards sparkling wines, low-alcohol wines, and de-alcoholized products, a niche that, he pointed out, is beginning to gain weight in the market.
On a strictly commercial level, Fenavin Match arrived at the event with 2,061 business meetings already arranged, to which another 683 interviews generated during the two days of activity were added.
Positive assessment from wineries and exhibitors
Valverde has assured that the surveys conducted among buyers and wineries show a clearly favorable balance.
In the case of exhibitors, he indicated that the satisfaction index has been above 70% among those who declared themselves “satisfied” or “very satisfied”. Furthermore, he highlighted that 98% expressed satisfaction or high satisfaction with the business opportunities provided by the fair.
Another aspect highlighted by the provincial president was the intention of continuity expressed by attendees. According to his statement, the response to the possibility of participating again in Fenavin Match was “unanimous” from the wineries present.
Valverde has framed this new event within the need to sustain Fenavin’s leadership against other wine fairs.
Therefore, he considered it essential to “put tools on the table to defend Fenavin,” something that, as he said, has been achieved with this first edition of Fenavin Match.
“We have been very alone”
The president of the Provincial Council also issued a warning to the Government of Castilla-La Mancha for the lack of institutional and economic support for this meeting.
Valverde lamented the “loneliness” of the Provincial Council of Ciudad Real in organizing an event he described as “the most important in the region from an economic point of view” during those days.
In this regard, he recalled that Fenavin Match was promoted exclusively by the provincial institution, with the collaboration of the Chamber of Commerce, and lamented that no high-ranking official from the Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha traveled to the fair during its two days.
“We have been very alone,” stated Valverde, who called on other administrations to recognize that a fair linked to a sector that accounts for 11% of the provincial GDP cannot be sustained solely by the Provincial Council’s resources.
Despite this, Valverde guaranteed that the Provincial Council will continue working “with or without help” to consolidate Fenavin and its complementary formats.
At this point, he argued that Fenavin Match has acted as a “prelude” to the National Wine Fair and as an ideal professional complement for years when the main fair does not take place.
The provincial president has concluded that Fenavin Match should be repeated in years when there is no Fenavin, although he has specified that this new format should not replace or transform into the main fair model, but rather function as an additional tool to strengthen the Spanish wine business.
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