By Aurélien Fleurot, edited by Philippe Folgado // Photo credit: Pixabay 06h12, 09 September 2023

It is a ritual at the beginning of each school year, the return of the Wine Fairs. For a long time, these events allowed professionals and amateurs to look for great wines at cheaper prices. But with the abundance of small producers, it is possible to find good quality wines at low prices.

We are in September, and for all amateurs and professionals in the sector, it is the beginning of the Wine Fairs. Whether in supermarket chains, wine merchants or specialized sites, this year the supply is abundant and it should be spared by inflation. In recent years, the quality of production of French winegrowers has improved significantly, a good thing for the consumer who can easily find his happiness and at any price.

The Grands Crus at a bargain price, it's over!

"You don't have to look for the big name with a big promotion, now it's rarely a good deal," says Thierry Desseauve, co-author of the Bettane & Desseauve guide. But combining low prices and high quality is quite possible. "There are quality wines between 5 and 10 euros this year, the same in slices between 10, 15 and 20 euros which are the heart of the quality offer," according to the specialist.

To do good business, it is advisable to turn to Bordeaux or Burgundy. But Thierry Desseauve advises to look for the Languedoc, the Rhône or the Loire Valley. You can find very producers like Antoine de la Farge who cultivates his Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Noir vines, with appellations such as Menetou-Salon, Quincy or Pouilly-Fumé which correspond to about 600 hectares.

>> ALSO LISTEN - Wine: "We have an evolution in consumption patterns," says Bernard Farges

"Buyers want things that are not everywhere"

Antoine de la Farge has seen the Wine Fairs evolve: "We feel that buyers, whether from supermarkets or wine merchants, really want confidential things. Discoveries and very good price/pleasure ratios especially!". This is why it has decided to position itself on the denomination "Vin de France, with entry-level prices but which remains qualitative, with bottles that cost between 5 and 12 euros.

And proof that consumers are on the lookout for nuggets: according to the Revue des Vins de France, the average price of a bottle bought during the Wine Fair is 8 euros while usually, in supermarkets, this average price is 3 euros.