Organisers of the London Wine Fair have reported a record number of session places for 2019. It is estimated there will be more than 4,000 spaces across some 80 individual sessions, an increase of 12% on 2018. Demand for places at bookable sessions outstripped supply last year, leading to the introduction of a new Masterclass Theatre and increased capacity in the Education Zone Theatre. To date, the session attracting the most bookings is “Greek wines: indigenous varieties & fascinating terroirs”, which will be presented by wine writer and consultant, Yiannis Karakasis MW & Head Sommelier at 67 Pall Mall, Terry Kandylis (Tuesday).
As ever, content will be diverse, insightful and with an educational slant, covering the latest – and future – drinks trends and issues facing the industry, spanning content hot spots throughout the show: Industry Briefings; Masterclass Theatres; Walk-Up Tastings; The Innovation Zone; and W.S.E.T. Education Zone, as well as tutored tastings taking place on exhibitor stands. One of the show’s most anticipated sessions is set to be: “An audience with Oz Clarke”. Friend and colleague, Charles Metcalfe will take on the role of interrogator as he elicits some of Oz’s best wine stories, (Monday 20th May: 2pm).
Innovation Zone highlights include: “Promoting wellness and self-help culture in business”, exploring how businesses are taking a lead on driving a wellness culture to help staff with mental health, stress, and issues related to working in the drinks industry (Tuesday); “Going after teetotallers – How do we make money from no/low alcohol” will investigate how the drinks industry can become relevant to tee-totallers (Wednesday), with panelists including Kamila Sitwell of Kolibri Drinks, Fergus Fitzgerald of Adnams and Ghost Ship 0.5%, and David Cartwright of Seckford Agencies
Xavier Rousset MS, co-owner of hospitality members club, TRADE, will present “TRADE’S Little Black Book Tasting” (Wednesday), featuring wines from the venue’s secret list, which comprises small parcels of exclusive wines hunted out by owners Rousset and Gearoid Devaney MS. Honomi Matsumoto, House of Sake, will host a session on “Simplifying Sake: starting your professional journey” – an overview of this complex category in the WSET Education Zone (Monday). Enotria will host a series of on-stand tastings (C50), featuring top estate wines, sherries, spirits and more. These include a “Trimbach Back Vintage”, “The Riesling Hour” and “Aperitivo Hour”.
Head of London Wine Fair, Hannah Tovey, said: “We have worked hard with our exhibitors and the wider industry to bring together a show absolutely unrivalled in content for 2019. This year’s offer will span topics relevant to anyone operating within the drinks sector, from buyers to business owners, to influencers, marketeers and beyond.”
Visitors can pre-book places via www.londonwinefair.com; The Fair 2019 will take place between Monday, 20th and Wednesday, 22nd May.