Spring into SITT
With our Specialist Importers Trade Tastings (SITT) almost upon us, there’s a cornucopia of independent buyer-focused wines waiting to be discovered at what we believe will be our most exciting and productive events yet.
On February 25, we will be heading to The Principal in Manchester before taking a trip south on February 27 to London’s Royal Horticultural Halls for another not-to-be-missed schedule of tastings, masterclasses and a curated list of exhibitors.
The criteria for exhibitors has once again been tightened to ensure all are wholly focused on the independent on- and off-trades, with the objective of putting high-quality, hand-crafted wines from around the world at buyers’ fingertips.
In addition to a fantastic array of wines to taste from an equally impressive roster of specialist importers, the spring SITT events will be putting low intervention wines under the spotlight, with further masterclasses awaiting those who attend these events.
Harpers columnist and organic specialist Jerry Lockspeiser will host a masterclass on low and no intervention wines at each event, with panelists including winemaker David Baverstock of Esporao, to explore this area of fast growing consumer interest.
Meanwhile, dedicated tastings will include a Quinta de Soalheiro vertical, hosted by Portuguese winemaker Luis Cerdeira, and verticals of Bouchard Finlayson’s Galpin Peak Pinot Noir and Hannibal from Hemel-en-Aarde in South Africa.
Moreover, this year’s ‘Spotlight on’ feature, running all day, will free pour tasting flights of low and no intervention wines, showcasing a range of differing styles and price points.
For convenience and ease of identification, the low intervention wines will also be neck-tagged as such on individual producer stands.
Coupled with some fantastic indie buyer-focused tasting to be found on the day from exhibitors new and old, the Spring SITT events in Manchester and London promise to make for a very worthwhile visit for all those who attend.
The Harpers team looks forward to seeing you there.
Masterclasses and tastings:
Masterclass: Low Intervention Wines
12.00-13.00
Chair: Jerry Lockspeiser, chairman of Off Piste Wines
Harpers columnist Jerry leads a panel debate with luminaries such as winemaker David Baverstock of Esporao (Barwell & Jones) and former director of wine at London’s Hide, Piotr Pietras MS, on hand to discuss the growing importance of lower intervention wines and their appeal to consumers and winemakers alike.
Tasting: Quinta de Soalheiro vertical
13.30-14.30
Leading Portuguese light Luis Cerdeira, winemaker and owner at Soalheiro (Raymond Reynolds) will lead a vertical tasting of his wines from the very northernmost tip of the country.
Tasting: Bouchard Finlayson verticals
15.00-16.00
Vertical tasting of wines from legendary Hemel-en-Aarde Pinot Noir and Chardonnay specialist Bouchard Finlayson from South Africa, led by French sommelier Lia Poveda. This will include vintages of Galpin Peak Pinot Noir back to 1996, plus several vintages of the groundbreaking and multifaceted blend Hannibal.
Spotlight On tasting: Low Intervention Wines (all day)
10.30-5.00
‘Spotlight On’ free pour area highlighting low intervention wines from our exhibitors’ portfolios, supported by By The Glass wine dispensers to allow easy sampling on the day.
SITT SPRING 2019
Monday, February 25 – The Principal, Manchester M60 7HA
Wednesday, February 27 – Royal Horticultural Halls, London SW1P 2PB
Visit sittastings.com/register to secure your visitor pass.
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