Professionals are everywhere at Vinexpo: talking business, building new partnerships, attending top-level presentations, establishing productive contacts and meeting decision-makers in exclusive surroundings. All the players that count in wine and spirits markets attend: producers, merchants, importers, wholesalers, retailers, super- and hypermarket buyers, restaurateurs, sommeliers and many more besides. However, Vinexpo is more than just the largest wine and spirits showcase in the world. It is also a strategic focal point, where tomorrow’s consumption trends emerge.

VISIT THE WINES OF CHILE STAND AT HLL 1 AB10 – AB12 

The Wines of Chile brings you an exclusive opportunity to present your wines to licensees and press in Canada’s largest market. Discover Top Wines from Chile is designed to respond to the need for greater penetration of Chilean wines in Ontario’s licensee channel.

In an emotional ceremony last week, Michael Cox (European Director of Wines of Chile) was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the prestigious Drinks Business magazine in recognition for his impressive career in wine and great achievement in championing Chilean wine.

A well known personality and friend to many in the industry, Michael is the sixth generation in his family to work in wine and one might say was born with wine in the blood. After a 32 year career in the UK and Australia, Michael setup the European offices for Wines of Chile in 2003, making this year the 10th anniversary. Fittingly, the awards ceremony was also in its 10th year for the Drinks Business.

The award, which is not given every year – only on special occasions – was presented by Michael’s twin brother, David, and was a complete surprise to Michael. “When David started the description I realised the award was going to me, and it was an amazing feeling,” he says. “The Award is a wonderful accolade and I am absolutely thrilled and honoured.”

Michael was awarded by his peers in the industry for his integrity, honesty and friendliness as cited in the speech. The Drinks Business paid accolade to him for his “immense dedication, always a warm smile, a firm handshake and helpful comments to make – as well as hips to shake…  Michael has made a remarkable contribution to the trade during the course of an impressive career. Furthermore, importantly, during that time he has made many close friends in the drinks industry.”

Anita Jackson, Wines of Chile Campaign Manager in Europe, has worked with Michael for the last 10 years and she too attended the awards ceremony. “For the last ten years he has changed the face of Chile especially in the UK,” she says. “That award summed up his life in the trade and how much he is loved in the trade. When the award was given, there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

His work in building the sales and reputation of Chilean throughout Europe gained him wide acknowledgement in the industry with the phrase “What we need is a Michael Cox!” popularly coined by other wine producing regions.

While this award demonstrates how highly valued he is in the industry and for his working contributions, Michael says that it too reflects his enjoyment of the job: “there has not been one day out of the 43 years that I have not enjoyed working in the wine business.”

“I can safely and honestly say that these last 10 years have been the most rewarding and enjoyable,” he comments about his time with WOC. “I have hugely appreciated the help and support from the Chilean wine trade and the people I have worked with – we have made great progress together. I also want to pay massive tribute to Anita Jackson and Karen Sutton… They have been magnificent and professional, and I owe them a lot – they are definitely part of my success and deserve a piece of the Lifetime award.”

Congratulations to Michael Cox for his Lifetime Achievement Award!

By Amanda Barnes

Photos by Alvaro Arriagada. Top: Michael with his twin brother David who presented the award. Bottom: The announcement of Michael’s award during the ceremony.

In just a short period of time since its first edition, Interwine China quickly gained local and international recognition for its international appeal and its ability to “inter-connect” (hence its abbreviated name Interwine China) international wine producers with China’s most sought after importers and buyers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers and buyers from restaurants, hotels and corporate event organizers.

Held biannually (Spring show in May, Autumn show in November), each Interwine China edition is attended by more than 500 exhibitors from over 20 countries, 20,000 trade visitors from the key cities of Guangzhou, Shanghai, Beijing and 17 cities including 2nd Tier, 3rd Tier and fast-growing consuming markets. Interwine China is without a doubt the most important trade exhibition for international producers serious about doing business with China –right here in Guangzhou, the Gateway to China.

http://2013.londonwinefair.com/content

Impressing the on-trade (wine sales in restaurants, bars, hotels and pubs) is key for getting consumers to try your premium wines. If the on-trade like what you’re doing, sales are much easier and Chile can look forward to a good push in premium wine sales from its results at this year’s Sommelier Wine Awards.

As one of the most important on-trade markers, this wine competition focuses entirely on on-trade wines and is judged by people in the trade – making it an important tool and accolade. This year, Chile’s wine industry ought to be chuffed as Chile took 5th position in the league table of awards and producers took away 69 medals, with one winery beating the international competition to Producer of the Year.

Undurraga winery in Colchagua scored 5 gold medals, 4 silver medals and 1 bronze and was announced as the top Producer of the Year. “Usually the winner of Producer of the Year will pick up half a dozen medals,” explained a representative from the Sommelier Wine Awards. “The most we’ve ever had is nine [by another Chilean winery, Concha y Toro in 2011]. So to see someone breaking into double figures was always going to make them a shoo-in for this award.

“Undurraga, quite simply, blew away the competition. Ten medals, half of them Gold, is a breath taking performance, but when you add in the host of special awards it’s easy to run out of superlatives.” The winery also won special awards as Critics’ Choice for their red Aliwen Reserva blend from Rapel Valley, 1 Food Match Award, 2 By The Glass Awards, and 1 Perfect Pub Quartet Award.

Undurraga wasn’t the only winery to triumph for Chile though, many other wineries shone in the competition. Concha y Toro, which had previously won the Producer of the Year, took home a very impressive 6 awards; both vinas Errázuriz and Caliterra were given an applaudable 4 awards; Carmen was given 3 awards; and Viña Chocalan won an award for their Carmenere.

All round this was an impressive triumph for Chile in a prestigious wine awards which has a great impact on the sales of premium wines in the on trade.

By Amanda Barnes

]]> http://www.winesofchile.org/2013/05/on-trade-accolades-to-boost-chiles-premium-wine-sales/feed/ 0 http://www.winesofchile.org/2013/05/wine-weekend-rio-de-janeiro/ http://www.winesofchile.org/2013/05/wine-weekend-rio-de-janeiro/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 15:02:43 +0000 fllanos@winesofchile.org http://www.winesofchile.org/?p=14372 Participación de Wines of Chile en la feria Wine Weekend en la ciudad de Río de Janeiro.

Event Location:

Pan Pacific Hotel

999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC

The tasting event schedule is as follows:

Trade Tasting (250-300 guests) 2:00pm to 4:30pm

Consumer Reception (300 guests) 6:30pm to 9:30pm

Our supporting charity this year is The British Columbia Hospitality Foundation.