Wineries with no UK distribution get the chance to win listings at London Wine Fair

By Richard Siddle

Published: 16 May, 2014

Wineries with no distribution in the UK will get the chance to pitch their wines to the largest judging panel of buyers to be brought together by the Winestars World competition at next month's London Wine Fair.

Over 30 buyers from all channels of the UK wine trade will take part in Winestars at London Wine Fair which will see them meet initially in the week before, on May 30, to whittle down the wineries to a final shortlist of 15 that will pitch live to the judges at the show on June 2.

Visitors to this year's LWF will also get the chance to taste the wines from the chosen final 15 producers in a special pop up zone. The wineries will get two chances to "pitch" their wines. Firstly they can make a video during the fair which will be sent to selected buyers and will also appear on the Winestars World and sponsor, Nomcacorc, websites.

But their main opportunity will come when they get to pitch "live" to judges at LWF at 2.30pm on June 2 in the Speakers Corner section of the show. They will get three minutes each to tell their story and hope to get a listing.

Buyers lined up to take part in Winestars World include: Morrisons, Hotel du Vin group, Mandarin Hotel Group and Bar Baloud, Justin Howard Sneyd - global consultant Direct Wines, Seckford Wine Agencies, PLB, Alliance Wines, Frederic Robinsons, Cambridge Wine Merchants, The Smiling Grape Company, Hakkasan Restaurant Group Global, The Wine Society, World Wine Agencies, Alexander Wines, Winery Exchange, Codorniu, The Sampler, Jascots Wine Merchants, Angela Mount, restaurant wine buying consultant, and Catherine Monahan, founder of Winestars and director of The Wine Line.

Monahan said: ""WSW is looking for real stories, for entrepreneurial beliefs, not 'plans' - we want to see people with dreams who believe in what they do, not for how much money there is to be made. Buyers buy because of why people do what they do and the real story, not what they do. Wineries need to be doing business with people who believe in what they do, not just anyone who needs wine, otherwise it all just becomes a commodity."

Interested wineries can online at http://www.winestarsworldevents.com/#!enter-winestars-london-wine-fair-2014/c1hhh or by emailing catherine@winestarsworld.org. Entires close on May 23.

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