All the fun of the fair
I love May. The nights are shorter, the days are getting warmer and it's the London International Wine and Spirits Fair. For the wine writer, and the wine buyer, it's an Aladdin's Cave. The drinks fair is now the biggest in the UK and certainly the most prestigious, after the bi-annual Vinexpo, which will take place in June this year. And it is attended by a growing number of the on-trade: 22% at the last count.
The venue is Excel in the Docklands a pig to get to, but far superior to its previous home in Earl's Court, which used to heat up like the Palm House at Kew on a hot day.
Taste the latest vintages
You'll sees wines and spirits, from many countries (35 if you're counting) and from more than 1,250 exhibitors. You'll find out about new launches and the most trumpeted new grape varieties, and taste the latest vintages.
Don't know much about wine? No worries. Head to one of the many seminars, tutored tastings and masterclasses on offer. In the box, right, there's more information on the Wine & Spirit Education Trust's session on wine, running in association with the Morning Advertiser.
When you're finished there, head over to Beringer Blass, where Wolf Blass ambassador George Samios will conduct a tutored tasting exploring the differences between super premium wines from Australia, California and New Zealand with a panel of New World heavyweights (Tuesday 17 May, 11-11.45am).
And while you're thinking about viticultural diversity, then why not stop by the McLaren Vale seminar, where some of the renowned Aussie Shiraz region's best winemakers will be showing attendees what makes the region so special and so diverse.
Here's one for those of you who like your curry nights from 1.45pm-2.45pm (17 May), Vins du Roussillon (CIVR) will attempt to prove why Roussillon wines are so good with Indian cuisine. You even get to taste a line-up with a few Indian nibbles.
Spain is one of the world's most talked about wine regions right now, with sommeliers falling over themselves to grab stocks of the latest wines from emerging DOs. If you want to know more, pull up a chair at New Spain author John Radford's talk, with wines from Rueda to Priorat, courtesy of supplier Alliance (17 May, 3.15pm-4.30pm).
Challenges facing the industry
OK, so all you really want to know is, are your customers still in love with Chardonnay? You had better sit in on the On-trade Report from Wine Intelligence (Wednesday 18 May, 9.45-10.30am), which this year focuses on the challenges facing the wine industry in working with the on-trade.
South Africa is another country causing a stir. To find out what's new and what's happening, head to the Hayman Barwell Jones-sponsored seminar and listen to a few of their winemakers holding forth on the merits of Mourvèdre and Cabernet Franc.
Finally, New Zealand winegrowers (18 May, 2-3.30pm) will be discussing the future of Pinot Noir in the country, focusing on Marlborough, Martin-borough and Central Otago, as well as exploring the influences of sub-regions within regions. Getting too anoraky for you? You'll be hooked, I promise.
Free training for MA readers
As a key event inthe drinks trade calendar, thefair provides acost-free opportunity for licensees to meet suppliers and discuss waysto improve their wine lists and increase profit.
To help our readers make the most of visiting the fair, we have teamed up with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust to offer a free introduction to tasting wines, training your staff and ways to encourage customers to buy more expensive wines.
The session will last less than an hour andwill be repeated each day that the fair runs to enable as many licensees as possible to get along.
When:
Tuesday May 17 at 10:00 am
Wednesday May 18 at 11:00am
Thursday May 19 at 11:00am
Where:
All the session will be held in the on-trade theatre and places are limited. To reserve yours, call Erica Dent at the WSET on 020 7246 1504 or email edent@wset.co.uk
More information on the fair and who will be exhibiting is available at www.londonwinefair.com
