Greek and Bulgarian wines to star at LWF

Two tutored masterclasses at this year’s London Wine Fair aim to demonstrate the incredible quality and value of modern Bulgarian and Greek wines.

Konstantinos Lazarakis MW

The sessions, which you can register for here, will be led by Konstantinos Lazarakis MW, Greece’s only Master of Wine and a world leading authority on Balkan wine.

The masterclasses will showcase the wines of the Western Thracian Lowlands and the Valley of Roses in Bulgaria, along with a selection of modern wines from Greece.

The regions represented in both masterclasses all have a long heritage, superb terroir and proactive approach to adopting the latest technology.

However, Lazarakis is keen to spread the message that Greece and Bulgaria’s use of modern wine production methods does not mean that they want to lose touch with the individuality that comes from being relatively small producers in global terms.

He said: “If you want to sell millions of cases of a wine sold at a low price, then trends and tastes are of huge importance. But, for an increasing number of wine lovers and wine professionals, wine styles that emerged out of a long history and tradition, rather that out of a marketing briefing, are all that they are after.

“Greece and Bulgaria are producing relatively small quantities of wine and therefore they can afford being different. I am a firm believer that the wine world needs more countries like Greece and Bulgaria.

Modern technology means most wine currently produced in the world is quite good, and therefore being good is not good enough!” he continued. “What many wine consumers look for is personality, because quality is taken for granted. Yes, Bulgarian and Greek wines have mastered technologies and techniques, but they use them to illustrate, rather than phase out, their unique personality.

Speaking on the current preconceptions that surround wines from the regions, Lazarakis said: “This is the Achilles’ Heel for these wines. Producing some wines that are a distinct and valid proposal is one thing, possibly the most tricky one, and letting people out there know what you are really doing, not what they think you are doing, is another thing for sure.

“This is why we try to educate people and make tutored tasting to wine professionals, hoping that they will take the torch down the supply line. This is why we are at the LWTF!”

The Greek and Bulgarian Masterclasses will both be held on Monday June 2nd at the London Wine Fair. If you wish to come along please register your interest here, at http://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/london-masterclasses/