ICCWS organisers expecting a sellout

Tickets to this year’s International Cool Climate Wine Symposium are expected to sell out “well in advance of the event”, organisers have warned.

The ICCWS 2016 will be the biggest international wine conference ever staged in the UK and is set to draw further attention to England’s thriving wine industry (Photo: Hush Heath Estate)

The number of tickets sold for the ICCWS 2016 has already surpassed 400, organisers said, overtaking the number sold for the last symposium, in Tasmania in 2012, with almost two months yet to go before the event. 

The ICCWS 2016 takes place in Brighton from 26-28 May and is set to be the biggest international wine conference ever staged in the UK.

“We are delighted to have attracted more attendees than the last symposium in Tasmania already,” said Bruce Tindale, chairman of the ICCWS finance committee.

“Tickets are selling so fast that we may well be the first ICCWS to sell out well in advance of the event.

“We are also highly encouraged by the interest from both the UK and abroad, with more than 21 countries attending, across all continents.”

Julia Trustram-Eve, ICCWS committee member and marketing director of English Wine Producers, added: “To have our fine wines from England and Wales on the global stage next to fellow cool-climate producers from the likes of Canada, Austria and New Zealand is a huge stepping stone for the UK wine industry, and a movement that we only see gaining momentum for the months and years to come.”

Tickets for the evening events at the ICCWS 2016, including Sushi and Cool Wines at the Sealife Centre and the Gala Dinner, are also selling fast, organisers said. Potential delegates have been urged to buy their tickets now to ensure they secure a place.

Tickets for the ICCWS 2016, which include access to all sessions, master classes, wine tastings and workshops, plus morning and afternoon refreshments and lunch are available here.

Tindale told db late last year that the event would feature a “who’s who of the international wine community”. He added: “Never has there been such a gathering of leaders in their fields as we are going to have.”

Speakers confirmed for the ICCWS 2016 are:

Jancis Robinson MW – the celebrated wine critic and journalist will open proceedings as keynote speaker at the symposium.

Professor Hans Schultz and Professor Gregory Jones – on day one of the event, Professor Schultz from Geisenheim University and Professor Jones from South Oregon University will cover Emerging Cool Climate Wine Regions.

Professor Cornelis van Leeuwen – the renowned terroir expert from Enita in Bordeaux will address Managing Climate-based Variability in the Vineyard, Winery & Glass. 

Dr Mark Sosnowski – the internationally renowned plant pathologist from SARDI will address Emerging Vineyard Diseases.

Professor Dr Reinhardt Töpfer – from the Institute of Grapevine Breeding in Germany, Professor Töpfer will lead a session on New Varieties for Cool Climate Regions.

Dr Pat Bowen – a research scientist in British Columbia at the Agriculture & Agri-food Canada’s Pacific Agri-Food Research Centre in Summerland, Dr Bowen will address Protected or Semi-protected Viticulture.

Essi Avellan MW – the editor of FINE Champagne magazine and the revised and extended edition of Tom Stevenson’s Christie’s World Encyclopedia of Champagne and Sparkling Wine, Essi Avellan will tutor a tasting and presentation on English Sparkling Wines.

Richard Halstead – the COO of Wine Intelligence will address Emerging Wine Markets and New Consumers.

Professor James Kennedy – the chair of the Department of Viticulture and Enology at California State University and also Director of the Viticulture and Enology Research Centre, Professor Kennedy will address the issue of Managing Phenolics in Winemaking.

Dr Mike Trought – one of New Zealand’s pioneering viticulturists, Dr Trought, of the Marlborough Research Centre, will lead the session on Achieving Vine Balance.

Dr Tony Proffitt – a consultant viticulturist in Margaret River and co-author of the book Precision Viticulture – a new era in vineyard management and wine production, Dr Proffitt lectures in viticulture at Curtin University, Western Australia.

Dr Paul Henschke – Dr Henschke of the Australian Wine Research Institute will cover New Research and Application in Wine Microbiology.

Dr Monica Christmann – Dr Christmann from Geisenheim University in Germany will address the topic Optimising Cool Climate Wine Styles.

Justin Howard-Sneyd MW – the global wine consultant to Direct Wines and owner of Domaine of the Bee, Justin Howard-Sneyd will offer insights on Placing Cool-Climate Wines on the UK Market.

Professor Charles Spence – leading experimental psychologist Professor Spence from the University of Oxford’s Department of Experimental Psychology will address Wine Sensory Evaluation.

Professor Steve Charters MW – Professor Charters from Dijon Management School will speak on the Marketing of New Products.

Professor Dr Huiquin Ma – One of China’s leading wine researchers from the College of Agriculture and Biotechnology at the University of Beijing, Professor Dr Huiquin Ma will give a keynote address, on Wine Production in Challenging Climates.

Professor Randolf Kauer – Dr Kauer from Geisenheim University will cover The Viability of Organic and Biodynamic Production.