Every year the London Wine Fair attracts thousands of professionals and wine lovers. Here I unfold the beauties of this international event and go through why it’s not to be missed
If the following prospects don’t allure you:
- Taste (at least potentially) thousands of wines
- Explore wines from unusual territories
- Join tastings, masterclasses and conferences to hone your wine knowledge
- Meet passionate winemakers and traders
- Network with your fellow wine lovers
- Do all the above for free
Then the London Wine Fair is not for you!
If like me you find some (or all) of the above possibilities tempting, you should definitely pay a visit to this annual event.
What is the London Wine Fair?
The London Wine Fair (LWF) is probably the biggest and most important trade wine event in London. Running annually since 1981, the fair brings together wine buyers, importers, producers and, of course, a whole bunch of wine lovers. Even though the event limits the participation to the people in the wine industry, the organisers have a wide definition of what that means.I had no problem booking my “press” badge as founder of the Wine and Other Stories blog. I would expect a similar liberal policy for all other aspects of the wine industry.
LWF usually takes place in May, in the impressive Olympia Exhibition Centre in Hammersmith (West London). I attended the 2019 edition of the LWF (20-22 May) that ended just a few days ago. In this article I will summarise what I found – and loved – in LWF 2019. I will also include tasting notes of some of the excellent wines I tried during the fair, whose taste still haunts me now.
Even the numbers that pop out of the 2019 edition of this wine festival are impressive. 14,000 wines from 32 countries, 520 exhibitors, 68 tasting events. LWF spans three days but this is hardly enough to cover everything. As always the case with large events, (hard) choices need to be made. Before arriving at LWF, it’s a good idea to select a few producers/events to visit rather than organically wander from stall to stall.
What’s on in the London Wine Fair
LWF is a huge event with several features and sections; these consist of the following:
Trading floor: the main area of the Olympia centre and dominates almost all of its ground floor. This is the place to find the “big guys”, aka established agencies and large importers. If you want to go safe, stick to this part!
Wines Unearthed: is an area that covers roughly half of the first floor of the venue. As highlighted by LWF’s website, Wine Unearthed “is about discovery”. In this area you can find emerging producers who (as yet) have no presence in the UK market. For these producers, the event is a perfect opportunity to showcase their wines and woo potential buyers. For wine lovers, this area is an the ideal opportunity to find out more about wine regions and vignerons which would otherwise be off the beaten track.
Esoterica: this area is on the first floor alongside Wines Unearthed. Esoterica is supposedly focused on small and quality-driven producers. I’m actually not sure what’s esoteric about this section? The website is not clear on this point either! From my understanding, this section abounds with avant-garde winemakers and innovators. Of course experimentation does not always mean excellent wines. Nonetheless, this section is a vibrant and fascinating part of the fair. If you feel adventurous, give Esoterica a try.
Drinks Britannia: understandably patriotic, this section is devoted to wines from the United Kingdom. Over the last few years, British wines have surged in popularity, so it’s a good idea to pay a visit to a stand or two there.
Tastings: one of the best parts of LWF is its wine tasting section, which is rich both in quality and quantity. Visitors can enjoy tastings in a number of different formats such as masterclasses, walk-up tastings and industry briefings. You are really spoiled for choice. Speakers at LWF are masters of wine, experienced sommeliers or celebrities in the wine industry. These people know what they are talking about…
Education zone: Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the leading global organisation in wine and spirit education, is a well-established partner of the LWF. WSET organises short seminars and education sessions about a broad array of drink-related topics as part of the fair.
Innovation zone: Here we talk business. This section is about entrepreneurship, innovation and the future of the wine industry. Panel discussions are set up as TED-style talks. If you are interested in the wine world on a broader scale – or if you want to open a wine-related business – don’t make my mistake by overlooking this section. It deserves time.
Why you should go to the London Wine Fair
At the beginning of this article, I facetiously explained the reasons why any wine lover would want to visit LWF. Since I thoroughly enjoyed LWF, I will expand a little more on this theme:
Organisation
LWF is well organised (hats off to the organisers I say!). The LWF website is beautifully designed, informative and it’s easy to navigate. The on-line enrolment process is straightforward and physically registering at the fair is even smoother. No wait, no queues.
The LWF has a trade-only entrance policy which in my opinion ensures a certain level of decorum in its attendees. Participants are civilised, considerate and more importantly passionate about wine. That is poles apart from being passionate about getting drunk!
Tasting “different” wines
LWF is a gathering of hundreds of wine producers. Furthermore, the event is geared towards little-known wine regions and innovative winemakers. For those reasons, the event allows its visitors to taste wines that are difficult (if not impossible) to find though standard distribution. Just a few examples. I tried wines from Uruguay (tannat, red-blends, even a riesling!) and rare Italian local varieties such as vernaccia nera, pagadebiti and barbarossa!
Meet passionate people of the wine world
Even though this is not a feature unique to LWF, the fair is a place where you can find an overwhelming number of winemakers, producers and wine traders under one very large roof. Most of these citizens of the wine world share a unique trait: passion.
I personally find few things more fascinating than listening to someone talk passionately about the wine they produce or sell. Their vigour is really contagious. Each time, I leave these conversations with the renewed realisation that winemaking is truly a wonderful expression of craftsmanship. To me, listening to these stories is the essence and the most gratifying experience of wine events like the LWF. These people are not just talking about “products” or “drinks”. They are describing their artisan creation obtained through sweat, work, pain, but always with a vision in mind.
Build a network
Whether you are a wine buyer or a wine blogger – the LWF represents an ideal opportunity to meet and chat with your peers and other wine lovers. The atmosphere at the LWF is informal and unpretentious. I always felt comfortable talking with anybody there. Networking is much easier in a relaxed, down-to-earth environment.
…and it’s free!
Did I mention that all these amazing opportunities have literally zero cost (of course assuming you live in London :-P)? Such events, where you can find thousands of wines and attend countless tastings all for free, are not common. I read that after the 2018 edition the LWF organisation thought about imposing a fee on their visitors. However, LWF 2019 remained completely free. I’m not sure how long the LWF will remain such. While it is – Carpe diem! Seize the day!
LWF 2020
In 2020 the London Wine Fair will be in its 40th year. LWF 2020 will take place from 18th – 20th May. Check out www.londonwinefair.com for more details!
Some notable wines tasted in the LWF 2019
I tasted so many great wines during LWF 2019 that it would be impossible to mention them all. Here is a minute selection of some wines I found particularly exciting. Salute!
Bouchard Finlayson - Hannibal, 2016
Country: South Africa
Region/appellation: Walker Bay - Walker Bay
Wine style: Dry red - Rich and Intense
Grape(s): 45% Sangiovese, 18% Pinot noir, 15% Nebbiolo, 12% Syrah, 7% Mourvédre, 3% Barbera
Average price: £25
Peter Finlayson is one of the most highly regarded South-African winemakers. He founded Bouchard Finlayson in 1991. The winery and its vineyards are situated in the southernmost part of Walker Bay, where fierce winds from the ocean cool down the climate.
Bouchard Finlayson is greatly respected for their Burgundian style pinot noir which is made in a traditional (Burgundian) style but they also do other great wines, the following being a good example. Bouchard Finlayson’s wine “Hannibal”,takes its name from the famed Carthaginian general of the 2nd century BC. It also symbolises the synergy linking the wine lands of France and Italy with the continent of Africa, where Hannibal was from.
In Hannibal, there is an adventurous mix of six grape varieties – three French and three Italian. This is not a traditional blend at all. In fact, this wine would piss off two entire countries – if it wasn’t so good, of course!
Tasting notes
(tasted on: 20-May-2019)
The wine is a brilliant ruby in the glass, with a medium intensity of colour. To the nose, it’s immediately striking due to its peculiarity. The fruit notes are succulent and ripe, ranging from red (red cherry, strawberry, red plums) to black (blackberry, black plums). Several nuances emerge from the glass, representing all six grape varieties present in the blend. It’s like every grape harmoniously takes its turn nodding to the drinker before delicately giving way to the next. Black pepper from syrah and barbera, autumn leaves and a subtle earthiness from sangiovese and pinot noir, dried rose and balsamic herbs from nebbiolo, a game and furry undertone from mourvedre.
On the palate, the wine is medium to full in body. Succulent, juicy, concentrated in flavours. The flavours echo the nose, with toast and butterscotch hints, along with tobacco and meat aspects which serves to wrap the multi-layered complexity of this wine. High both in acidity and tannins, the wine is snappy and precise, moving fast in the mouth with a velvety mouthfeel. Great intensity and character. Fresh and pleasantly astringent in its long finish.
Wine and other Stories rating: 9.1/10
Il Pollenza - Cosmino, 2015
Country: Italy
Region/appellation: Marche - Marche Rosso IGT
Wine style: Dry red - Bold and Structured
Grape(s): Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Average price: £23
Il Pollenza is a beautiful estate located in the Tolentino countryside, in the Marche region of central Italy. Count Aldo Brachetti Peretti is the founder. In Marche, the Peretti are a noble family, whose venetian origin traces back to the 12th century.
Bordeaux is clearly an inspiration for Il Pollenza. The winery is a château-like building surrounded by perfectly poised vineyards. Furthermore, Il Pollenza’s most awarded wines are Bordeaux-like blends. They mix international varieties such as cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and syrah with the local montepulciano grape.
Tasting notes
(tasted on: 21-May-2019)
The wine has an elegant ruby hue in the glass, with medium intensity of colour. To the nose it opens in a classy and refined manner. Crunchy and ripe notes of fruit (red cherry, red plums and a touch of black currant) harmonise with an elegant flowery background – violet, rose and a whiff of lavender. A hint of red brick stones adds a mineral accent. Delicately spicy, nuances of vanilla and nutmeg mingle with green tobacco, dried mediterranean shrubs and thyme.
On the palate, the wine is medium to full in body, with a lively crisp acidity that perfectly cuts through the juicy red fruit flavours. A lovely flower undertone gives class and refinement, splendidly mixing with notes of clove, thyme, tobacco and a delicate toastiness. This wine is sleek and harmonious, aromatic and very precise. Its pure elegance is also expressed in a long refined finish.
Wine and other Stories rating: 9.3/10
Nyetimber - Tillington Single Vineyard, 2013
Country: United Kingdom
Region/appellation: Sussex
Wine style: Dry sparkling - Complex and Traditional
Grape(s): 74% Pinot Noir, 26% Chardonnay
Average price: £90
Nyetimber is today synonymous with top-quality English sparkling wine. The estate was founded in 1988 by US venture capitalists Stuart and Sandy Moss. They started with one vineyard in Sussex South Downs. Today, Nyetimber owns 7 vineyards (5 in Sussex, 2 in Hampshire) covering a total of 150 hectares. A curious note: the producer’s name apparently comes from a reference from the Doomsday Book, in which the Nyetimber estate (Nitimbreha) was first mentioned.
Nyetimber was the first winery in the UK to produce sparkling wines which looked at Champagne as a model. An ambitious project that has proved successful. Nyetimber wines are today universally acclaimed. On several occasions, Nyetimber sparklings have outranked Champagne wines in blind tasting competitions.
Tasting notes
(tasted on: 22-May-2019)
The wine is a pale lemon hue in the glass, with a dynamic fine perlage. On the nose, it immediately reveals its refinement and focus. Crunchy ripe apple and pear notes, along with white strawberry, mix with a delicate bread crust and yeasty accent. Lemon zest, nectarine skin, and a touch of white flowers add more delicacy. All these flavours are coated by a gentle smokiness.
On the palate, this sparkling is medium in body, sporting a high and linear high acidity. The aromas are simultaneously defined and pronounced. Ripe apples, grapefruit zest, white flowers, a touch of bready and lees undertones with some reminiscences of wild herbs. A very elegant sparkling, with an optimal balance and a good underlying minerality. A muscular push firmly pervades the mid-palate, harmoniously leading to a poised long finish. This is a sparkling wine that can age.
Wine and other Stories rating: 9.1/10
Bouza - Tannat B26 Parcela Unica, 2017
Country: Uruguay
Region/appellation: Canelones
Wine style: Dry red - Bold and Structured
Grape(s): Tannat
Average price: £36
Bouza is an internationally recognised winery and a rising star in the South American wine scene of Uruguay. The estate is tucked away a few kilometres from the capital Montevideo. It is relatively new, being founded only ten years ago.
Bouza’s philosophy combines modernity and tradition. They are not afraid of taking full advantage of modern technologies. At the same time, Bouza works on a smaller scale, carefully controlling every stage of its winemaking.
Bouza grows a diverse roaster of grapes, such as albarino, chardonnay, riesling, merlot, tempranillo, tannat, pinot noir. This wine is 100% tannat (the signature varietal of Uruguay), sourced from the best parts of Bouza’s top vineyards in Las Violetas and Canelones.
Tasting notes
(tasted on: 21-May-2019)
The colour of this wine is an intense ruby of medium to deep intensity. To the nose, it opens up with great strength, ripeness and complexity. The plump black fruit notes (cassis, blackberry, bramble) are beautifully complemented by nuances of violets and blackcurrant leaves. Graphite, earth, liquorice root and thyme also contribute to the overall profile. A pleasant smoked wood note amalgamates all the flavours.
To the palate, the wine is plush and succulent. A sweet attack, with ripe black fruit aromas, then flowery and herbal notes kick in. Nuances of cigar box and sweet tar reveal a wonderful oak integration. Good concentration and focus. The tannins are high in level, fine-grained and smooth. The acidity fresh, giving an alluring lift to the overall structure. Long finish, elegant and pleasantly herbal.
Wine and other Stories rating: 8.9/10
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