Wine Vision's return to London in November will examine key issues affecting growth in the industry as relationships between wine brands and consumers change and competition from spirits and beer intensifies.
The global wine conference, now in its second year, and run in association with Harpers, takes place from November 17 to 19, 2014, at the Shard and Hurlingham Club.
"While emerging markets are rising, Old World wine markets, which account for the lion's share of world consumption, are flat or falling," said Andrew Reed, managing director of the drinks division at event organisers William Reed Business Media. "We'll consider how this most traditional of industries must transform in order to capture the spirit of the age and the radically different demands of today's millennial consumers."
Wine Vision 2014 will look at key issues affecting growth
The event will kick off at the Shard on November 17 with insights into multi-sensory perception, led by professors Charles Spence and Barry C Smith. Spence's work looks at modernist cuisine and commercial food and drink design and includes product concepts for Diageo, Mumm, Perrier Jouët, PepsiCo, Molson Coors and Twinings. He has worked extensively on the multi-sensory perception of flavour, particularly in the area of wine.
On day two Mike Veseth, author of several books and editor of The Wine Economist, will open proceedings by analysing today's wine market and the trends that influence its development. Jean-Guillaume Prats, president and chief executive Moët Hennessy Estates & Wines will consider the future of premium wine, while Tyler Balliett, founder of Second Glass and creator of the Wine Riot events that have taken the US by storm, considers the need to capture the influential millennial market in order to secure a new generation of wine drinkers.
Other topics to be discussed include:
? Entrepreneurialism and innovation - creating new wine-based retail categories
? Routes to market and the changing role of the distributor
? Customer engagement in a digitally dominated world
Key speakers lined up to attend include:
New for 2014 are a series of opportunities for interactivity and discussion, including a programme of informal lunch time roundtable discussions led by speakers and specialists.
Wine Vision is supported by industry sponsors Taylor's Port and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), who return to Wine Vision for the second year.
To sign up to attend or register your interest please contact Margarete Baltay and you can find out more details on the Wine Vision website.
To catch up with the 2013 event go to the special Wine Vision section on Harpers.co.uk that includes news, views, opinions and videos from the inaugural event.