The London International Wine Fair returns
Running from 17-19 May 2011, this year’s LIWF sees the launch of the On-Trade and Sommelier Theatre, a dedicated arena offering focused features for hospitality professionals.
Highlights from the theatre include former French Laundry sommelier Matt Stamp and Galvin Bistrot de Luxe’s Jason McAuliffe discussing the key issues affecting the US and UK on-trade; a Chapagne tasting hosted by the Academy of Food and Wine Service; and a demonstration of wine faults by Hotel du Vin’s Ronan Sayburn.
The World’s Best Sommelier Gerard Basset will be hosting a pop-up wine and food matching session at the Wine Intelligence Theatre, while The Fat Duck’s head sommelier Isa Bal will guide attendees through the wines of Turkey at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) stand.
Returning again this year will be the Top 100 feature, where a panel of experts – The Wine Gang – select a series of wines under a common theme for visitors to sample. The themes this year are aromatics; the Pinots, Rhone varietals around the world; natural, organic and biodynamic; and surprising wines.
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Event director, James Murray, said: "Last year's thirtieth anniversary brought with it several exciting new developments within the Fair, and reinforced the importance and relevance of the event in the global trade.
“We are looking forward to building on the success of new features introduced last year, as well as looking to ensure that the LIWF continues to deliver a platform from which importers, producers, merchants, restaurateurs, wholesalers and sommeliers can meet with suppliers and winemakers and get down to business."
Those wishing to attend the LIWF should register for free at www.2011.londonwinefair.com. The fair is restricted to members of the on-trade and over 18s only.
