Our guide to the London Wine Fair 2016

Featuring 700 exhibitors and 10,000 wines, along with a comprehensive range of debates, seminars and masterclasses, LWF 2016 is set to be the biggest and most diverse yet.

Broadening the appeal and raising the calibre of the London Wine Fair (LWF) has been a major focus of the event’s organisers for the last two years. And this year’s fair is set to show how far the team has managed to do just that.

“The show offers a multitude of things – diversity, unmatched tastings, an abundance of content and education, and an opportunity for comparison and commercial opportunity like no other in the UK,” director Ross Carter notes. “It was our intention to broaden the visitor mix – and the visitor/exhibitor ratio is now among the highest of any wine event in the world.”

Moving back to Olympia from London Excel two years ago was a move widely commended by the UK wine trade, and while the show may have lost the ‘International’ from its title at that point, raising its game has had the effect of highlighting the global reach of the UK market.

“There remains a small but important international element, but first and foremost we want the event to be for the world’s leading import market – the UK,” Carter explains. “We made it our mission to be more diverse and relevant for this extremely important market, but that has had the result of making it more interesting for international buyers to find a broad mix of products in a more manageable space.”

The fair will see nearly 700 wine businesses exhibit, with nearly 160 from the UK alone – around four times as many as in 2013, according to Carter. Around 13,000 visitors are expected to attend over the three days, and Bottlebooks, the new wine data platform that is curating the wines at the show, is set to list more than 10,000 different wines from across the globe in its database.

• The London Wine Fair 2016 takes place from Tuesday 3 to Thursday 5 May at London Olympia.
• Doors open at 10am on the first day, and 9.30am thereafter.
• Around 700 exhibitors set to take part, presenting around 10,000 wines, with the show welcoming 13,000 visitors from across the UK, Europe and the world.
• Admission is free for the trade, but registration in advance is essential.
• For more information and to book your sessions, visit www.londonwinefair.com

Click through for a taste of what’s on offer…

Esoterica

The spirit of London is often described in terms of its diversity, and this is encapsulated by the fair, which explores under-represented regions to expose undiscovered gems, and gives wines that are often off the radar an opportunity to shine.

One of the most popular areas of the show over the last two years has been Esoterica, a section devoted to specialist small importers with interesting selections of niche wines that has become one of the event’s highlights. Back again for 2016, its inclusion is pivotal to the LWF’s aim to appeal to a broader demographic. As Carter told db: “It shows the continued growth of small agencies specialising in the on-trade, independents and wholesale and the continued interest of the trade in those types of companies.”

The central premise – an area where niche and smaller importers and producers have the opportunity to showcase a dozen wines to the wider trade – remains unchanged from last year, with a “manageable” size of around 65 producers. Ten are exhibiting for the first time, including H2Vin, Grapes of Hungary, Borri CG Group Ltd, Le Verre Gourmand, Imperial Wine Company, S+O Wines, Joe de Vin, Ethical Edibles and Hungarian Food and Wine.

Nik Darlington of Red Squirrel described it as an “immeasurably valuable launch pad” for smaller importers, and an area of the show which generates genuine excitement for visitors.

This year the importer is showing wines from producers new to its portfolio, including organic Austrian producer Bioweingut Diwald from Grossriedenthal, whose wines include classic Grüner Veltliner, Riesling and an exotic orange Grüner, and wines from new Friuli producer Tenuta di Angoris, which champions indigenous varieties Ribolla Gialla, Schioppettino and Refosco dal Peduncolo Rosso.

The View Tastings

The focus on premium wines, which began last year, is again evident in The View Tastings – an invitation-only tasting area on the main gallery level of the Grand Hall run in association with fine wine cellarers Octavian, where invitees can expect to find world-class fine wines.

This year, exhibitors include Hatch Mansfield (G103), Italian and Central European Fine Wine and artisan spirits and liqueurs importer Astrum Wine Cellars (G102), and online wine auctioneer iDealwine (G101).

In addition, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Wine Producers will be there on the Wednesday, with winemakers from châteaux including La Célestière, Vignobles Mousset-Barrot, Maison Brotte, Domaine de la Charbonnière, Le Cellier des Princes, Clos du Mont Olivet, Domaine les Semelles de Vent, Domaine Pierre Usséglio, La Bastide Saint-Dominique, Château La Nerthe, Domaine du Pégau and Domaine R&M Saouma.

Wines Unearthed

Also back for a second year is Wines Unearthed – a ‘village’ of 3sq m pods for producers seeking a UK importer to whet visitors appetites for the more unusual. Represented wineries include Abra Wine from Kazakhstan, (H121), Bee Wine from Brazil (H157) and Coal Pit Wines from Central Otago (H178). These rub along with small producers seeking representation from Posavje in Slovenia, Romania and Hungary, and small producers across France and Italy.

This is complemented by the Pop-Up Tasting Theatre (Grand Hall Z10) – new for 2016 – which provides an opportunity for non-exhibiting generics and businesses to showcase wines from up and coming regions and new appellations.

The Drinks Business Awards 2016

As ever, the drinks business will be on hand at the London Wine Fair, along with our sister title, the spirits business, at stand Y54. A highlight of the fair will the Drinks Business Awards, the annual event which recognises the achievements of the great and the good from across the industry. The exclusive invitation-only ceremony will be held on the 4 May at 2.30pm.

This year Anivin de France, the organisation that promotes Vin de France wines, will be sponsoring the Product and Packaging Innovation of the Year Award. We will also be showcasing medal-winning wines from our Regional and Global Masters series. A selection of our winners from these competitions will be available to taste on Tuesday 3 May on West Level 1 in the View Tastings section of the fair. The drinks business team will host the tasting.

A place to learn

As reported in last month’s db, education is a key theme for this year’s show, and this renewed focus can be seen throughout the programme of the show. Twelve sessions will be run in the 80-seat tasting area, dedicated to education and broadening visitors’ experience. The programme includes tutored tastings from Phil Reedman MW on Gems of The Riverland; Undiscovered Croatian Wines with oenologist Sabina Salamu; a look at the new single-estate classification for Cava, Cava del Paraje Calificado, with Richard Hemming MW; and Sogevinus World of Colheitas, presented by Joe Wadsack and Tanis Branco-Oliveira.

Amorim will present a Wine Faults Workshop while Tim Wilson of the Wilson Drinks Review (WDR) will look at the outlook for online wine retailing in 2016. This complements the wider Industry Briefings taking place in the London Room in the Grand Hall, where expert speakers and panels will look at broader aspects affecting the wider trade.

Topics include UK wine trends with the IWSR, a panel on the fast changing world of data and e-commerce with marketing expert Robert Joseph, an overview of the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS), and the inaugural Grapevine Debate, which poses the question: ‘Is drinking good for your health?’

Masterclasses in the Masterclass Theatre (West Hall A50) include an exploration of vineyards of Hampshire with wine writer Susy Atkins, while Portugal
gets a double-whammy, with Dr Jamie Goode appearing at the fair to talk about ‘Tejo: Warm Days, Cold Nights, Cool Wines!’ and winemaker Martta Reis Simões looking at the up and coming Quinta da Alorna region.

Masterclasses are now application-only (through the Bottlebanks system) and the fair has cracked down on “overtly commercial” masterclasses.
“It was far more commercial a few years ago and we had the situation where wineries were advertising their own wines, so we wanted to move away from that,” Carter said. The focus this year is on grape varieties, different regions or up-and-coming regions more firmly than ever.

This year will see the inauguration of the Grapevine Debate, which will discuss the thorny question: ‘Is drinking good for your health?’ Speakers’ Corner will again give visitors the chance to hear industry experts discuss topics, while award-winning wine broadcaster Joe Wadsack will return with a daily blind tasting ‘Challenge Joe’s Nose’ session, with wines presented by fair exhibitors.

The WSET will be offering hourly pop-up classes at its stand (W30) with highlights including its guide to food and wine pairing, defining quality, a sneak peek at its new Level 1 saké course, as well as the effect of planting indigenous Italian grapes in different terroirs far from home. The fair had always been a focal point for the launch of new WSET qualifications, chief executive Ian Harris told db, due to its timing, three months before the beginning of the new academic year.

“The UK still represents a quarter of our global student numbers, and LWF gives us a unique opportunity to meet many of them, to prospect for new students, and to make contact with the many companies who attend the fair, either as visitors or as exhibitors. “We are planning a full programme of tastings and masterclasses in our new ‘pop-up theatre’, and the WSET’s business development team will be on hand to discuss the training needs of the hundreds of visitors who will come to see us over the three days.”

What’s brewing?

Although the Brewhouse ‘show within a show’ won’t be returning in 2016, craft beer lovers can get their fix at a session at Speakers’ Corner (Grand Hall K52), where Hogs Back Brewery owner and MD Rupert Thompson, and chocolate brand Montezuma will discuss their collaboration on a chocolate lager and the lessons this kind of venture can give to the wine trade.

Other informal talks including challenging BBC Food & Drink presenter Joe Wadsack to blind taste – and assess – a selection of wines from exhibitors at the fair, and a session on how to create effective, result-driven marketing campaigns without spending thousands.

This year visitors can pre-book sessions and build their own target wine list through Bottlebooks – the data sharing platform the LWF is launching into the UK market to mark a big step up for data sharing in the industry.

Turning Japanese

Saké, the drink that is going from strength to strength in the UK on-trade, is set to make its debut at this year’s London Wine Fair.

A dedicated saké pavilion, curated by Natsuki Kikuya of the Museum of Saké, will see breweries, importers and distributors come together to promote the Japanese drink, including Daishichi Brewery, Sekiya Brewery and five artisan saké producers from the ENTER.Sake label, plus distributors Tazaki Foods, Ueno Gourmet, Bibendum PLB and SAKE at UK.

Visitors can learn more about the drink at a special masterclass, while the WSET will present a pop-up tasting and sneak preview of its new Level 1 award in saké.

Innovation stations

As ever, larger producers and country bodies will be packing out Olympia’s Grand Hall, as well as a dedicated area for bulk, shipping, bottling and closure providers – Vinolok, for example, is introducing a new glass and wood combination closure at LWF.

The LWF is the arena for many companies launching innovation and extensions to their range, and 2016 will be no exception. For example, Spanish wine producer Félix Solís Avantis will be showcasing a number of new wines that are soon to hit supermarket shelves, including new additions to its core Viña Albali brand, a Gran Selección and Viña Albali Verdejo from Rueda that will launch in Tesco, as well as a Viña Albali Sauvignon Blanc from Rueda.

CEO Félix Solís Yañez told db the fair was key for contact with important English buyers, especially as it seeks to boost it presence in the UK market.

“The UK is our most important market outside Spain, so we cannot afford not to attend the LWF, he said. “We will be showing a lot of innovations, including our new Charmat method sparkling wines and our new Chilean ranges.” The new sparklers follow a €30m investment in its Valdepeñas winery in La Mancha to boost innovation and increase capacity. They include Prospero, a rosé and white fizz produced using the Charmat method, as well as carbonated drink Provetto, and sparkling and still versions of its fruit infusion, Frissé, together with Peñasol Sangria, which meet the increasing demand for approachable, lighter-style wines, Félix Solís said.

Outside its Spanish heartland, the company will be showcasing wines from its new Chilean project in the Casa Vista range, which comprises a Cabernet, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, and the La Piquetta range.

Spanish bodega Marqués de Cáceres will be showing its whole range of wines, including latest vintages, on stand R50/01. The latest releases include its Rioja and Rueda Excellens ranges, which comprise Reserva, Special Cuvée Red, Viura White and Rosé from Rioja, and a Sauvignon Blanc from the bodega’s Rueda winery, which was set up in 2014.

It will also show its 100% Verdejo White from DO Rueda, a Deusa Nai Albariño White from Rías Baixas, and its organic Tempranillo and Graciano from Rioja.
Distributor González Byass is set to introduce new wineries at the show, including Pazos de Lusco from Rías Baixas, as it strengthens its position as a key Spanish wine producer, with wineries in the nine most important regions. It has also added Hungarian winery Disznókő and Zind-Humbrecht from Alsace.

Meanwhile, from over the border in Portugal, fine wine importer John E Fells will be showcasing Graham’s Aged Tawny Range in a new 20cl format –
the first time the range has been available at this size. The new bottle has been designed exclusively for Graham’s and will be available at retail and travel retail in the UK from May 2016.

The full range of Aged Tawnies is being rolled out in the new format, designed for the gifting market and to provide a touch of affordable luxury and to complement the existing 75cl and 45cl bottles.

Head over to block P40 and R40 for the French Pavilion, where 18 different producers will showcase wines displaying the diversity that can be found across France’s key wine regions.The Sud de France Développement will be presenting the Languedoc-Roussillon Sud de France Top 100 wines for the first time, with winners announced at its stand (P40) on 3 May by Tim Atkin MW.

“Our objective for the Top 100 is to help the awarded producers with the communication of their wines to the UK key trade actors, mainly the buyers and the press,” it said. “The UK market is key for Sud de France Développement and the CIVL as it remains our third market in terms of volume and second market in terms of value.”

Languedoc producer Domaine Paul Mas will also be on hand, unveiling a range of no added-sulphur wines including a Cuvée Secrète red 2015, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and Cuvée Secrète Chardonnay.

“This year, we have been experimenting with low SO2 fermentation techniques and the results are convincing: the cuvées without sulphur taste far better than those to which sulphur has been used throughout the fermentation and they continue to develop in intensity,” owner Jean-Claude Mas said.

Also highlighting the Languedoc, Bordeaux négociant Maison Sichel will be showing the new extended range from its partner property, Domaine de Cassagna, with the Cassagna rosé and white presented by owner Jacques Abet in his first visit to the show. The vineyard in the foothills of the Pyrenees uses local varieties along with internationals varieties in its blends. Sichel is also showing its Bordeaux producers, Abeille de Fieuzal from AOC Pessac-Léognan.

Kingsland Drinks is set to unveil its new carbonation line, with a range of sparkling and fruit-based drinks, while Off-Piste Wines (Y42) is unveiling Markers & Co, a new wine-based fruit cocktail, which it hopes will take the emerging category more upmarket.

The supplier to the UK trade will also showcase new wines from its international varietal range, Most Wanted, which launched last year, as well as presenting the UK launch of global wine brand El Gato Negro by its Chilean partner Viña San Pedro (VSPT), which is hoping to challenge Concha Y Toro in the market. The Nine Live launch comes off the back of significant investments to develop a brand specifically for the UK consumer, targeting the multiple retailers.

Copestick Murray will also adding a more premium tier to its ‘I heart’ range, including an ‘I heart Bordeaux’ and an ‘I heart Rioja’, which will be sourced
from Bodegas Berceo. The two SKUs are set to launch in China, but MD Robin Copestick said there had been “solid interest” from retailers in the UK, and he was hopeful these would go on shelf in the autumn.

It will also show its recently added Riesling and I heart Sparkling – a young and fruity German Sekt especially created to appeal to millennials in the UK market – and the ‘I heart Hugo’ it is hoping to launch in to the UK, following the success of ‘Mionetto il Hugo’ – a pre-mixed Prosecco-cocktail that has become popular on the continent.

On-trade focus

Les Grands Chais de France (stand U40) will be focusing on its specialist on-trade and independent division, GCF Exclusif, showcasing Crémant d’Alsace, Château Seguala Côtes de Roussillon Village and Château Laroque St-Emilion Grand Cru, whose winemaker, David Suire, will be hosting short host walk-in tastings on a flight of wines.

Over at stand C16, Pol Roger Portfolio will be adding a bit of theatre to the fair, with its Land Rover Defender returning to the show for a second year with an après ski-themed lodge. It will be showing a variety of products, including the latest rosé vintage release, Pol Roger Vintage Rose 2008, the second single-vintage Hine from Domaine Hine Bonneuil 2006, Biondi Santi Brunello and a new release Islay whisky, Kilchoman Sanaig.

From Italy, independent specialist Walker and Wodehouse, part of the larger Bibendum PLB Group, will be showing Piedmontese wines created for it by Nespoli – Corzetti Barbera & Gavi, along with a Pignoletto from Emilia-Romagna, Cavicchioli Pignoletto Modena DOC Spumante NV.

Welcome to England…

Bride Valley Vineyard, Litton Cheney, Dorset, England.

After the success of last year’s show, English Wine Producers will again be taking a stand in the main hall (T34), which will feature a combination of large and established producers including Chapel Down, Denbies, Hush Heath, Hattingley Valley and Exton Park, representing some of the key English wine counties, along with Worcestershire-based Sixteen Ridges and Devon’s Lyme Bay wineries, which are exhibiting for the first time.

Wines on show will include a wide range of styles from different counties, as well as single-varietal wines such as Bacchus, a white Pinot and a red Pinot as well as sparkling wines. Exton Park is also launching a 100% Pinot Meunier sparkling rosé – a first for an English winery, while Sussex sparkling wine producer Nyetimber is set to have its own stand (L34) this year.

The ‘Welcome to England Stand’ is set to boost the profile of English wine, with winemakers and producers on hand, as well as daily afternoon tea and fizz sessions running in conjunction with the International Cool Climate Wine Symposium (ICCWS), which takes place on 26-28 May. With the IWWCS being hosted in the UK this year, there will be a short industry briefing on Tuesday morning (10.30am) outlining what the ICCWS will involve.

Cool climate cousin Germany is also well represented at the LWF – Awin Barratt Siegel will be hosting a Masters of Riesling and Pinot Noir Tasting on 5 May in the Gallery Room, with wines from producers including Dr Loosen, Leitz and Villa Wolf.

Global Reach

Looking across the pond, Treasury Wine Estates is back at this year’s fair and one focus is Beringer from the Napa Valley. Winemaker Ryan Rech of Beringer will be running daily sessions at the Treasury Wine Estates fine wine stand (D42), guiding visitors through 20 years of the company’s Pinnacle Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, which selects grapes from its top lots to give an expression of terroir. Rech has selected a vintage library tasting showing the development of the vintages and blends from 1996, 2002 and 2005 through to 2012.

South America will also be well represented, with PLB showing the full Altaland range, celebrating regional diversity, and a new Argentinian brand, Comuna, launching at the show, alongside Colinas de Uruguay, from Bodega Garzón.

On the South African front, according to Distell’s commercial director, Joseph Walsh, the LWF is essential for showing the global market that South Africa is more than just a bulk wine producer.

The company is showing premium estate wines, including Neethlingshof, Uitkyk, Stellenzicht and Zonnebloem, as well as its multi-tiered Nederburg range, 56 Hundred, The Winemasters and Heritage Heroes.

Further afield, Seckford Agencies will be showcasing New Zealand family-owned winery Forrest Wine’s new premium lower alcohol range, The Doctors.

The range comprises a Sauvignon Blanc and a Riesling, with a rosé set to follow from the 2016 vintage. These wines will be shown alongside the company’s terroir collection, with wines from Wairau River, Bannockburn, and Gimblett Gravels.

Australia is the focus for a number of masterclasses. Australian winemaker Larry Cherubino will take a tour around the Great Southern wine region of Australia, with a tutored tasting of different grape varieties from the area’s five sub-regions: Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker, Porongurup and Albany.