Top London Wine Fair launches by country

Ahead of the global wine event in London this month, db has sifted through the various products due to debut at the London Wine Fair and selected the top offerings to keep an eye out for.

Scheduled to take place on 18-20 May, LWF 2015 will witness hundreds of tastings and lectures on all things wine – as well as beer and spirits in increasing numbers.

Not only are the numbers high, but so too is the calibre of attendees is expected from across the world of winemaking at this year’s event, all vying for attention to be given to their latest products and projects.

As such, db has collated the top offerings from six major winemaking countries making a big presence at the fair to help ensure attendees don’t miss an important launch or innovation.

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Spain – Marqués de Cáceres latest vintages

Spanish giants Marqués de Cáceres will be showing their whole range of wines available in the UK with all the latest vintages available for tasting.

Its latest releases include the bodega’s Excellens range from Rioja and Rueda: Reserva, Special Cuvée Red, Viura White & pale pink Rosé from Rioja and a new Sauvignon Blanc from Rueda where the bodega recently acquired some vineyards.

Also on show will be a Marqués de Cáceres 100% Verdejo White (D.O. Rueda), Deusa Nai Albariño White (D.O. Rías Baixas) and a Marqués de Cáceres Organic Tempranillo & Graciano Red (D.O.C Rioja).

France – Domaine Paul Mas unique bottlings

Domaines Paul Mas – France’s largest privately-owned winery outside of Champagne – promises to offer “an eclectic selection of bottles” to taste, including an ancient white variety, sulphite-free wines and a new range of organic labels.

The trade will also get their first glimpse of the wines from Domaine Silène des Peyrals in Herault purchased by Paul Mas in December 2013. There will also be a sampling of a new still white bottling, Clairette du Languedoc.

The producer is also particularly keen to stress the importance of its growing portfolio of sparkling wines from the Languedoc, with its Chateau Martinolles Grande Reserve Crémant on pour.

Italy – Masi Agricola’s Toar

Italian producer Masi Agricola will reveal its redesigned and newly blended Toar in the UK for the first time at the London Wine Fair, with Berkmann Wine Cellars at stand B14.

The new 80% Corvina, 10% Rondinella and 10% Oseleta blend elevates the 2011 vintage to Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC status.

Originally launched in 1990, Toar was Masi’s first wine to incorporate Oseleta, a little-known indigenous grape that was rediscovered and replanted in Valpolicella by the Masi Technical Group in 1985.

The grape had beforehand been struck of the list of Italian grape varieties and declared as extinct. Sandro Boscaini, head of Masi Agricola, described the pride of rediscovering the variety, saying that Masi Agricola is “well aware of the historical importance of Oseleta and of other local grapes, such as Forsellina and Dindarella, in giving personality to the wines of the Valpolicella.”

Chile – Santa Rita’s Carmen Wave push

South American producer Santa Rita will be focusing on its Chilean Carmen Wave brand for the London Wine Fair.

Following what it hailed as a successful summer season of promotional tasting activities around Dublin in 2014, a second Carmen Wave tasting rig has been commissioned for the UK that will be making its debut at the fair on stand T35.

There are two wines under the Carmen Wave label, both of which will be available for tasting at the show: a “Left Wave” Sauvignon Blanc and a “Right Wave” Pinot Noir.

Australia – McGuigan Frizzante

Australian winery McGuigan Wines will be launching its latest release, McGuigan Frizzante, at this year’s fair from stand W35.

The wine, which will be introduced to the trade by chief winemaker Neil McGuigan, is described by the brand as “a light style of sparkling with soft lemon and apple fruit characters”, and will be available across the UK and Ireland from this month.

McGuigan has also snapped-up TV chef John Torode to host a launch party for the sparkling wine on the Monday afternoon of the fair, with the face of BBC’s Masterchef manning the barbecue and serving up to invited guests.

South Africa – Kleine Zalze new releases

South African wine estate Kleine Zalze will be showing new vintages and new wines from its ranges at the fair through its UK agents Hatch Mansfield on stand W40.

Among the new releases available to taste on the stand are Kleine Zalze Methode Cap Classique NV Brut, Kleine Zalze Family Reserve Chenin Blanc 2014, and the new Cleefs.

Kobus Basson, the owner of Kleine Zalze, will be on the stand with new cellar master Alastair Rimmer to take visitors through the wines.