Guilty Pleasure Blog London Wine Fair 2014

London Wine Fair 2nd – 4th June 2014, Kensington Olympia, UK

by stasa cafuta trcek (text and photo)

The Sell-out Fair Returned to Kensington Olympia and Saw a 50% Increase in Exhibitors

The show returned to Kensington Olympia to new old location and saw a 50% increase in exhibitors (780 in 2014 up from 540 in 2013), from generic bodies, global brands, agents and distributors and niche wineries. New features included esoterica, for smaller, boutique importers - this part was very busy. I tasted there some really great wines from all of the world, also from Slovenia. I talked to several winemakers and importers; some of them were very busy with potential and old clients, some of them were more or less alone. New section was dedicated on Bulk wine (unfortunatelly I havent seen this section). Organizers count visitor numbers totalled 11,247, an 11% increase on the previous year, but more importantly the key sectors of on-trade and independent retail were increased by 30% and 25% respectively. I did like the new fresh ideas and new (old) location. Fair looked huge comparing to previous years at ExCel. Our team was at the fair only 1 day, so we made a plan in advance what to taste. We were excited at wines from Lebanon, Azerbaijan, sparklings from England. We also tasted some organic wines without added sulfites - another proof, that wine need sulfites, otherwise you can expect oxidation.

On the fair were also Slovenian winemakers

Marjan Simcic, Hlebec, Peršolja, Černe, Reja, Bregar – those were presented by their importers in UK. Then Marof, Ptujska klet, Vinakoper, Joannes Protner, Ščurek, Bajnof, Dveri Pax were at Slovenian stand.

My TOP

• • Gruner Veltliner 2012, Reserve, 13.5%, dry, Langenlois Schenkenbichl 1, Kamptal DAC, Austria (brackish)

  • Sauvignon Blanc 2007, 13%, dry, Gem, Marlborough, New Zealand (it awaken your senses)

  • Riesling (Rajnai rizling 2012, 13%, dry Pannonhalmi Apatsagi Prior, Hungary (fulfilled)

  • Obeidy 2013, 12%, dry, Chateau St. Thomas, Lebanon (refreshing summer wine)

The 2015 London Wine Fair will run from Monday 18th May to Wednesday 20th May and will take place in Olympia London.

More: 2014.londonwinefair.com