Californian producers target London and Edinburgh

By Michelle Perrett

Published: 20 April, 2018

The annual Golden State Tasting is to take place in Scotland for the first time to capitalise on the popularity of Californian wines north of the border.

Trade tastings for the Californian wine producers will take place in both London and Edinburgh and will feature around 70 wineries from the four leading importers for California: Flint Wines, Roberson Wine, The Vineyard Cellars and The Wine Treasury.

The Golden State agents are looking to tap into the popularity of Edinburgh as the second most visited city in the UK, after London, by US tourists.

The organisation said that tourists from North America exceeded 3.8m in 2017, a 14% increase on 2016. The producers also said that Californians and New Yorkers account for 25% of Americans visiting the UK and when they come they want to drink premium Californian wines.

The London tasting will take place on Monday, 14 May at Avenue restaurant in St James’s, London, and will feature the wineries destined for independent retailers and the on-trade.

Two days later on Wednesday, 16 May, the Scottish tasting will take place at The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh. Wineries attending include Arnot Robert; Duckhorn; Lutum Wines; Mail Road Wines; Peter Michael Winery; Rudd Estate; Sandhi Wines and Silver Oak.

James Hocking of The Vineyard Cellars said that 2018 was an “exciting time” for The Golden State Tasting to make its first foray north of the border.

“Scotland’s burgeoning fine dining scene with its focus on the finest beef and seafood, and wealth of specialist independents makes it the perfect destination for top Californian wines,” he said.

The tasting, which has a focus on premium, boutique, Californian wines, was originally created by Hocking and Rory Benham of The Wine Treasury, with Roberson joining in 2015 and Flint Wines in 2017.

Photo: Vinca Minor Vineyard in Sonoma. By Jason Charles

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