Summer wine: The LIWF uncorked
WINE TRADE show the London International Wine Fair (LIWF) is just around the corner, and this year the organisers have gone to great lengths to make it open to all levels of the on-trade.
With a programme of seminars and clinics aimed at traditional pubs wanting to make a success of wine this summer, this won't just be a forum for snooty sommeliers and wine bars. Here's a snapshot of what the LIWF, taking place at the capital's ExCeL Centre between May 12 and 14, will have on offer.
At the wine list clinic, licensees can have free one-to-one consultations with specialists on improving the set of wines they offer. Experts will be available throughout the LIWF to analyse wine lists and menus and address how pubs can add quality and value to these wine offerings.
Will Broadfoot, LIWF marketing director, says: "The wine list clinic will provide the perfect relaxed, yet professional atmosphere for licensees to learn from some of the world's top wine experts how to get the most from their wine offering.
"This is a one-off chance for them to get their wine lists and menu combinations analysed for free by top consultants. If wine sales are important to licensees, then opportunities like this are golden."
For the fourth year running at the show, there will also be an informative wine faults workshop - a practical session looking at the most common faults that can be found in wines.
Errors in how wines are packaged and how they are served can result in damaged products and poor taste.
Led by independent scientist and winemaker Pascal Chatonnet, the session will tell you how to recognise these faults and what action to take if they occur. On Wednesday, May 13, Chatonnet will be giving a morning seminar beginning at 11am.
Busting the credit crunch
Collaborate To Succeed: How to survive the economic downturn by working together
Tuesday, May 12, 11am-12.30pm
The recession is a concern for every licensee selling wine, and this session will look at how to ride out the economic storm, and even prosper while it whistles around you.
Topics will include:
• Are you in peak business fitness? How to improve the wine side of your business to meet the challenges of dynamic and volatile domestic and international markets
• Cash is king! How to make your money work harder
• Can we do it? Collaborate with your suppliers.
• Back to the future. The importance of innovation in times of recession
• The green shoots of recovery. What is the future of fair trade and being 'green' during the credit crunch?
Event details
The London International Wine Fair takes place at the ExCeL Centre in London's Docklands at the following times:
Tuesday, May 12: 9.30am to 6pm
Wednesday, May 13: 9.30am to 6pm
Thursday, May 14: 9.30am to 5pm
The event is free to licensees and members of the trade, but booking for all seminars is advised.
Visit www.londonwinefair.com or call 020 7973 6401 for further details and to register.
