LWF announces bigger European presence

The London Wine Fair has announced exhibitor bookings are up 36% with an increase in European pavilions and the return of several important UK agencies.

The show’s organisers report that the Douro, Greece, Slovakia and the Basque Country are all taking independent pavilions for the first time, while Wines of Georgia again and ViniPortugal is bringing 36 producers all seeking UK representation – which chimes well with today’s other news that volume and value sales of Portuguese table wine have risen over 30% in the past year.

In addition, Wines of Germany has announced an increased stand presence, as has the Prosecco Consorzio.

Organisers said that the presence of so many European exhibitors signalled a continued belief in the UK market despite the continuing uncertainty over ‘Brexit’.

From the UK, Buckingham Schenk, Felix Solis Avantis and Carson Wines will all return to the fair and Ehrmanns will exhibit for the full three days for the first time since 2014.

Condor Wines, Barton Brownsdon & Sadler and Broadland Wineries have also applied for enlarged stands this year.

Head of the London Wine Fair, Hannah Tovey, commented: “So far we are seeing most of the growth in bookings coming from international exhibitors, specifically the Old World regions. We see this as really significant, given that the show will take place less than two months after Brexit may well have become reality.

“European wineries will be out in force looking to trade with the UK – many of them for the first time. Despite the uncertainty, the UK remains an important and mature market for many wineries, especially those which are targeting the high end on-trade and independent sectors.”

The LWF will take place from Monday 20 May to Wednesday 22 May at London Olympia.

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