Harpers recruits Rising Stars to attend Wine Vision 2014

By Richard Siddle

Published: 07 November, 2014

Harpers is giving emerging talent in the global wine industry the chance to attend this month's Wine Vision event in London. Here are the winners of our Rising Stars Grants that will be attending this year's conference

Eight diverse personalities from different parts of the trade have been selected to receive a Harpers Rising Stars Grant to attend this month's Wine Vision conference in London.

The event, which takes place at the Hurlingham Club between November 17-19, will see senior management figures from across the global wine industry, along with major business leaders, come together to discuss the key issues facing the sector.

Harpers also wanted to reward some of the exciting, upcoming talent in the industry with a special half price grant to attend the three-day attend.

The winning candidates stretch from Sri Lanka, South Africa, Portugal, France and the UK and include:

* JD Pretorius, cellar master, Steenberg Vineyards, South Africa

* Thys Louw, winemaker, Diemersdale Wine Estate, South Africa

* Samira Fonseca, chief sales and marketing officer, Rockland Distilleries, Sri Lanka

* Marcia Waters MW, wine consultant, FlavorActiV Ltd, UK

* Colleen Norkie, digital marketing manager, Warwick Estate, South Africa

* Guillaume Bonnefoi, UK manager, Castel

* Petrus Bosman, managing director, Bosman Family Vineyards, South Africa

* André Ribeirinho, chief executive, Adegga.com, Portugal.

Each were asked to set out what they see as the main issue that needs to be addressed by the wine industry.

Ribeirinho will receive a special Harpers grant to attend this month's Wine Vision event along with seven other rising stars from the world of wine

André Ribeirinho of Adegga Wine Market is one of Harpers' Rising Stars André Ribeirinho of Adegga Wine Market is one of Harpers' Rising StarsRibeirinho will receive a special Harpers grant to attend this month's Wine Vision event along with seven other rising stars from the world of wine

André Ribeirinho, who helped found the Adegga Wine Market event concept, believes far more needs to be done to take full advantage of the internet. He explained: "It has changed every other industry and has opened doors to unseen opportunities. It's time for the wine industry to wake up to this new reality and take advantage of its full potential."

In particular, Ribeirinho sees great "opportunities and solutions for direct to consumer" marketing and retailing. "For the first time a wine producer is able to vertically control every point of their production, communication and distribution."

He said of winning the grant. "It will provide me with the opportunity to attend a world-class wine business event where I'll be able to meet and share innovative ideas with some of the best leaders of the wine world."

Guillaume Bonnefoi, UK manager for French wine giant, Castel, believes improved efficiencies in the distribution network will be the key to future success. Every operator in the supply chain has to be "able to create and add value to their product". Be it. he said, using "connected tools such as new applications like 3D printing, or social networks, in order to create additional services and to generate trust from any consumer".

Colleen Norkie, of Warwick Wine Estate in South Africa, believes the wine industry must make the most of mobile technology to fully move forward. "Mobile has caused an irrevocable change in our behaviour. Embrace technology and use it your advantage," she stressed. "It's about quick, fast, bite-sized information in real time that is relevant and more accessible, in your hands."

Marcia Waters MW at FlavorActiV Ltd says the industry needs to do more to truly connect with how different consumers taste and recognise flavours. "Understanding that individuals have different thresholds, abilities and experiences of flavours is key. Then communicating smells and flavours in a useful way is a massive challenge." Get it right and wine companies could have a major competitive advantage.

The second Wine Vision event hopes to address many of these issues and far more with a high profile line up of speakers. From the trade these include:

Michel Rolland, Troy Christensen, Enotria, Simon McMurtrie, Direct Wines, Laura Jewell MW, Tesco, Robin Copestick,Copestick Murray, Denis O'Flynn, Pernod Ricard UK, Kevin Shaw, Stranger & Stranger, Stephen Cronk, Mirabeau en Provence, Mike Veseth, the Wine Economist, Jean-Guillaume Prats, Moett Hennessy, Mike Ratcliffe Warwick Wine Estate, Charles Banks, Terroir Specialists, Tyler Balliett, Wine Riot, Adrian Bridge, The Fladgate Partnership, Jaime Araujo, Terravina, Ian Haris, WSET, Carlos de Jesus, Amorim, Sara Norell, Systembolaget and Anne Thysell, Spar Austria.

Non wine speakers include Sandra Taylor, president of Sustainable Business International and former Starbucks' head of sustainability, social media expert, John Morter, Jonny Forsyth, Mintel, Barry Clark, Future Foundation, Dominique Persoone of Chocolate Line, Matthew Protti, Black Square, Channel 4 Secret Millionaire, Mike Greene,

Professor Charles Spence of the Oxford University and Professor Barry Smith of London University will lead an examination of sensory research and the possible implications for the wine trade

There will be full coverage of Wine Vision throughout the event on Harpers.co.uk and via Twitter @HarpersWine. For more details go to winevision.com. The event costs £1,695 +VAT with a 20% discount for those booking two places. To book go to winevision.com/register/. Harpers subscribers can receive a 20% discount by using the code HARPERS20.

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