LIWSF FIRST TASTE

The best way to avoid fair fatigue is to be prepared. Penny Boothman compiles our guide to the 25th LIWSF to help you find the stands and vins you need to visit this year

Welcome to the three most stressful, demanding, exhausting – and let’s face it, just plain entertaining – days in the wine trade calendar. There is always more to see and do than a team of dedicated professional fair-goers could get through in a month, and that is without the added hazard of bumping into an old chum you haven’t seen for a year and just having to stop for a quick chat … and maybe a drink. Following on from our preview in last month’s issue we take a gallop round the floorplan to highlight the stands you won’t want to miss, and preview the invasion of new products being launched at the show, before taking a look at the must-see events and seminars to expand your mind.

A good place to begin your tour is the generic arena for your country of choice, with everyone from Austria (G50/62) to Uruguay (U30) setting up shop to show you their best wines. Visit the Sopexa-hosted French arena on stands H and I 30-60 to sample the best France has to offer from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Loire and the Midi – and pretty much everywhere in between.

The Wine Institute of California will be on stand T20 showcasing a range of wines from the Golden State, including the 2005 Benchmark Wines selection, which will be rolled out to the public this summer. Also on the stand will be wineries and importers showing a range of new and established California wines, at all price points. While we’re in the United States, don’t miss the Missouri Mid-West Wine Coalition on stand R74.

Wines of New Zealand will be showing off wines from the clean, green land on stands H25 to I20 next to the agency arena, and Wines of Australia will be nearby on stand F30 with some of the big names from down under.

Peter Gago, Penfolds’ chief winemaker, will be on the Southcorp stand, D40, to launch the new superpremium Penfolds wines, and several other wines from the fantastic 2002 will also be available for tasting.

If it’s South Africa you’re after then visit stands L30-50 where WoSA will be hosting the generic South African arena. Edward Cavendish & Sons and KWV International will be on stand L60 presenting their Australian, Italian and South African wine ranges and South African brandies. The newly formed Omnia Wines visits the fair for the first time on stand K70, with its flagship Thandi brand on stand J70. Waverley TBS will be on stand N30 pouring its international range of wines for thirsty tasters, including Moondarra from Argentina, Cape Promise from South Africa and its global umbrella brand Oliver & Greg.

Stop by the Wines of Chile arena on stands S40 and S50 to see what makes Chile hot this year. Concha y Toro will be devoting part of stand T50 to Chile’s indigenous grape variety, Carmenère, as well as showing off its new screwcapped wines and the Otra Vida brand from Trivento in Argentina. Don’t miss the Chileno and Viña Vestinquero wines with the PLB Group, on stands F60 and S40, or Casas del Bosque with Myliko wines over on stand D10.

The Spanish arena covers stands N,O and P 40-60, showcasing wines from all over the country. Marqués de Cáceres will be showing the new 2004 vintage of its Antea and Satinela wines along with the 1998 Reserva and Gaudium Gran Vino, and Gran Reserva 1995 on stand O40. See Rioja specialist Frederico Paternina on stand F20 with its UK agent Ehrmanns, while the Spanish giant Felix Solis will be launching the new Vinum Classic range of varietals on stand R60.

Aside from the usual Sherries and rare old solera on stand M50, Gonzalez Byass will be launching a completely new wine range from various regions in Spain, including Rioja from Beronia, Las Planas de Vilarnay wines and Vilarnau Cavas from Penedes and Altozano Vinos de la Tierra.

Constellation Wines will be launching the new Banrock Station Reserve range, Quayside from Hardys and three new extensions to Stowells Taste the World on stand F40. Meanwhile, Cellar Door by Constellation will be next door on stand G40, (see events pages for details of its big announcement.) Do enjoy a global voyage of discovery at the Buckingham Vintners stand, T42, where it will be unveiling the sophisticated new Buckingham Estate Australian portfolio and also showing off wines from Spain and Chile.

The unmissably pink HwCg will be launching two new wines to expand the Cuvée Lavande range, designed specifically for the on-trade. HwCg’s resident winemaker, Dominic Hentall, will be available on the stand and joining him will be Geoff Merrill, Laurent Miquel and José Ignacio Cancino from Viña la Rosa.

Enotria is about much more than just Italy. Visit stand F52 to taste wines from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina.

Allied Domecq Wines UK will be on stands G15,G22 and H20 to pour wines from its range – see our events pages for details of the seminars Allied is hosting at the fair this year. Brand Phoenix will be unveiling new packaging for its renamed Australian NXG Stockman’s Post range, as well as new products from South America and Paul Dolan’s Mendocino wines. Halewood International on stand C50 will be focusing on its wine ranges, such as Prahova Valley from Romania, but also showing off some of its wide selection of spirits and RTDs.

Liberty Wines will be showcasing its new agencies on stand G42 including the inaugural releases from John Duval Wines from Australia’s Barossa Valley, and the Delta Wine Company from New Zealand, as well as the highly acclaimed reds from Mitolo in the McLaren Vale. Winemakers present to launch their new vintages will include Gregory Patriat from Jean-Claude Boisset in Burgundy, and Australian attenders include Charlie Melton of Charles Melton Wines, Iain Riggs from Brokenwood and Richard Robson of Plantagenet.

Haslemere Wine Merchants will be exhibiting at the fair for the first time on stand H70, with its range of Italian wines, from Abruzzo to Veneto, with a strongly on-trade bias. Cellarworld International will be showing off its endeavours in Argentina and Slovenia on stand P95, with Angela Muir MW and winemaker Duncan Killiner both on hand to talk you through the wines.

There are new stands, new events, new bars and new restaurants this year, and none more stylish than the Mentzendorff Seafood Restaurant, located at the East End of ExCeL, which will feature a menu of classic and innovative fish dishes, such as Irish oysters and tuna teriyaki with mint, that have been designed to complement Mentzendorff’s fine wine portfolio. The restaurant will be open for lunch each day and reservations will be taken there from 10 o’clock on the first day of the Fair.

Of course, it’s not all about slurping and spitting, there is serious business to attend to as well, so talk to Red Prairie on stand U35 to find out about bonded warehousing software solutions. Show veteran (it has held a stand every year since the second ever fair) Vintner Systems on stand I90 is a software provider for the wholesale drinks trade. Visit the experts to find out how they can make your business run more smoothly.

Last but most certainly not least, don’t forget to drop in at the drinks business stand (F2) to find out more about all our events and seminars during the show, and hear more about our exciting plans for the coming year.

© db May 2005