Peter McCombie MW, Angela Mount and Caroline Gilby MW are just some of the top names that will be presenting and sharing their insights at Bellavita Expo in London between November 7-8.
Italy on its own is a hard country to keep on top of with its myriad of very different wine regions from north to south of the country. Throw in the rest of the Mediterranean and there is a lot to cover at next month’s Bellavita Expo – a two day show dedicated to showing not only the best wines from the regions, but also the food, the culture and how they are all intertwined. Particularly for buyers in the premium on-trade.
To help visitors get a closer understanding of the changing styles and the new opportunities that are coming out of both Italy and the Mediterranean, the Bellavita team has put together a strong programme of events and seminars and masterclasses across the two days.
Leading chef Theo Randall will be sharing the stage with Peter McCombie at Bellavita
Its motto is very much built around being an event that is “made by the trade for the trade” which is why it is so keen to involve as many of the top talents and experts that it can in its line-up of events. It’s also why the event has been expanded to cover not just Italian wines, but those from across the Mediterranean which are growing in demand and interest and value across the premium on-trade.
Wines that truly showcase the indigenous varieties and artisan winemaking styles that make wine from countries such as Croatia, Slovenia, Greece and Cyprus, alongside the more established Italian classics, so potentially fascinating to taste.
Here are just some of the highlights you can look forward to across the two days:
November 7
12.30pm-1pm: Angela Mount will be joined by representatives from six of Britain’s top wine retailers for a panel discussion on organic wines, and how smaller retailers can get themselves involved in this booming trade.
1.30pm-2pm: Peter McCombie MW will present a collection of wines from the Isole Minori – the smaller islands surrounding Italy, and is joined by food expert and chef, Theo Randall, who willexplore food pairings to match the wines.
The Buyer will be hosting a trade debate featuring leading importers and merchants
2.30pm-3.15pm. The Buyer Debate. Richard Siddle will lead a panel of leading importers, distributors and wine merchants on what they see as the key points of difference between Italian and Mediterranean wines and where buyers should look in terms of price, quality, styles and stories. The panel will include:
Matt Smith, wine buyer, Fields, Morris & Verdin
Rebecca Palmer, head wine buyer, Corney & Barrow
Chris Carson, co-founder of Carson & Carnevale
Nik Darlington, co-founder, Graft Wine
Jason Millar, retail director, Theatre of Wine
3.30pm-4pm: Caroline Gilby MW looks at the most interesting low intervention wines currently coming out of the Mediterranean region with her selection of organic and biodynamic regional varieties to suit both the on and off-trades.
November 8
10.30am-11am: Raul Diaz looks at how Italian wines can be the perfect match for non-Italian food too.
Raul Diaz will be looking at how you can pair Italian wines with non-Italian food
11.30am-12.15am: Challenges and opportunities for Spanish food and wine with Paul Grimwood, Ultracomida, Nick Groszek, Moreno Wines, Oscar Blazquez, Iberica Spanish Foods, Martin Skelton, González Byass and Felix Benito, C and D Wines.
12.30pm-1pm. WSET presents sparkling wines with Christine Marsiglio MW who will present a rosé sparkling wine tasting experience featuring different distributors wines.
2.30pm-3pm. WSET looks at how to taste spirits and liqueurs like a professional with Liam Scandrett, spirits educator at WSET and Agostino Schiavo, bar supervisor of The Arts Club, who will present a cocktail creation and tasting masterclass, featuring Zafferello’s saffron-infused artisan limoncello.
As well as wine there are a number of other themed areas to discover more about the food and wine from Italy and the Mediterranean. In all the show will feature five theatres, each dedicated to a specific market segment – BeWine, BeFood, BeBeer, BeMix and The Pizza Academy. Each covering the latest trends, with masterclasses, food demonstrations and seminars.
There is a new Private Label Zone which is looking to help connect buyers with producers of private label goods, including wine.
- If you would like to find out more about Bellavita and to register and attend the show click here.
