Topic: Wine Workshops

On the 1 & 2 July 2020 Wine Pleasures is launching Sparkling WINE Week – an online trade fair aimed at helping sparkling wine producers to pitch to wine importers from around the world when travel is virtually impossible. Event host Anthony Swift explains how it is going to work.

Tell us about Sparkling WINE Week.

As we organise not only B2B Workshops in Spain, Italy and the UK but also we organise two annual Sparkling Wiine competitons – 50 Great Cavas and 50 Great Sparkling Wines of the World,  it made sense in these challenging times to look at how to keep wine producers and wine buyers connected and doing business while simultaneously providing useful content to help the wine importer with their businesses. Having just completed Spanish WINE Week and Italian WINE Week in May organising the Sparkling WINE week was an obvious next step.

Delivered in English, the Sparkling WINE Week 2 day programme offers cutting edge professional education opportunities for the wine buying professionals at all levels. Attendees can take advantage of influential, expert led sessions and enhance their knowledge, grow their business and in their profession and be inspired! The programme also contains live interviews with boutique sparkling wine producers to enable wine buyers to make great sparkling discoveries from diverse terroirs in countries such as Argentina, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and the UK.

That seems like a good blend of  tools to help both producers and buyers in what is a difficult time. How did Spanish WINE Week and Italain WINE Week go?

Went great!  We had Masters of Wine Fernado Mora and Sarah Jane Evans as keynote speakers for Spain and Richard Baudains and Giampiero Nadalli for Italy and we had an excellent range of boutique wine producers from around Spain and Italy. The event was well attended by wine importers and distributors from Japan to the USA and from Scandinavian countries to Australia. Over a 100 buyer appointment requests were received.

So how will Sparkling WINE Week work? 

Much the same as Spanish and Italian WINE Week but with a greater attendance of wine importers – we are expecting around 500 buyers to sign up for the event.

5 live daily sessions will be run with a program that includes  talks delivered by expert speakers, interviews with producers, and some videos of different regions from around the world.  We’re also providing a tool to set up private meetings between producers and buyers to create new business opportunities.

Sparkling Wine producers interested in participating in the programme can view more info here: https://www.winepleasures.com/workshop/sparkling-wine-week/

What happens if a buyer signs up but misses a live session?

No problem. If an attendee misses any or all of the live sessions he or she will be able to view a replay whenever convenient. 

How do buyers get involved if they want to participate?

The event is free for wine buyers, distributors, retailers, agents, journalists and bloggers. Buyers wishing to participate in the event should register here: https://www.winepleasures.com/workshop/sparkling-wine-week-2020/

If you would like to find out any more about Sparkling WINE Week then contact Anthony Swift on info@winepleasures.com or T. +34 93 897 70 48
W. www.winepleasures.com

We are thrilled to announce that Master of Wine Sarah Jane Evans will be joining us as our keynote speaker for Spanish Wine Day 9 June 2020!

Sarah Jane Evans is an award-winning writer, international keynote speaker, wine judge and Co-Chairman of the world’s largest wine competition, the Decanter World Wine Award.

Spanish Wine Day is a business, educational and networking online for the trade. Sarah Jane will uncork the event with a talk titled: New Wave Spanish whites where she will uncover the treasure trove of Spain’s white varieties. This will be followed by Live interviews with producers from diverse terroirs such as Priorat, Ribera del Duero, Rias Baixas, Rioja and the Penedès just to name a few. Sarah Jane closes the one day event with a seminar titled: Mencía and the Fresh Red Wines of the North-West where she will introduce the new-wave fresh reds of North-west Spain.

Registration for the trade is free and wine trade professional can register at Spanish WINE Day>>

Join the Online Spanish WINE Week 5 – 7 May 2020 and your industry peers for a free, 3-day online event specifically for wine importers, distributors, the on and off trade and trade journalists.

This summit provides the wine trade with inspiration, business connections & educational content through in-depth live interviews with wine producers, interviews with industry thought leaders, and practical insights on how to cope with the current global conditions. Our goal for this online event is to allow the wine trade to participate, learn and grow together in this time of need – no matter where you happen to be.

Programme

The Live stream will start daily at 13.00 GMT +1 (EST 09.00) and ends at around 19.30 GMT + 1 each day.

Day 1: Tuesday 5 May 2020: 14.00 to 19.30

Time & Activity

Session 1

14.00 – 14.10 A Wine Pleasures Welcome
14.10 – 15. 00 Seminar: The Surprising Terroirs & Wines of Spain. Speaker Clara Antúnez
Spanish wines taste different. Spanish grape varieties give flavours that you don’t find anywhere else. The vineyards are planted on rock, on limestone, on volcanic ash, on clay, on sand, or on mixtures of all these. To fashion these raw materials into modern, exciting wines, there is a generation of young winemaker who have travelled the world and learned all there is to know about winemaking. The results are incredibly varied in style, from delicate, low-alcohol whites to the richest imaginable reds, from gentle rosés to the great sparkling wines. It will be an introduction to open your eyes to a new world of very different wines.

Session 2

15.15 – 16.15 Live interviews with wine producers – Atlante (Valle de la Orotava), Mont Reaga (IGP Tierra de Castilla), Vins Familia Ferrer (Cava & Catalunya)

Session 3

16.30 – 17.00 Seminar: Corpinnat – what’s that? Speaker Xavier Gramona

Session 4

17.15 – 18.15 Live Interviews with wine producers – Bodegas Monte de la Reina (Toro), Bodegas Tempore (IGP Bajo Aragón), Hermanos Frías del Val (Rioja Alavesa)

Session 5

18.30 – 19.30 Seminar: Why Spain’s Garnacha is on everyone’s lips. Speaker Fernando Mora MW
Spain is the origin country for the Garnacha grape (aka. Grenache), an underrated variety in the past, however now it takes part in some of the most exciting wines of the country. This grape shows different faces in the vast Spanish country, since it has very high capacity to show the place where it is grown. In this semminar, we will learn about this grape, the different types, the myths, the expressions and the most important characteristics. Garnacha is cool, discover it! 

Day 2 Wednesday 6 May 2020: 14.00 a 19.30 

Time & Activity

Session 1

14.00 – 14.10 Welcome
14.10 – 15. 00 Seminar: Old Vines, Better Wines?. Speaker Fernando Mora MW
If there is a differential fact in Spanish viticulture it is the existing surface under old vines. Unfortunately, European plans, lack of profitability and other factors are decreasing this amazing resource. Are wines coming from the old vineyards better quality? Will there be old vineyards in 100 years? These and other questions will be answered in a precise and fundamental way. Other countries have been classifying and protecting their old vineyards, because they know the qualitative and marketing power of them.

Session 2

15.15 – 16.15 Live interviews with wine producers – Huellas del Tiétar (DOP Vinos de Cebreros), Bodegas Resalte (Ribera del Duero), Clos Montblanc (Conca de Barberà)

Session 3

16.30 . 17.00 Seminar: Cava 2020. A guide to its wines, regions and styles. Speakers Anthony Swift & Juan Manuel Gonzalvo (Judges competition annual “50 Great Cavas”)

Session 4

17.15 – 18.15 Live Interviews with wine producers – Gramona (Corpinnat & Penedès), Celistia (Costers del Segre), Bodegas y Viñedos Milénco (Ribera del Duero)

Session 5

18.30 – 19.30 Seminar: How ecommerce platforms can help the wine trade industry to develop their online sales. Speaker Nico Bour, Head of Business & Marketing Uvinum (Drinks & Co)
eCommerce in the wine business is a reality. With the development of huge ecommerce platforms like Amazon, uvinum/Drinks&co or Vivino , the wine industry (importers, wholesales, etc..) has now access to millions of customers to sell their products online. Let’s talk about the opportunities and some keys to succeed. 

Day 3 Thursday 7 May 2020: 14.00 a 19.00

Time & Activity

Session 1

14.00 – 14.10 Welcome
14.10 – 15. 00 Natural Wines: Why not?. Winemaker Daniel Ramos defines this niche but exciitng wine category and will cover What is Natural Wine, – A trend or a reality, Natural Wine: Why not?, Markets and final consumers of natural wine.

Session 2

15.15 – 16.15 Live interviews with wine producers – Godelia (Bierzo), DOSTERRAS (Montsant), Ferré i Catasús (Penedès)

Session 3

16.30 . 17.00 Seminar: D.O.P. Sierra de Salamanca: the remote realm of Rufete. Speaker Miquel Udina

Session 4

17.15 – 18.15 Live Interviews with wine producers– Bodegas Vegalfaro (Utiel-Requena), Hacienda El Ternero (D.O.Ca. Rioja), Baldovar 923 (Valencia)

Session 5

18.30 – 19.00  Seminar: D.O. Jumilla Wine Region: The Organic High Plateau: Kingdom of Monastrell. Speakers Carolina Martinez Origane & Esther Gonzalez de Paz
Jumilla is an emerging, exciting wine region, pioneer in Organic wines. Jumilla is one of the oldest DOs in Spain, created in 1966, with strong culture on wine making, and millenarian know how. Monastrell is a late-ripening variety, which thrives in the heat and produces wines that range from lively and fruity, to stunningly complex. In many of Jumilla’s vineyards, Monastrell vines remain ungrafted. Add the moutain barriers and a picture starts to emerge … 

Free registration here>>

La veintena edición de este innovador evento profesional, impulsado por Wine Pleasures, se celebrará en el Double Tree by Hilton Barcelona Golf Hotel, Resort y Spa del 2 al 4 de marzo de 2020. Wine Pleasures B2B Workshop es la mayor plataforma B2B para dar a conocer internacionalmente la excepcional oferta de vinos “boutique” de España.

A partir de un concepto y un formato altamente personalizado Wine Pleasures B2B, permitirá potenciar las oportunidades de negocio con compradores de vino extranjeros y maximizar el retorno de las bodegas participantes. El B2B prevé conseguir unos 40 importadores internacionales de alto nivel procedentes de unos 20 países considerados importantes para las bodegas, entre los que destacan Alemania, Holanda,  Irlanda, Kahakstan, Estados Unidos, Canadá, Brasil, Malasia, China, Hong Kong y Vietnam. Cada importador realizará una agenda de 20 reuniones durante el Workshop.

El evento ya cuenta con la participación de bodegas de las Designaciones de Origen: Alicante, Conca de Barberà, Empordà, Cava, Pla i Llevant, Montsant, Penedès, Priorat, Rioja y Terra Alta y con la participación de bodegas portuguesas.

En total, el evento estima la celebración de unas 800 reuniones B2B durante su celebración.

Más información e inscripción>>

New Year is the perfect time to start planning your wine buying event agenda. Two must attend event dates are:

Wine Pleasures B2B Workshop Buyer meets Cellar in Spain – 5 – 7 March 2018

Wine Pleasures B2B Workshop Buyer meets Cellar in Italy – 22 – 24 October 2018.

Wine Pleasures B2B Workshops allow wine importers to pre-arrange meetings with producers they can do business with at the event. New for 2018 is the introduction of an online tool My Wine Pleasures which will enable you to

• Search and find producers you want to meet
• Use advanced search functions including region, wine interest and price ex cellar
• Pre-schedule your meetings with the online calendar via your own inbox

Enhance your time away and schedule a visit to Spain or Italy by registering today.

Each year, Wine Pleasures B2B Workshops bring together around 50 global wine importers to meet around 60 boutique wine producers under one roof to find undiscovered wines, discuss business for the next year, and share knowledge to move the industry forward. Find out who you will meet at the Wine Pleasures Workshop Spain

Need more information?

Our team are here to help you with any of your questions about attending Wine Pleasures B2B Workshops. Get in touch: info@winepleasures.com

The 2017 Wine Pleasures Buying Tour programme (part of the Wine Pleasures B2B Workshop Buyer meets Cellar in Spain annual event) for Wine Importers in Spain was a great success. A whole year of planning resulted in a truly memorable buying tour for all involved.

20 wine importers from diverse markets such as Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Norway, Panama, Slovakia, Sweden, UK and the USA, extended their stay to participate in the Wine Pleasures Buying Tour programme with visits to Clos Montblanc (Conca de Barberà), Agustí Torelló (Cava), Mas Blanch i Jové (Costers del Segre), Carles Andreu (Conca de Barberà & Cava) and Can Feixes (Penedès). Emphasis was placed on boutique wines produced in unique terroirs made with indigenous grape varieties such as Macabeo, Malavasia de Sitges, Sumoll, Trepat, Parellada and Xarel.lo. Two of the Cava producers visited have Cavas amongst the 50 Great Cavas 2017

Catalunya was also enjoyed through its cuisine. Here are some of the highlights of the two day intensive programme of visits:

Next up will be the International Wine Tourism Conference in Sicily:

Next Wine Pleasures B2B Workshop will be in Italy later this year:

The Wine Pleasures team

We hope you had a great Wine Pleasures B2B Workshop…

Wine Pleasures B2B Workshop Buyer meets Cellar in Spain 2017 has ended. A whole year of planning resulted in a truly memorable event for all involved. We wanted to thank both wine importers and producers for taking the time to attend, and a special thank you goes to all of the producers travelling from Corsica,  France, Germany and Portugal for blending in extra flavours.

Here are a few photos taken during the event:

Next up will be the International Wine Tourism Conference in Sicily:

Next Wine Pleasures B2B Workshop will be in Italy later this year:

The Wine Pleasures team

The Wine Pleasures B2B Workshop is one of wine industry’s most popular and valued export event for boutique European wine producers. With the event in Barcelona just 4 weeks away, it’s shaping up to be the best one yet with many exciting wine producers from France, Portugal and Spain already registered to meet wine importers from across the globe.

For wine buyers, it’s the only place to conduct business meetings with boutique wine producers in a highly personalized setting.

• Find out more about the B2B Workshop>>
• View the list of wine importers>>
• View the list of wine producers>>
• Register as a wine producer>>
• Register as a wine producer>>

Whether you are new to Wine Pleasures B2B or have attended before… one thing is for certain, you can look forward to connecting with serious and solvent wine buyers not normally present in the large trade fairs coming up in Spring.

9 places left for wine producers and deadline for Registration is 15 January 2016

Anyone who has previously attended a Wine Pleasures Workshop will know that a key reason many of the Invited Buyers attend is to meet with boutique wine producers from Portugal & Spain and peers at time efficient business meetings and fantastic networking events. Wine Pleasures provides the ultimate platform to meet new contacts, strengthen existing relationships and share knowledge.

Here’s what wine buyers can look forward to

• 3 Master Classes – each one dedicated to a terroir, a philosophy, a history and tasting of selected wines
• 3 Seminars led by producers on topics such as organic and biodynamic practices, grape escape ideas and destinations for customers…..
• 20 B2B meetings with producers of their choice
• Informal Wine & food matching lunches and dinners
• A 3 day winery visit programme to the varying terroirs of Catalonia to include DO Cava, DO Montsant, DO Penedès DOQ Priorat and DO Terra Alta.

How to apply:

Find out more>> about Invited Buyer benefits and the flexible attendance options available.

Remaining places on the programme are filling fast, so early application is advisable to avoid disappointment.

New for the 2016 edition of the event will be the offer of places to other Western European countries to attend the event such as Austria, Germany, France, and the UK.

Wine importers from around the world taking part in the Wine Pleasures Workshop Buyer meets Iberian Cellar meet boutique producers from Portugal and Spain in a hassle free setting.

This year’s edition of the annual workshop sees buyers from far away countries such as Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Canada and USA to nearby ones including Denmark, Holland, Finland, Poland and the UK .

Producers from regions as diverse as Alentejo, Douro, Cava, Conca de Barberà, Empordà, Mancha, Penedès, Rioja and Rias Baixas bring quality boutique (red, white, sparkling, organic, fortified) wines to the event.