A celebration of connection, education and California Wines

This October, between 26th and 29th, the California Wine Institute brought together more than 100 wine buyers and professionals from 35 countries at CIA Copia in Napa for the Global Buyers Marketplace (GBM). This extensive event focused on helping wineries understand what types of California wines buyers are seeking, helping to build businesses on both sides of the industry and all sides of the globe.

Over the course of four days, buyers from across the globe, including several from the UK and Ireland – Andrew Porton, The Wine Fusion; Keith Kirkpatrick, Roberson Wine; Zara Cassidy, Majestic Wine; Joe Aylmer, Harrods; Joseph Rubin-Broad, Cellars Wines and John Small, J Small Wines – amongst others – took part in a stimulating mix of meetings, dinners, classes, tastings and tours.

To paint the scene by number, GBM 2025 involved:

· 1,500+ wines available to taste over the week

· 1,137+ meetings between buyers and wineries

· 132 wineries pouring at the grand tasting

· 102 Wine Buyers representing nearly $10billion worth of wine sales

· 36 wines featured in regional spotlight seminars from 9 featured regions

· 36 wine glasses smashed — out of 5,000 — over 2.5 days of intensive tastings

· 35 countries represented, with 10 new markets

· 15 member wineries highlighted in 2 in-depth masterclasses

· 4 memorable regional tours

· 2 lost passports recovered

· Umpteen amounts of impact through strengthened business partnerships

Andrew Porton, The Wine Fusion, UK, commented: “An extremely well-organised event, quite unique in the world of wine. Not surprising given the very diverse crowd attending, it had an urbane, international feel. It is a credit to California Wines that it is hosting and fostering this global conversation – very appropriate given its historic and current role in the premium global wine industry. From my side, there were many useful connections and conversations; it was a pleasure to attend.”

John Small, J Small Wines, Ireland: “I would like to say a massive thank you for putting on one hell of a show. The coordination of every aspect throughout the week, without fail, was exceptional. The selection and diversity of the participating wineries were top-class. I was so impressed with emerging styles, varietals, and also very much in terms of farming. Regenerative farming and dry farming were consistently being reinforced throughout the week. I have follow-ups with several wineries on progressing things in Ireland and possibly beyond Ireland.”

“There is something special when you have a group of people from all over the world coming together, connecting over several days, and leaving so enthused about California wines.”

Honore Comfort, Vice President of International Marketing at The California Wine Institute: “We are so grateful for the support that we receive from our government funders, the US Dept of Agriculture and the Foreign Agriculture Service, as well as from our winery members. All of this is critical for building the future for California wines globally and ensuring that our family farmers, our legacy wineries and the next generation of California vintners are positioned to survive and thrive as we move forward.”

About Wine Institute

About Wine Institute Established in 1934, Wine Institute is the public policy advocacy group of more than 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses that initiates and advocates state, federal, and international public policy to enhance the environment for the responsible production, consumption, and enjoyment of wine.