Californian winemakers to crack Cuba

Over a hundred Californian winemakers will descend on Havana, Cuba, next month in a bid to introduce their wines to the Cuban market as relations with the US soften.

The historic trade mission, organised by Sonoma based U.S. CAVA Exports (USCE), will take place on 1-2 February. Founded in 2014 by Darius Anderson, the USCE is dedicated to assisting American companies in the sale of products to Cuba.

“I’m pleased to be leading this vintner delegation on the precedent-setting California wine trade mission,” Anderson said.

“The time is right and the interest is unprecedented, especially among the growing community of privately-owned family-run restaurants known as paladares, and the hoteliers serving the rapidly expanding Cuban tourist market,” he added.

The event, dubbed the California Wine Symposium, will unite winemakers from all over the Golden State with sommeliers, restaurateurs, chefs, hotel managers, importers and distributors in Cuba.

“The California Wine Symposium signals the new possibilities within reach since the opening of relations between the US and Cuba.

“We’re ready to bring California wines to the Cuban market and we can’t wait to introduce the wide range of wines California has to offer during this historic event,” enthused Joel Peterson, founder of Ravenswood Winery in Sonoma.

The event will include a seminar about Californian wines that are ready for export and a grand tasting at the Hotel Palco Convention Center on 2 February.

The symposium has been organised in partnership with the Wine Institute of California, Napa Valley Vintners, Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers and the Sonoma County Vintners.