Australia Day Tasting hosts over 700 visitors

By Erin Smith

Published: 31 January, 2014

Australia Day Tasting, hosted by Wine Australia and held yesterday, saw more than 700 trade and press guests visit Lindley Hall in London, indicating that Australian wine maybe coming back in style.

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The tasting had just under 1000 wines, from boutique wineries, to iconic labels and big brands, being poured by over 50 exhibitors. The UK imports nearly 20% of Australian wine that is produced.

Australian wines have been struggling the last few years due impart to unfavourable exchange rates and over supply. However, despite the past struggles, the tasting drew a large crowd and was an opportunity for buyers from the multiples to small independent merchants to try wines from the 32 different regions around Australia under one roof. It was a packed venue with the who's who of the wine trade in the UK and beyond.

Yvonne May, the director of the UK, Ireland, and EU for Wine Australia, said: "The reach of the event goes beyond the UK, with major buyers travelling to the tasting from across Europe. The event highlights the diversity, both regionally and varietally, of a wine portfolio that continues to excite key players around the world."

The event also had a pop-up restaurant hosted by Dine Australia which provided food and wine pairing throughout the day and featured Michelin star chef Roger Jones of The Harrow at Little Bedwyn.

Paul Fleming, Projects and Events Manager at Negociants UK, said: "It has been busy all day, since the doors opened and we have been pouring and talking to a lot of great people."

Robert Joseph, wine writer and blogger of the Joseph Report, agreed that the tasting was a success and said: "Everyone is here... I have seen all the major multiple buyers and independents. There is a lot of buzz around the tasting."

The next Australia Day Tasting will be January 27, 2015

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