Vinexpo boss elicits a press pack w(h)ine

By: James Wilmore - 6 February 2013 13:03

English wines may still be struggling for worldwide recognition, but you would think news of their existence would have reached France by now.

Apparently not.

Vinexpo chief executive Robert Beynat upset members of the trade press pack yesterday in London, during a presentation on global wine and spirit trends.

Introducing a table on global per capita wine consumption, Beynat noted that the UK, in tenth place, was "the only non-producing country in the top ten". Cue much spluttering from the assembled hacks. Indeed, one scribe was forced to point out to the Vinexpo chief that his statement was clearly false.

Beynat acknowledged his error with a grin.

The 64-year-old exhibition boss lists his hobbies as "watching bullfighting", so he should be accustomed to a bit of rough-and-tumble.