Show time

The London International Wine & Spirits Fair is celebrating its 25th anniversary during a Vinexpo year.  If you have the time or the energy for any more, Gayle Sullivan has the details

2005 promises to be a bumper year for drinks-related trade exhibitions. For a start, it’s happy birthday to Brintex which will celebrate 25 years of the London International Wine & Spirits Fair. It’s also Vinexpo year, with a revamped show featuring a new Hall 3, increased carparking space and free shuttle buses to accommodate all those visitors.

Meanwhile, ProWein is a celebration of the latest, current vintages to be released and the  season begins with the showcase for Loire wines in Angers at the end of January. 

SALON DES VINS DES LOIRE

Location:  Au Parc des Expositions d’Angers

Dates:  Jan 31-Feb 2, 2005The biggest trade event for Loire wines has a brand new face this year with a complete change of logo and livery. 

The UK is an increasing export market for Loire wines, so expect an emphasis on the British market at the show.  Highlights include an interactive sensory exhibition built around the aromas of wine.

"Trendy" is a key word for show organisers, and to reflect the efforts of Loire producers to attract new consumers there will be a number of "trend initiatives". 

These include a lecture on Wednesday, February 2nd entitled "How to attract today’s consumer and still retain your identity."  A revamped internet site, new space layout and a glassware exhibition are also promised for 2005.

How to get there?

Au Parc des Expositions d’Angers is just outside Angers.  Fly to Tours (Ryanair Stansted) or to Nantes (Gatwick) and get a train to Angers.  There is a shuttle bus from outside the station. www.salondesvinsdeloire.com

World wine Russia

Dates: February 17-18

Location: Moscow Brintex, the organiser of The London International Wine & Spirits Fair, will be hosting World Wine Russia, the first dedicated exhibition for producers looking to gain access to the growing Russian market.

Prowein International trade fair wines and spirits

Location: Düsseldorf, Exhibition Centre

Dates: March 6-8 "Curtains up on the latest vintages" could be the heading of the international tasting agenda at ProWein 2005.

The show will be the debut for current vintages to be officially featured by the International Trade Fair Wines and Spirits.  Numerous exhibitors have already regularly presented their young wines at the annual ProWein event, but now the upcoming ProWein allows them to draw even more attention to the stars of the current vintages by participating in the centrally organised tasting zone.

All of the 2,700 exhibitors with 2003 and 2004 vintage white and red wines plus the 2002 vintage for red wines are eligible for participation.  All grape varieties, both native and international, will be admitted and grouped into price categories.  www.prowein.de

Vinitaly

Location: Verona Exhibition Centre

Dates: April 7-11

An exhibition of Italy’s and the world’s best wines with around 3,900 exhibitors from 24 countries.  Held in Veronafiere, Vinitaly sees five exhibition days of intense business negotiations, competitions and top-level guided tastings as well as international events and meetings on the latest topics.

Vinitaly 2005 will focus on participation by the most important specialist operators in every trade category, once again highlighting Vinitaly Buyers’ Club, a relaxed forum for scheduling and concluding major business negotiations.  www.vinitaly.com  www.veronafiere.it

London International Wine & Spirits fair

Location: ExCel

Dates: May 17-19

2005 is the 25th anniversary of the London International Wine and Spirits Fair so expect a spectacular event to mark the occasion.  This event is a showcase for Old and New World wines with 1,250 exhibitors and 3,500 international visitors.

The organiser, Brintex, moved the show to ExCeL in 2002 and since then has increased overall audience by 7% each year, though the emphasis is on improving the event for exhibitors and visitors rather than increasing numbers just for the sake of it.

"Even Vinexpo years are no longer seeing a difference in visitor numbers," says James Murray, commercial director at Brintex.  "Our business focus has ensured that the old dips in visitor numbers when Vinexpo took place no longer occur and we are extremely confident  that 2005 will be a rip-roaring success."

So what can we expect in the fair’s anniversary year? Organisers promise a landmark event with popular industry briefings, on-trade seminars and educational elements.  Plans are being formulated for an off-trade zone with a focus on the multiple retail sector and there are various initiatives to further improve on-site facilities.

Hotels, restaurants, bars

There are now seven hotels on-site offering rooms to suit all budgets, but they will be snapped up quickly.  Brintex has a dedicated travel company to help exhibitors and visitors with accommodation, either at the venue or further afield.

Anyone wishing to make use of this service should contact Baxter Hoare on +44 (0) 20 7407 5492 or at liwsf@baxterhoare.demon.co.uk www.baxterhoare.com www.londonwinefair.com

Vinexpo

Location: Parc des Expositions de Bordeaux Lac

Dates: June 19-23

The new-look Vinexpo 2005 will welcome 2,500 exhibitors from 41 countries, 50,000 visitors from 120 countries and more than 1,200 journalists.  The revamped show will sport a brand new Hall 3, a permanent hall-link directly to Hall 1 and will house some 200 exhibitors.

In addition, an exhibitor car park, providing 2,000 extra spaces will be built next to Hall 3. A big on-trade push has been planned for 2005.  In association with Vinitech, the organisers bill this as "the first international exhibition of products and services related to wines and spirits".

Univers & Co by Vinexpo will be held at the Convention Centre (Palais des Congrès), adjoining the main exhibition at the Parc des Expositions.  The exhibition marks a new departure for Vinexpo and will be devoted to the serving of wine and spirits and to tableware.

It has been organised to respond to the needs of the international ontrade in markets like the UK, where eating and drinking out is becoming more sophisticated and consumers more demanding.

Univers & Co will also provide a showcase for the first time for a group of exhibitors working in the field of wine and spirits communication namely publishers, printers, designers and advertising agencies.

Free transport

For your added comfort, an increased number of free shuttle buses will operate all week long for visitors and exhibitors, easing travel between the exhibition site and the St-Jean railway station, airport, city centre and main hotel areas. www.vinexpo.com

TFWA

(Tax Free World Association) World Exhibition

Location: Palais des Festivals, Cannes

Dates: October 31 to November 4 Who attends this event, held every year in Cannes? Simply everyone in the duty free and travel retail industry, as well as anyone looking for new trends and those wishing to acquire a global view of the international market.

New product launches on spectacular stands or aboard luxury yachts are the norm and there are even a number of sporting events (some with a nautical theme).  But for those who prefer dry land or a slightly more relaxed time, there are a host of formal and more relaxed networking opportunities.

Andrew Ford, TFWA CEO, comments, "Around 600 of the premier suppliers to the industry will gather to launch their products and to exhibit their fabulous ranges of international wines, spirits, beers, fragrances, luxury goods and quality gifts.

Travel retail is now recognised universally as a key component in airport finances and a fundamental part of the travel experience."  www.tfwa.com

UK Events

Vive la France

A treat for Francophiles, this is a consumer show stuffed full of French produce, holiday and travel companies, celebrity chefs and fine wines and Champagnes.  Vive la France welcomes trade and consumers on the first day of the show.

Dates: January 21-23

Location: Olympia, London www.vivelafrance.co.uk

The Pub and Bar show

The Publican-sponsored show is a trade-only event for pubs and bars.  The show’s organisers promise a brand new look, a new hall and an exciting new feature programme. It will also feature over 200 of the best suppliers in the trade.

Dates: April 19-21

Location: Olympia, London www.pubandbar.co.uk

The Restaurant Show

Celebrity chefs and all things culinary at this fine dining trade event.

Dates: September 19-21

Location: Olympia www.therestaurantshow.co.uk

BBC Good Food Show

A consumer show and week-long celebration of food and drink on a massive scale.

Dates: November 23-27

Location: NEC, Birmingham www.bbcgoodfoodshow.co.uk