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Innovation and Sustainability Take Center Stage at the V d’Or 2025

France

This week has been an exhilarating whirlwind for international wine business industry players, who gathered in the heart of Paris from February 10th to 12th, 2025, for the sixth edition of Wine Paris. Hosted at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, this Vinexposium flagship event attracted over 4,600 exhibitors from 50 countries and welcomed 50,000 visitors from 140 nations. The event not only featured a rich programme of Academy sessions but also extended into the city with a vibrant array of OFF events, fostering dialogue and business in venues that epitomize the diversity of Paris. Prominent international delegations led by Italy, with Portugal and Spain closely following, alongside representatives from the United States, Germany, and Austria, marked their presence significantly at Wine Paris, underscoring the event’s global appeal and importance. In addition to these international showcases, dedicated stands highlighting French producers also featured prominently, offering a nod to France’s foundational role in the wine industry amid this extensive international gathering.

d’Or 2025

While Wine Paris provided a dynamic backdrop for industry networking and collaboration, the important highlight of the week occurred just before the main expo began. On February 9th, the Vinexposium Business Awards, known as The V d’Or 2025, took center stage. This prestigious ceremony, held at the elegant Pavillon Gabriel and catered by the renowned three Michelin-starred chef Yannick Alléno, brought focus to the innovative leaders and high achievers reshaping the future of the wine and spirits industry. These awards underscore Vinexposium’s commitment to recognizing and celebrating excellence across four critical areas of innovation and sustainability.

Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, commented on the occasion, “In just two years, the V d’Or awards have become recognized and highly sought-after prizes for both small and large businesses in the wine and spirits sector. Their success highlights Vinexposium’s central role in an ecosystem brimming with initiatives and creativity.”

d’Or 2025

The awards acknowledged significant achievements across four key categories, each reflecting a key area of innovation and excellence:

  • Best Sustainability V d’Or: This award recognizes efforts to reconcile economic and environmental performance within the wine and spirits industry. It honors organizations, individuals, or companies that have implemented innovative solutions to address the environmental challenges posed by climate change.
  • Best Education & Knowledge Sharing V d’Or: This category awards those committed to mentorship, education, and skill transfer in the wine and spirits sector. It highlights efforts to disseminate knowledge, inspire careers, and pass on passions.
  • Best Digital Strategy V d’Or: This award goes to those who have effectively used digital strategies to reach new audiences or markets, crucial in addressing the decline in alcohol consumption among younger and traditional producer populations.
  • Best New Product Strategy V d’Or: This award recognizes brands or companies that have successfully launched innovative products in response to the rapidly changing and diverse consumer tastes, driven by globalization.

Each of these categories reflects a critical area of focus in today’s global wine and spirits marketplace, emphasizing the importance of innovation, responsibility, and education.

2025 Award Winners

This year’s V d’Or winners represent a diverse group of pioneers who are setting benchmarks of excellence in their respective fields:

  • Best Sustainability
    • Wines: Bodegas Catena Zapata from Argentina was awarded for their work with The Catena Institute of Wine, which focuses on sustainable vineyard practices.
    • Spirits: The Boatyard Distillery in the UK was recognized for their innovative approach to reducing glass bottle use through a refill service and the introduction of 2.8L ecopouches.
    • Special Mention: Vignerons Engagés also received a special mention for their efforts to improve vineyard management practices across France.
  • Best Education and Knowledge Sharing
    • Wines: The Gérard Basset Foundation & Bordeaux Mentor Week from the UK was honored for their exceptional contributions to wine education and their focus on inclusion and access within the industry.
    • Spirits: Campari Group was celebrated for the Campari Academy in Italy, which has built a global network of local academies aimed at educating and creating a community among bartenders.
  • Best Digital Strategy
    • Baron Philippe de Rothschild for Mouton Cadet, France, received this accolade for their outstanding digital strategy that targets a younger, more engaged audience with innovative, authentic, and immersive content.
  • Best New Product Strategy
    • Bdx Le Jus + Terres Milésimées & Vignobles Québec, France, won this category with their approach to creating an easy-drinking, fruity red wine, best enjoyed lightly chilled. It was crafted by the renowned winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt and produced under the guidance of winemaker Christophe Québec from Vignobles Québec in Bordeaux.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was also presented to James Halliday, an Australian writer, critic, and winemaker, recognizing his enduring contributions to the wine industry.

d’Or 2025

Lameyse further articulated the importance of these awards, stating, “The V d’Or Awards are the tangible expression of our commitment to a sustainable and responsible global wine and spirits sector which symbolises excellence and the preservation of our terroirs for future generations.”

The V d’Or 2025 not only celebrated these laudable achievements but also set the stage for ongoing innovation and excellence in the wine and spirits industry, inspiring participants to continue striving towards a future filled with promise and sustainability.

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