8 people you see at every wine show

The Wine & Spirits Show is just over two weeks away now, when members of the industry and consumers come together under one roof to taste over 500 wines sourced from all over the world.

We’ve been to our fair share of trade events over the past few years, from ProWein, to the London Wine Fair, to category-specific tastings, to showcases from the likes of Bibendum.

Ahead of our Wine & Spirits Show, we spoke to drinks journalists, marketing experts, sommeliers and industry folk working their own trade shows to find out the characters who stick in their heads after every event.

From the sartorially questionable to the quite sozzled, see if you recognise any of these characters.

Think we’ve missed something? Let us know in the comments!

The red trouser brigade

We couldn’t do this without mentioning the red trousers. It’s the first thing that came up when I got talking to the team at The Great Sherry Tasting in Oxo Bankside earlier this month.

“The red trousers! There’s always one,” said one member of staff. They’ve become so entrenched at drinks events, we’ve even written about our favourites from days gone by.

The poshos

Not everyone opts for red trousers, but trade shows are still a great place to spot luxurious outfits. This person has a cut-glass accent, and you never quite find out what they do for a living. Presumably they don’t need a profession. Looking this good is a full-time job.

“The people you see at these things are often so well dressed, it definitely makes the time pass quicker!”

The buddies

“People asking to take the bottle home with them” was a big one with our interviewees. This tends to happen towards the end of a tasting, when the alcohol is well and truly in punters’ bloodstreams, and inhibitions are lowered to “come on, we’re all friends here” levels.

We’ve all been there, let’s be honest.

The liggers

Similar to the buddies, but more infamous, to the point where they have their own website. A ligger, according to Urban Dictionary, is described as “an individual who attends parties, openings, social gatherings and events with the sole intention of obtaining free food and drink.”

We know who you are.

The connoiseurs

Perhaps they’ve done the WSET, perhaps they haven’t. Either way, they’re here to test your knowledge, and flex their own muscles in the process.

“Most of the time they’re great to talk to, but the longer the shift, the more exhausting it is.”

The apologists

“Some people always feel like they need to apologise when they don’t like the wine on your table,” Niall Penlington, owner of Henny’s wine bar in Tooting and assistant editor of Wine List Confidential, said, “Most of the time it’s not necessary. I didn’t make it.”

In fact, even if the person presenting a wine did make it, it’s still important to hear honest feedback. Producers want you to enjoy their wines, not be polite.

The meanies

That said, polite is the operative word here.

“People who tell you your wine is nasty” was a major bugbear for Fiona Mottershaw, brand controller at Hatch Mansfield. Constructive criticism is fine, but manners cost nothing.

The floor-fillers

Some people, especially at larger trade shows, aren’t quite sure why they’re supposed to be there. Paul Laurie, who runs foodie forum The Wine Kitchen, always notices “guys who don’t want to be there but have been sent from a company, so they just get pissed!

“They don’t care what they taste or drink.”

We’ve all been in this position at some point, but that’s all the more reason to master the art of the thoughtful question. And spitting.