• Tweet

The 2011 London International Wine Fair was fabulous, an extremely well-orchestrated event with many simultaneous tastings, presentations, and lectures that took place in theaters, 'Access Points,' and even 'freestyle' in high-topped chairs within the display of a geographic region or winery.

Masterclasses

Arriving on Tuesday, I started off with the Circle of Wine Writers looking at a series of vertical tastings of Roederer properties including Pichon Lalande. Sylvie Cazes (recently appointed Managing Director of all Louis Roederer properties in Bordeaux) and Mark Bingley MW (Director of MMD) who I met at the Master of Wine "Forging Links" conference in June of last year gave an excellent presentation. Very energetic presentation with some real vintage gems.

Later, I attended the Masterclass called "Chenin & Pinotage—stars of past, present and future"

Johan de Villiers, Senior Winemaker for Stellenbosch winery Spier, took us through mini verticals of top selection Chenin Blanc and Pinotage from their super premium Private Collection range. The seminar revealed many 'winemaker secrets' Master of Wine students crave, and focused on how the quality came to be in the glass. 

John Radford, who is a fabulous Decanter magazine writer, gave an illuminating Masterclass  presentation on Rioja Alavesa & Txakoli wines, and the day finished off with yet another Masterclass presentation on Yarra Valley & Mornington Peninsula wines from Australia, comparing the differences.

This is really the only seminar where people hoping for an open spot on the waiting list  appeared overtly anxious to get in. And in tasting the wines, one could see the excitement in both the winemakers present, and the crowd who clearly was eager to learn more. Why? As Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula pinot vines reach their 3rd and 4th decades, the wineshave lost their puppy fat and have emerged with greater elegance, structure, power and length than ever before. Tannins are firm yet fine and the fruit profiles include berry and cherry fruit with savoury earthy complexity. Watch for these wines in the months and years to come.

More Excitement ...

Richard Bampfield, MW, led some fabulous tutored tastings, including Chateau Sociando-Mallet concentrating on the 2008, 2009 and 2010 vintages, the three which are currently of the greatest commercial importance.(yet with many library gems included).

Respected wine writers Stephen Brook, Anthony Rose, Beverly Blanning MW, and others led a series of seminars on the wines of  Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy’s premium white wine producing region.

The "Access Zone"

Brintex teamed up with the recently established Vrazon, brainchild of social media aficionados Rob McIntosh, Gabriella and Ryan Opaz, to manage The Access Zone this year, which was sponsored by leading UK independent wine importer, Thierry's.

Now this was real fun -- the zone was absolutely packed with people waiting to hear the latest on social media from the Opaz's, Jamie Goode, and other key players on the social media scene. The Zone also had short sessions on how winemakers can make better web sites, more youth-friendly labels, and even 10-minute "speed" advice from the experts.

Just Walking the Floor ...

Every inch of the fair was fun ... look to the left, and there is an MW giving an impassioned talk on Gamay from Beaujolais, with servers handing out each glass in a flight. Or an MW giving a talk on wine from the Loire valley. These scheduled, yet very casual, tastings are welcome because it was not particularly necessary to sign up (one must for a Masterclass) or even schedule it into one's day.

While I'm fortunate to live in Manhattan and have the wine world come visit on a regular basis, it is interesting to spend three days at a wine fair to see the pulse of the international wine world. Until 2012!
 

• Tweet