Tell us what you are looking to show at Wine Paris this year and hope to get from the show?
We will showcase our two new launches - Versant Blanc de Blancs (11.5% abv) and Versant Grenache Limited Edition - to our clients and show our latest vintages which we are particularly proud of.
Les Vignobles Foncalieu's new Versant Blanc de Blancs will be available to taste on its stand in Wine Paris
We have also planned an exciting event at our stand on Monday evening with leading French mixologist Monsieur Camille who will be making and pouring two craft cocktails that he has created from our new wines.
This will be a great opportunity to taste them in a different drinking context and hopefully create some buzz around our booth.
What are your thoughts on the overall success and effectiveness of the show?
Wine Paris is a must-attend event for us. All our clients are present, making it the perfect platform to showcase our wines at their best and connect with all the players of the industry over three days. It is also a key opportunity to meet new partners and set out to conquer new markets.
How was 2024 for the business in terms of overall sales and exports?
We had an excellent year in 2024, achieving a total turnover of €60M with strong commercial performances including:
- Total 2024 France sales: €11.6M (+3%).
- Total 2024 export sales: €25.5M (+0.6%).
Where did you see the biggest sales successes internationally and why do you think that was?
European sales have been very strong, driven by our great diversity of wines. Adapting quickly to some fast changing markets has also been well received and part of the success. For example the demand for lower abv wines due to tax reasons. Premium rosé sales are still performing very well in most markets despite the cold and rainy spring in northern France and Europe.
We continue to expand, particularly through the development of rosés and whites. Rosé sales reached 9.1 million bottles, and white wines 4.1 million, together accounting for 72% of packaged sales volumes.
The Versant Grenache Limited Edition wine will also be on show at Wine Paris
The Le Versant range continues to establish itself in the traditional retail networks of our various markets, with an impressive 6% volume growth for rosé, boosted by the limited-edition effect.
What do you see as the big opportunities for the business this year?
We must stay attuned to the market and consumer expectations. Our resistant variety ranges is where we are seeing the most interest, Esprit Artisan Souvignier Gris and Nuvote, driven by social and sustainable responsability. Our strategic decision to focus on whites and rosés also aligns with market demands.
In the 2024 harvest, 40% of our production will be rosé, and 30% will be white. We’ve always been a pioneer in planting new varieties and the success of Le Sillage Albariño and Piquepoul Noir is still buoyant. We are also attentive to the growing demand for lower alcohol options and are developing low-alcohol ranges where we can reply to market’s inflation due to tax reasons, but also social responsibility driving lower alcohol consumption. Finally we are launching a Versant Blanc de Blancs to position ourselves in the sparkling wine market and target new consumption occasions.
What are the biggest challenges to face up to and what steps are you taking?
Our greatest challenge, beyond adapting to market and consumer expectations, is ensuring the sustainability of our vineyards in the face of climate change. We are evolving our production methods and anticipating the viticulture of tomorrow with one goal in mind: passing it on to future generations.
For instance, we were the first to produce and market wines from French-resistant grape varieties such as Vidoc, Artaban, and Floréal. We are also planting varieties well-suited to our terroir and the climatic conditions of our region, like Souvignier Gris, Carignan Blanc and Piquepoul, which will be planted this year.
We are adapting our production processes by leveraging available technological innovations, such as using the Bakus robot to plow between vine rows.
A dedicated thinktank, bringing together growers, cellar technicians, and Foncalieu experts, is actively shaping what Foncalieu will look like by 2050.
* You can find out more about Les Vignobles Foncalieu at its website here.
* You can visit Les Vignobles Foncalieu at Wine Paris at Hall 7.2 Stand M232.
* Les Vignobles Foncalieu is a partner to The Buyer.
