SITT hits stride in London and Manchester

By Harpers Editorial team

Published: 10 September, 2019

This autumn’s Specialist Importers Trade Tasting (SITT) in London and Manchester were among the busiest and most focused events yet, with both off- and on-trade buyers feasting their senses at 45 supplier tables, plus a busy schedule of masterclasses.

Specifically tailored to the needs of independent merchants and on-trade, the Spring and Autumn SITT tastings have become an essential fixture in the trade tasting calendar, offering buyers the opportunity to streamline their time out of business, by bringing together diverse but relevant suppliers at the one venue.

Exhibitors ranging from H2Vin, Yapp and Mentzendorff to Daniel Lambert and Stone, Vine and Sun, by way of more generic bodies including Wines of South Africa and buying group Vindependents, fuelled the intense tasting activity throughout the day.

Taking place at the Honourable Artillery Company HQ in London and etc.Venues in Manchester on 11 and 13 September respectively, the event also engaged with series of business-focused masterclasses.

Highlights included masterclasses by Andre Morgenthal - who presented 10 wines from the Old Vine Project (Wines of South Africa) - and Julian Langworthy and his vertical tastings of Reserve Chardonnay (2013-2015-2017) and Reserve Cabernet (2010-2014-2016) from Deep Woods Estate, Margaret River.

SITT ambassador Piotr Pietras MS and colleague Isa Bal MS were also on hand, giving visitors the chance to taste eight ‘new classics’, including wines from Syria, Switzerland, Austria, and Portugal, in another packed out session.

In addition, Pietras hosted a series of walkabout tutored tastings, with each tour covering different exhibitors and different selection of wines.

SITT London was topped by the announcement of Harpers 50 Best Indies 2019, the results of which can be found here.

The Spring SITT series will return to London and Manchester in early 2020, with proposed dates being the 24 and 26of February (watch this space for details).

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