FROM BORDEAUX TO LAGOS, TASTIN’FRANCE UNCORKS NEW OPPORTUNITIES

LAGOS, NIGERIA – June 23, 2026 – Lagos once again reaffirmed its position as a leading hub for business, hospitality, and premium beverage trade as Tastin’France 2026, the renowned international wine and spirits trade showcase organized by Business France and Team France Export, brought its African tour to a successful close on Friday, June 19, 2026.

The exclusive B2B event convened an impressive mix of French wine producers, merchants, importers, distributors, hospitality professionals, and key stakeholders from Nigeria’s beverage industry for a day of meaningful conversations, product discovery, and strategic networking. Beyond showcasing world-class French wines, the event created a valuable platform for fostering new business relationships and unlocking fresh opportunities within Nigeria’s rapidly growing wine and hospitality market.

While the business event served as the final leg of an extensive regional trade mission that spanned across Kenya, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, and Uganda from June 15,2026 to June 19, 2026, Nigeria remains an unavoidable market for European exporters; as the leading economic giant on the continent as the Nigerian wine and spirits sector has continued to experience unprecedented, explosive growth over the last ten years, doubling in consumption volume and tripling in market value.

Bringing a fresh, modern dimension to this year’s media coverage, Nigeria’s wine and spirits show, the Uncork-NG Podcast, was live on the ground capturing the energy of the room. In a major media scoop, the podcast crew secured an exclusive, interview directly with the organizer of Tastin’France 2026 to discuss the incredible importance of the trade mission and how the exhibition serves as a definitive bridge for commercial success between the two nations.

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“Tastin’France is a platform where France Business and Nigerian business can meet,” the event organizer, Mr. Valour explained during the exclusive Uncork-NG Podcast interview. “We bring France companies and producers of the wines and spirits that are looking to explore the market. Then we invite the Nigerian distributors, importers to meet, exchange ideas and start conversations to do business.” he said.

According to the organizers, the Business France’s is saddled with a resilient drive to keep unpacking long-term educational commitment to supporting Nigerian business stakeholders through regulatory changes and market transitions, thereby ensuring continuous operational clarity and a rising standard for quality appreciation.

“We continue educating Nigerians, we organising platforms like this,” Mr. Valour told Uncork-NG. “That is why we do this yearly to create their opportunity to French producers to bring in their product and showcase to Nigerian importers. We verify importers, we continue to make sure that we are helping them when they have challenges we can solve.” he said.

Reflecting on the shifting landscape of consumer preferences in West Africa, the organizer highlighted a clear maturation in how local consumers interact with premium products. Stating that “Recently, people are starting to know what wine is; the taste, the quality, the sugar level and the production. People are asking questions and people are starting to know what good wine is.”

Building on this momentum, the French wine exhibitors noted that the continuous rise of the major success stories from past partnerships has drastically increased France’s commercial presence in Nigeria, as more French labels are securing permanent on local shelves and wine lists than ever before, thereby proving that the annual trade mission is yielding highly profitable results for both regions.

This is a reality heavily backed by the fact that France remains the No. 1 exporter in terms of value.
Adding a powerful, firsthand perspective to this momentum, the podcast crew also spoke with one of the wine distributors who is also the owner of the first Black-owned winery in Bordeaux Chateau who shared her deep enthusiasm for the local market.

“It is my very first time in Nigeria, and I am so excited to be here and showcase our wines,” she stated. “Nigerians are incredibly warm, nice people, and Nigeria is a country that is truly all about family which beautifully mirrors our own winery, where family values are at the heart of everything we do. The Nigerian market is massive and holds so much potential, and I am genuinely thrilled to connect with people here who will enjoy and buy our wine.”

The podcast crew also interviewed several guests at the pavilion. These attendees shared stories about the high quality of French products and expressed great excitement about selling them to West Africa’s growing market.
“By facilitating these strategic handshakes and amplified media narratives, Business France aims to significantly diversify the local beverage portfolio, offering Nigerian consumers a direct line to French craftsmanship while helping domestic hospitality and retail businesses boost their commercial portfolios.” said one of the organizers.