Beautiful South offers themed tastings and winemaker debates on Chile, Argentina and South Africa

By Richard Siddle

Published: 15 July, 2014

A central "meet the winemaker" themed area will be the central focus for this September's combined Beautiful South tasting featuring wines from Chile, South Africa and Argentina.

Wines of the Beautiful South

This will be the second year that Wines of Argentina, Wines of Chile and Wines of South Africa have come together to put on a joint tasting across two days at London's Olympia. This year's event takes place between September 10 and 11.

The organisers are promising improved navigation and clearer sign posting to better promote the different countries' wines. "Country islands" made of tables of a particular country will be set up to help visitors identify which part of the show they are in. Wineries will also get the chance to display posters and other point-of-sale material to better identify where they are.

BBC journalist and broadcaster, Nigel Barden, will help host the "Festival of the South" area of the show where visitors will get the chance to hear and talk to leading winemakers from the three countries talking about their wines and taking part in open debates. Key themes will include: Pushing the Boundaries; Old Vines; 10 Years Apart and Family Owned.

The "Festival of the South" will also give visitors the chance to take part in a blind tasting challenge. On-trade buyers will be invited to go on the "Sommelier Festival Trail", and go through the tasting with an industry expert.

This year's stands have been made out of recycled cardboard so that they can be reused in future years.

The Beautiful South will also include four, free-pour, themed tasting tables to highlight what each country can offer. These will include: Tales of the Unexpected; Beautiful Bubbles; New Kids on the Block and Champions of the South.

For more information and to register go to www.winesofthebeautifulsouth.co.uk.

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