2015 London Wine Fair will be the "most diverse" ever promises show organisers

By Richard Siddle

Published: 09 March, 2015

This year's London Wine Fair will be the most diverse in its 35 year history, according to show director Ross Carter.

London Wine Fair London Wine FairLondon Wine Fair

This year's London Wine Fair will be the most diverse in its 35 year history, according to show director Ross Carter.

He told Harpers.co.uk that visitor's to this May's show will feature 130 UK wine businesses which far exceeds its bumper year in 2008 which had 88 UK companies.

It follows what LWF conceded was a "make or break" year for the event when it returned to London Olympia in 2014 after increasingly lack lustre shows at ExCel.

"2014 was our breakthrough year," said Carter. "But you can't make all the changes you want in one year."

The 2014 show succeeded in attracting some 750 exhibitors and over 11,240 visitors and it is hopeful of similar figures this year.

But its main target for the 2015 show is to build on the "visitor mix" and to introduce new content to drive people to the show from all sectors of the trade.

LWF's Ross Carter Ross CarterRoss Carter, event director for London Wine Fair, says this year will be its

"It has to be a show for all channels where there is a broad variety of wines to see across a wide range of price points," explained Carter. "That really enhances our credibility as a show."

But with more opportunities for producers and suppliers to take out space for as little as £1,500, compared to up to £5,000 to £6,000 in the past, it has opened the fair to the widest range of exhibitors since it first launched. Carter hopes this will make the show more attractive to its three key growth area for visitors: independent merchants; on-trade and sommeliers; and online specialists.

Unearthing new producers

A new Unearthed section for wineries that either only no representation in the UK or limited regional distribution will be of particular interest to its target audiences.

The feature will open each day at 8am to give the main exhibitors the chance to taste and meet the suppliers. It will then remain open until midday only for registered buyers visiting the show before being opened up to all visitors.

A special seminar is being held on Sunday night at Olympia for Unearthed producers, chaired by Robert Joseph, which will examine different ways of getting into the UK market. They will also get the chance to visit a number of independent merchants on the Tuesday night of the show.

The 2015 show will also see the return of Esoterica featuring 60 specialist independent suppliers on 75 tables.

A dedicated craft beer section, the Brew House, is also returning to the show with 40 brewers exhibiting compared to 22 last year. It will also include a new events and seminar area, the Hop Sack, for debates and masterclasses around craft beer.

Syrah and Gruner Vetliner showcase

The LWF is also linking up with Jancis Robinson MW and the team behind the Wine Grapes book to present two tasting areas showcasing styles of wine from around the world for two grape varieties. One red, one white. One mainstream variety, one more left field. This year's chosen varieties are Syrah and Gruner Vetliner and there will be 60 and 40 wines of each, respectively, to taste in an open pour area. It will also include masterclasses by members of the Wine Grape team.

BBC's Food and Drink drinks expert, Joe Wadsack, will also be putting his tasting skills to the test by blind tasting a number of Syrahs and Gruner Vetliners and talking visitors through them.

A new invite only fine wine tasting area is also being introduced featuring a number of specialist suppliers including Lea & Sandeman, Flint, Astrim, Penfolds. Antinori, Sogrape and Louis Latour.

This year's show is moving to Olympia's Grand Hall with surrounding galleries and Carter is confident it will be as easier show to navigate than last year.

London Wine Fair

Carter conceded the record number of UK businesses was partly due to lower priced and smaller stands but still reflected the trade's string support for the show.

New exhibitors at this year's show includes Roberson Wine, Barwell & Jones, Paul Roger Agencies, McKinley, Fortyfive 10, Vinisimo, Wine Fusion, Continental Food & Wine, North South and Berkmann.

Carter said he has been delighted by the response and interest in the 2015 show which is also returning to its traditional dates in May.

"This should be a show that everyone gets excited about," he said.

2015 Opening Times: