just-drinks LIWF 2011 – Diary – 11 May

Coming up at this year’s London International Wine Fair…

• Grupo Codorníu (Stand Q35) has four ‘meet the wine maker’ sessions lined up for the Tuesday and Wednesday of this year’s LIWF. Mark Nairn of Raimat (DO Costers del Segre) will be available between 1330 and 1400 on Tuesday, and between 1430 and 1500 on Wednesday. Diego Pinilla of Bodegas Bilbainas (DOC Rioja) is around on Tuesday between 1200 and 1230, and from 1100 to 1130 on Wednesday. Also, Bruno Colomer-Marti of Codorníu sparkling wine (DO Cava) is available between 1430 and 1500 on Tuesday and from 1200 to 1230 on  Wednesday. Finally, Rob Cameron of Invivo (New Zealand) is available between 1100 and 1130 on Tuesday and 1330 and 1400 on Wednesday. Codorníu  will also host a stand party with drinks and nibbles on Tuesday from 1630 to 1800. To book a place at any of the sessions or for the party, email d.barry@codorniu.com.

• Sud de France (Stands F40 and G40) will be at the fair in force to give the wines of Languedoc-Roussillon a push. There will be a generic self-pour tasting area as well as nine individual producers stands. The tasting area will feature a preview of the wines selected at the ‘Prestige Wines from Languedoc-Roussillon’ competition, which is open to wines retailing above GBP10. The producer delegation will represent cooperative unions of thousands of grape growers as well as small individual producers. In addition, a number of agents will introduce a range of winemakers.
• The ‘Stand by Beaujolais‘ (Stand F30/2) at this year’s fair showcases wines from all 12 Beaujolais appellations including Beaujolais, Beaujolais-Villages and the ten Crus. Beaujolais Wines will also host three seminars: On Tuesday at 1430, Sarah Jane Evans MW will present some examples of the 2010 vintage amongst the 12 appellations of Beaujolais. Then, on Wednesday at 1530, Joe Wadsack will go though a range of Beaujolais wines to show the spectrum of styles that the Gamay grape variety can produce. Finally, Charles Metcalfe will talk about the old vines found in Beaujolais that help express the diversity of terroir in the wines of Beaujolais. Metcalfe’s seminar takes place on Thursday at 1030. To register for a seminar, email gersende.pommery@sopexa.com.
• UK importer PLB (Stand N60) has several highlights lined up for the fair next week. One of which is a ‘Lower Alcohol and Light & Fruity’ area that will offer a range of around 20 lighter drinking, lower alcohol wines from the likes of McWilliam’s, Moselland, Spier and TFC. Exhibiting producers and brands include: Montes, Viña Ventisquero and Chilano from Chile; Escorihuela Gascon and Kaiken from Argentina; Cantina di Soave and Piccini from Italy; Port wines from Delaforce; Spanish producers GVV, Garcia Carrion, Ochoa and Bodegas Navajas; Spier, Vergelegen and Boland from South Africa; McWilliam’s, Brown Brothers, and Evans & Tate from Australia; Grove Mill and Sacred Hill from New Zealand; the US’s Kautz Family Vineyards, Vintage Wine Estates and Trinchero Family Estates; plus a selection of French agencies (which now make up 21% of the PLB stable) including Blason de Bourgogne, Laurent Miquel and Lorgeril (Languedoc),  Marrenon (Luberon), Cave de Rasteau (Rhone), Producteurs Plaimont (South West), Loire Propriétés and Cordier.

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