Top reasons to go to LIWF 2012

With just one week to go, the drinks business picks out some highlights to expect from the London International Wine Fair 2012.

Recent years have seen consecutive disruptions such as the swine flu epidemic; the volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, which grounded flights and kept producers and visitors away and there was a threatened tube strike in 2011.

This year things have run a lot smoother and some 35 countries are set to show over 20,000 wines and spirits making the LIWF a unique trade-only tasting.

Fair highlights that have made the news include six producers from Sichuan province exhibiting on a pavilion hosted by the Sichuan World Trade Centre, representing China‘s first time to take a stand at Distil.

The focus is on premium Chinese spirits, most of which have never been exported to the UK.

Meanwhile Tesco has announced it will be taking a stand at this year’s event. The wine team is setting up a “Dragons Den” style opportunity for anyone who thinks they have a good idea to come and meet with them.

the drinks business will also announce the winners of their awards at an invitation-only ceremony on Wednesday 23 May at the show.

In all, LIWF 2012 is set to be one of the biggest yet and here are some potential high lights to look out for.

A full guide to the fair can be found in the drinks business’ latest issue.

New discoveries 

The new and unusual will be a running theme at the show. The focus of the fair is very much on discovery: new wines and spirits, new producers, emerging countries and regions, new vintage releases, seminars, debates and masterclasses.

Some of the less well known countries that produce wine are back and several have taken larger stands, chief among them Turkey and Lebanon. However, Russia, Moldova and the Ukraine will also have bigger stands and India is set to return too.

On the the IWSC stand next week will see the launch of the 2012 Northern Hemisphere Wine Results. There are also a number of  tastings including Tom Cannavan  presenting on medal winning Lebanese wines and Lynne Sherriff MW tasting some of the IWSC’s top South African winners.

A new feature this year will be the LIWF “matchmaker tool”, an online device designed to pick up on producers who are attending the fair without any form of UK representation and matching them with those registered to attend that will best suit their needs.

Independents 

Another running theme through the show this year will be supporting independents. The show has declared that it intends to launch a “raft of activity at this year’s fair to increase the show’s appeal to  independent retailers and help maximise its business-building potential”.

The “Independent Business Lounge” is designed to help this process and will act as a base where retailers can plan and conduct business meetings, as well as providing seminars on issues such as managing foreign exchange rates and direct sourcing.

Furthermore, the LIWF is sponsoring a new bursary scheme to give some assistance towards the travel cost of attending the show.

On-Trade 

The attendance of the on-trade has been growing of late and it is something that organisers Brintex is keen to capitalise on with some restaurant-specific sessions.

The On-trade Theatre will return this year in partnership with the Academy of Food & Wine Service (AFWS) with some specially tailored sessions, including a tasting with “biodynamic champion” Nicolas Joly among others. Also new to the show will be the final of the Moët UK Sommelier of the Year on Wednesday 23 May.

Returning companies / Old favourites 

Several companies are returning to the fair after a break, including D&D Wines and Les Grands Chais de France.

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) will be making a return visit with an exclusive tasting showing grand cru wines from the 2008 vintage on Tuesday 22 May from 11am to 4pm.

Over 65 members of this illustrious group representing some of the most prestigious names in Margaux, St Julien, Pauillac, St Estèphe, Listrac, Moulis, the Médoc, Haut- Médoc, Graves, Pessac-Léognan, Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Sauternes and Barsac will fly from Bordeaux to participate at this special event on the opening day of the Fair.

Wine region promotion

France 

The stated aim of the French contribution of the fair is of “promoting the diversity and accessibility of French wine styles”.

Beaujolais will be showing wines from its 12 appellations with many producers in attendance. South West France Wines, meanwhile, has recruited the help of the Wine Gang to give a series of talks and tutored tastings on the region’s wines.

In total, 51 companies will be presenting their wines the “Fast-Track to France” stand featuring award-winning wines from LIWF exhibitors.

Wines of Brazil

Wines of Brazil will be pushing its country’s image as “sexy and vibrant”, with a strong, dynamic economy and also a nation scheduled to host the FIFA World Cup in 2014 and Olympics in 2016. Particular emphasis will be placed on the country’s sparkling wines and Moscato.

English wines

Next week’s fair will see a significant presence of English wines with eight wineries represented, as wineries gear up for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, Olympics and Paralympics.

Nyetimber (G8) will be taking a stand for the first time and Ridgeview Wine Estates (G20) will be back for its third year showing a portfolio of six wines including the Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs and Knightsbridge Blanc de Noirs.

Litmus Wines (F11) will be showing its own Litmus Wines Element 20 range alongside Denbies’ portfolio within the Small Independents Pavilion. Bibendum Wine (L30/L21) will be hosting five English wineries on its stand as part of its British Summer Time (BST) campaign: a’Becketts, from Wiltshire; Furleigh Estate from Dorset as well as Nyetimber, are all new to the portfolio. Also on the stand will be long-standing Bibendum agencies Chapel Down and Hush Heath Estate, both from Kent.

Brand/producer specific highlights 

Amorim 

Amorim will once again be staging its Wine Faults Workshop. Winemaker Pascal Chatonnet will host the sessions and guide the audience through the three main faults commonly found in wine – reduction, oxidation and TCA – and how different types of closure can reflect the incidence. A practical tasting is included in the session.

Buckingham Schenk

Buckingham Schenk will be targeting the independent and on-trade sectors for the first time, in particular with its Argentine brand Viñalba. In addition, the distributor will once again be hosting guests aboard its tall ship Atlantis, with lunch and then cold beers at the end of the day. The company will also be pushing its Spanish and Italian ranges.

Grupo Codorniu

The group will be launching six new wines at LIWF including two new Cavas. The new sparkling wines are the Codorníu Brut and Codorníu Brut Rosado.

The launch of two wines from the group’s sustainable winery in Costers del Segre, Raimat and the sparkling “Brut Nature”. The group’s holdings in the New World will be launching wines: the 100% Gewürztraminer from Argentine winery Septima and a sub-£10 Sauvignon Blanc from the Invivo winery in New Zealand.

Connoisseur Estates 

Connoisseur Estates will be showing a number of producers, many of whom will be showing new products and packaging designs and have their winemakers in attendance. Oldenburg Vineyards, a boutique winery from South Africa is new this year to the Connoisseur Estates portfolio and this will be the first time the wines will be on show at LIWF.

De Bortoli 

De Bortoli will be showing its wines, with the whites recently dubbed “the best in 20 years”. The estate will also present its new range of Yarra Valley Pinot Noirs, including the Estate Grown, Reserve Release and Riorret 2010. The LIWF will also be the first opportunity to taste the 2011 Yarra Valley Reserve Release Chardonnay.

Dedicated Wines 

The company will be offering “a menu of classic French wines” at its stand O21. Dedicated Wines explains: “We’ve never had a ‘suited and booted’ approach to wine fairs anyway, but we want to take it one stage further this year. So we’re creating ‘Le Bistro’ at O21 where we can sit with our customers and the press to sample and discuss our French wine selection in a French environment which will create some theatre at the show – we’re trying to put the ‘joie de vivre’ back into it.”

Free Run Wines

Champagne Jeeper joins Free Run Wines on its stand for the first time where it will be showing a range of its cuvées. Félix Solís Avantis, meanwhile, unveils its new La Mancha wines. Félix Solís has developed several new wines which will be available to taste the LIWF: Montefrío, Soliera, Viña San Juan and Caliza all available in red, white and rosé styles.

The Fladgate Partnership 

All the group’s Ports will be available at the fair including new releases and vintages from Taylor’s, Croft and Fonseca, across its white, rosé, late bottled vintage, crusted, organic, aged tawny, single quinta and vintage ranges. Highlights include revamped label for Croft Pink, new vintages for its late bottled vintage range and an impressive selection of well priced, mature single quinta Ports dating back to 1996.

United Wineries

The company will be showing wines from one of Spain’s top luxury lifestyle brands Hacienda Zorita, including its estates in the Duero Valley and Rioja, with the wines from the former using Tempranillo, Syrah and Verdejo and those from the latter comprised of Tempranillo and international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.

Hatch Mansfield

Hatch Mansfield will have its full range at the fair with highlights including Caliterra showcasing the latest vintages from its estate including its two Tributo Edición Limitada red wines.

Domaine Carneros will be showing the latest vintages from across its portfolio of sparkling and Pinot Noir wines including the Famous Gate Pinot Noir 2007 and Le Rêve Blanc de Blancs Brut 2004. The new Contino Blanco 2010 will  be available to taste. Also new to the Contino range and on show at the fair are barrel samples of the Contino Garnacha 2009 which will be launched in September.