Category: Spirits

Vinitaly postponed to June

The organisers of the leading Italian wine show, Vinitaly, have announced the 2020 edition will be postponed until June. Originally scheduled for 19-22 April, organisers Veronafiere announced today (3 March) that it was postponing the show as well the various  shows revolving around Vinitaly such as the International Wine Academy and Vinitaly and the City, until June. The revised dates for the show are 14-17 June. Giovanni Mantovani, director of Veronafiere, said: “In light of the rapidly changing international situation that is creating difficulties for all trade fairs across the...

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London Wine Fair ‘going ahead as planned’ as coronavirus disrupts global trade show calendar

The London Wine Fair will still go ahead “as planned” in May as trade shows around the world have been pushed back to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 (coronavirus). (Photo: Anthony Upton) The London Wine Fair is set to attract thousands of professionals from the wine, spirits, beer and cider industries to London’s Kensington Olympia exhibition hall between 18 and 20 May. The organisers said they are working closely with the venue, Olympia, and we will “continue to follow advice from the Government, the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England”,...

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Organisers of Vinexpo New York say coronavirus ‘has not impacted’ event

The two-day Vinexpo New York 2020 opened as planned on Monday at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, but a degree of uncertainty hangs over the event as to whether coronavirus-related travel restrictions and growing American caution over contact with European visitors will dampen attendance. Officially, the word is no, and the organisers, Diversified Communications, have addressed the virus issue in the “safety” section of its website: “We… are monitoring the situation regarding the novel coronavirus, both in the U.S. and internationally. The current situation has...

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ProWein postponed

Messe Düsseldorf has announced it is postponing all of its shows until May including the largest wine industry trade show, ProWein. More than 6,800 exhibitors from 61 Nations showcase their products at ProWein each year. In a statement sent out this afternoon (29 February), Messe Düsseldorf said it was postponing, “the trade fairs ProWein, wire, Tube, Beauty, Top Hair and Energy Storage Europe. In close coordination with all partners involved, the company will promptly discuss alternative trade fair dates in order to guarantee planning can...

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Public Health England slams size of restaurant wine glasses

Restaurant wine glasses should be no bigger than 250ml, according to Public Health England, in order to prevent instances of binge drinking in the UK. Public Health England would like restaurant wine glasses to be no bigger than 250ml in size As reported by The Telegraph, researchers at the University of Cambridge found people drink less when they are given wine in a smaller glass. When glass size was increased from 300ml to 370ml, wine sales at restaurants increased by 7.3%, while reducing the glass size to 250ml led to a drop of 9.6%. The researchers concluded that drinkers “may...

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Armit Italian tasting to go ahead despite coronavirus cancellations

UK merchant Armit’s Italian Portfolio Tasting is still set to go ahead next week despite fears of cancellations due to the spread of the coronavirus.   Italy’s wine country is in upheaval due to a spike in coronavirus cases in the country. The number cases in Italy has jumped to 655, including 17 deaths, amid international efforts to contain the spread of the deadly outbreak. The Italian government has been forced to quarantine 11 towns, including 10 towns in Lombardy, and also Vò, meaning residents aren’t able to leave until at least 6 March. Managing director...

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Roganic & Aulis HK celebrate Women’s Day with special wine list

The Hong Kong branches of Roganic and Aulis are honouring International Women’s Day with special wine pairing menus featuring only female winemakers throughout March. Michelin starred chef Simon Rogan’s one-Michelin-starred Roganic Hong Kong and development kitchen Aulis Hong Kong will launch a specially curated wine menu featuring wine and Champagnes from around the world made by women. Available from 1-31 March 2020, the wine pairing menus designed alongside the lunch and dinner tasting menus at the two restaurants are priced at HK$680 for six glasses of wine. Created by the recently...

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Nyetimber launches 1086 in HK

English winery Nyetimber launched its wines in Hong Kong last year and is now bringing its 1086 Prestige Cuvée to the city. Named in honour of the year Nyetimber’s vineyard estate was first mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was written in 1086, the product is England’s first ever prestige cuvée made of a selection of over 90 parcels of vines. Produced entirely from 100% estate-grown fruit with parcel-by-parcel selection, both the 1086 white and rosé are available in Hong Kong now. “1086 is a selection of the best of the best wines produced by Nyetimber...

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Edinburgh vs St Andrews varsity wine tasting celebrates 20th anniversary

Twenty years after the inaugural fixture between the universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews, members of the wine trade and press gathered in the Scottish capital to celebrate the occasion. L-R: Alasdair Lawson-Dick, Andrew Ray, Davy Zyw, James Simpson MW, Victoria Beckett, Hew Blair, Anna Rogan, Lord Menzies, Ian Rankin, Phoebe French and Will Lyons. Edinburgh’s New Club played host to the annual match between the rival Scottish institutions, but this year there was a difference: a writers vs wine merchants competition held on the previous day (20 February). Organised by one of the...

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Unfiltered: Savvas Symeonidis, Goodman Restaurant

Athens-born Savvas Symeonidis, found his way into wine by way of medicine. Moving to the UK seven years ago from his native Greece, Symeonidis took up the role of head sommelier at Thornbury Castle restaurant near Bristol. While continuing his WSET studies, he moved to London and has also held roles at the JKS Restaurant group before becoming head sommelier of Goodman Restaurant last year. How did you arrive at the position you are in today? I was in charge of the wines in Thornbury Castle just outside Bristol, and then relocated to London as a sommelier for the likes of Tamarind and Gymkhana,...

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