What can the UK trade expect from VIN 2026?

As a comprehensive tasting of French wine, VIN 2026 will kick off the new year in style. Two of its organisers and a rising star buyer tell db what to expect and why French wine “will always be relevant” to the UK.

VIN 2026 is fast approaching, with the next edition booked for 8 January at Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. The tasting, organised by Business France, brings together more than 40 producers and more than 350 wines from all over France. Intended for buyers, importers, distributors and sommeliers, it provides an intimate opportunity for the UK trade to explore its nearest wine-producing neighbour.

The tasting also plays host to the French Champion Awards. The prizes, given out at the one day event, will recognise those driving French wine forward in the UK.

As they finalise preparations, db speaks with Claire Prothon and Pandora Mistry of Business France. Meanwhile Joshua Castle, previously head sommelier at Noble Rot and now head buyer at Keeling Andrew (the importer and distributor from Noble Rot’s founders), offers his perspective.

How would you summarise VIN 2026 in one sentence?

CP: It’s the UK’s ultimate celebration of French wines.

PM: I’d say ‘a tasting full of hidden gems and surprise encounters’.

Who is VIN 2026 for, and what do you think the visitors will take from it?

PM: It’s for UK buyers, importers, bloggers, sommeliers, restaurateurs, WSET students… No one will leave without a strong feeling of how French wines can still surprise and delight in 2026 on a global stage like London.

JC: VIN is a great opportunity for buyers to connect with a range of great producers who aren’t currently represented in the UK, and rate new prospects alongside industry benchmarks.

As organisers, what’s the rationale behind featuring all of France’s diverse wine regions? How does that change the energy of the tasting?

PM: There is no other tasting dedicated to the wonder of French wines. The energy feeds off the trade visitors and the passion of the producers, some of whom know and love the UK and some of whom are first time visitors.

CP: France has so much to offer, and VIN provides the perfect platform to showcase that diversity. The wines truly speak for themselves, and the personalities of our producers shine through every glass, giving the tasting a unique energy and authenticity.

Joshua Castle, buyer at Keeling Andrew and former sommelier at Noble Rot.
And Joshua, from the buyer’s perspective, what benefits do you see in attending an ‘all-France’ trade tasting?

JC: France is the country that is most represented in the Keeling Andrew portfolio and Noble Rot wine lists. We’re always looking to stay on the pulse of the French wine market and find new opportunities. With consumers lately erring on the side of ‘classics’, French wine has never been more relevant, and ‘all-France’ tasting like VIN 2026 is a chance to taste across an array of very commercially relevant wines.

Top producers in classic French appellations remain the global wine benchmark, and new entrants to the UK trade need to compete with their peers in this regard. Buyers seek a strong foundation in French regions to comprehend global wine styles, as they are a template for other wine producing countries. Understanding the nuances of French wine appellations will always be relevant to the UK wine trade.

What marks VIN 2026 as different in the calendar of UK tastings? And how can it stand up to the large international shows just around the corner?

JC: I’m interested in smaller scale producers and making meaningful connections with them and the trade. It’s difficult to build those kinds of business relationships with the noise and pace of large international shows, so VIN is well positioned to attract focused buyers on a smaller scale.

CP: VIN 2026 stands out as the only trade tasting in the UK dedicated exclusively to French wines from every corner of the country. It offers the British trade a unique chance to discover these wines in a more personal and focused setting than the large international shows – creating the perfect environment to forge lasting business connections with French producers.

How has the tasting grown and changed for 2026?

CP: The tasting has now become an annual rendezvous in the British wine trade calendar. This year’s line-up features some classic French AOCs, alongside exclusive discoveries such as Clairette de Bellegarde, a tiny AOC of just 9 hectares.

PM: I think this year more than ever the focus is on people: people making connections and telling their story.

The French Champion Awards are now an established element of the VIN tasting, and this year, Natalie Earl hosts the ceremony. What kind of work do the gongs recognise?

PM: The French Champion Awards really pick out the people who have a passion, nose and palate for French wines and the producers behind the wines.

CP: The French Champion Awards are our way of raising a glass to the British trade. Behind every great bottle of French wine enjoyed in the UK, there’s a buyer, distributor or communicator working tirelessly to put it on the map. These awards recognise that dedication – the creativity, perseverance and passion it takes to promote French wines in such a mature and competitive market. It’s our way of saying ‘merci’, while celebrating the true champions who make French wine shine on this side of the Channel.

Joshua, you know more about the awards than most – congratulations again on winning ‘Best restaurant for France’ last year! What makes Noble Rot a French wines champion on the UK market in your opinion?

JC: Noble Rot’s lists have always been francophile; it’s what our staff, founders and customers are most interested in exploring on our wine lists. Noble Rot has always stocked benchmark classics from different producers, regions and vintages whilst also highlighting emerging French producers who are at the cutting edge of winemaking and viticulture.

The UK trade knows French wine better than it knows any other country. Why do you think it still needs to recognise these ‘French champions’?

PM: In a noisy market like the UK, it’s always nice to highlight the people who are really dedicated and motivated to get these wines in front of the UK consumer.

CP: The wine industry is driven by passionate individuals, and it is this shared enthusiasm that plays a vital role in attracting new customers. The dedication of British trade operators is crucial in conveying this spirit, and it is important not only to express France’s gratitude, but above all to acknowledge the exceptional efforts they have made.

Finally, what do you most look forward to about the tasting?

CP: We are currently speaking with every registered producer and reviewing their applications to ensure they are fully ‘UK ready’. Hearing their stories and learning about their wines is without doubt my favourite part of the process – that, and witnessing the magic on the day as new connections are made.

PM: For me –again – it’s the face-to-face element, catching up with old faces and making new acquaintances. People are really at the heart of French wines.

JC: It’s simple – meeting the Business France team in full costume!

Click here to register for VIN 2026.

Berets are to be expected!