http://2013.londonwinefair.com/content

Wine professionals flock to London for Annual Trade Tasting (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

The acclaimed yearly event attracts key participants in the global wine industry to taste Chile’s wines and understand viticultural developments over the previous year.

An opportunity to taste Chile (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

Lords Cricket Ground, venue for Annual Trade Tasting (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

This year’s showcase of Chilean wine included several featured topics:

“Chile Champions” – highlighting 2012 award winners;
“The Off License News Independent Zone” – designed for independent wine merchants and restaurateurs;
“Sustainability” – describing the Wines of Chile Sustainability Code and sustainability efforts..

Chilean wines promoted to wide audience at Annual Trade Tasting (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

Wine professionals exploring Chile’s showcase (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

Renowned wine journalist and Master of Wine Peter Richards also delivered a special terroir seminar on Chilean wines from extreme or unique geographical regions, rounding out a very successful and comprehensive promotional event.

Master of Wine Peter Richards delivering terroir seminar (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

Wines of Chile Managing Director Claudio Cilveti at Lords Cricket Ground (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

Wines of Chile European Director Michael Cox in London (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

BBC’s Peter Richards hosting Wines of Chile event (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

As part of Wines of Chile’s Annual Trade Tasting, well-known Master of Wine, BBC personality and wine journalist Peter Richards delivered a very special seminar on Chilean terroir in London, United Kindom on September 13.

The exciting seminar covered “off-the-radar” Chilean wines, introducing wines made from vines planted in extreme or unique zones of Chile.

Tasted wines included two Sauvignon Blancs, two Pinot Noirs, and two other varieties.

The distinct nature of the seminar is best described from a quote shown on one of Richards’ presentation slides:

Richards with tasted wines (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

‘To make a great wine, the following things are necessary: a madman to grow the vines, a wise man to control the madman, an artist to make the wine, a connoisseur to drink it – and a poet to recount its glories.”

Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to taste radically different terroirs in the following wines, which represented Chile’s powerful and diverse landscape for the London audience:

Peter Richards (right) with Wines of Chile Managing Director Claudio Cilveti (left) (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

Sauvignon Blanc

*Viña Ribera del Lago, Laberinto Cenizas Sauvignon Blanc, 2011, Maule
*Calyptra Gran Reserva, Sauvignon Blanc, 2009, Cachapoal

Richards delivering seminar and tasting (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

Pinot Noir

*Sol de Sol, Pinot Noir, 2010, Malleco
*Montsecano, Pinot Noir, 2010, Casablanca

Seminar participants, attentive and engaged (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

Others varieties

*De Martino Viejas Tinajas, Cinsault, 2011, Itata
*Ayllu, 2011, Salar de Atacama

The event took place at Lords Cricket Ground’s J.P. Morgan Media Centre, a famous London landmark and sports venue.

J.P. Morgan Media Centre (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

Lords Cricket Ground (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

The perfect venue for a groundbreaking seminar (photo by Álvaro Arriagada)

Michael Cox, Wines of Chile European Director and Master of the Worshipful Company of Vintners

Wines of Chile European Director Michael Cox comes from a long line of wine professionals. In 1810, his great-great-great grandfather founded a successful wine importing business called Matthew Clark & Sons.

Now 202 years later, Cox has been chosen to serve as the Master of the Worshipful Company of Vintners, just as the society prepares to celebrate its 650th anniversary in a ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, which will include the Queen of England as a guest.

“It is a great honor and privilege for me to become the Master of such an ancient British institution,” says Cox. “I have always been someone who respects tradition and history and the part that Livery companies such as The Worshipful Company of Vintners have played in the development of the sort of country England is today.”

“It makes me feel very proud,” he continues, “that I can help to maintain and develop those important traditions and customs that help to define Britain.”

The Worshipful Company of Vintners began in London in 1363 as a Livery Company, governing the city’s wine trade and performing political and religious functions within Middle Age European society. The Company’s power and influence waxed and waned over the years according to the ideals of kings, queens and later Parliament.

In modern times, however, the society still maintains many of its old traditions, including the famous Swan Upping ceremony (which has been canceled for 2012 due to flooding of the River Thames).

As the newest Master, Cox intends to dedicate his one-year term to preserving the group’s historical legacy, ensuring that the Worshipful Company of Vintners remains “the spiritual home of the international wine trade” through ongoing charitable activities and facilitating key relationships in the industry.

“Whilst it is true that these days much of the day to day functions of the Livery companies are ceremonial,” explains Cox, “the true aims are more to do with raising money for charity and developing fraternity and goodwill amongst members of the company.”

Wine education is another priority of the Company of Vintners, and the group was integral in founding the esteemed Institute of Masters of Wine (together with Cox’s grandfather Michael Gordon-Cox), and the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, which provides quality training for professionals in the wine and spirits business.

The Worshipful Company of Vintners’ activities have consistently upheld these core principles for more than half of a millennium.

Cox reflects, “When I think that in the famous history of the Vintners’ Company, a history that spans over six centuries, and during which there have been Civil Wars, The Great Fire of London, two World Wars, and the growth of the City of London as one of the world’s great financial centers, I am truly honored to be one of only just over 500 people who have been Master in 650 years.”

“I would like to thank my friends and colleagues in the Chilean wine trade,” he continues, “for their understanding of this opportunity that I have been given, and for allowing me to work part time for Wines of Chile for the year ahead so that I can fulfill my duties and responsibilities as Master.”

Cox’s nine-year directorship of Wines of Chile in Europe has complemented 40 years of experience in United Kingdom’s wine trade, and his prestigious position will certainly bring attention to Chile’s growing presence in the global industry.

“I am pleased that Chile, and its wines, are being given greater exposure and prominence and status as a result of my appointment,” says Cox, who promises to “try to get more Chilean wines into the cellars of the great Livery Halls in London.”

“I served two excellent Chilean wines at the special lunch at Vintners’ Hall that followed the Installation ceremony – Casa Marin Sauvignon Gris 2011 and Errazuriz The Blend 2007.”

And it sounds like he’s already off to a good start.

NEW VENUE: Nursery Pavilion, Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, London

The Wines of Chile Annual Trade Tasting in London is Chile’s showcase for the year ahead and is always a big event in the UK trade calendar. It will the first generic tasting after the summer break and the London Olympic Games, and everyone will be full of enthusiasm as they search for new wines and styles for their lists.

Chile Champions – a focus tasting of the 2012 Gold and Trophy Winners from the International Wine Challenge, Decanter World Wine Awards, Sommelier Wine Awards and 9th Annual Wines of Chile Awards.

Indie Zone – A special area designed to attract the UK’s top independent wine merchants and which will feature wines and ideas to inspire them to use Chile more effectively in their ranges.

Sustainability – Information and branding about the Wines of Chile Sustainability Code will be featured and will draw attention to all wineries that are certified ‘Sustainable’.

Seminar – a special ‘terroir’ seminar will take place, conducted by a renowned speaker.

Should you wish to attend the Annual Trade Tasting 2012, please register HERE

DOWNLOAD CATALOGUE

Following on from the success of last year’s Dorset Seafood Festival we are proud to announce that once again Wines of Chile are one of the key sponsors for Dorset Seafood Festival.

Over 55,000 people visited Dorset’s Seafood Festival in July 2011 held on the very famous old harbor side of Weymouth, an amazing achievement for a festival only in its fourth year. This year the harbor will be an Olympic venue for sailing events, therefore it will attract even more interest as the teams are already on site and training for the Olympics.

Events for the Seafood Festival include cooking demonstrations by top chefs Lesley Waters, Ed Baines, Shaun Rankin, Mat Follas, Alex Aitken, Giles Thompson, Silla Bjerrum, Richard Bertinet, John Wright, Duncan Lucas and many local chefs. Susy Atkins (BBC TV’s Saturday Kitchen Wine Correspondent & Sunday Times Wine columnist) will exclusively be hosting the Wines of Chile masterclasses from the main demo stage.

The Wines of Chile stand is in a prime location and set for a busy third year, we will be sampling wines, as well as selling by the glass for on-site consumption and by the bottle for off-site consumption as well as talking and providing information on Chile and it’s wines to guests that visit us.

Click here to download “King of the Curries” (pdf ) in the Nov/Dec 2011 issue of Imbibe magazine.

Click here for more on the Made for Curry campaign.

The annual event recognizes companies, people and organizations around the world that are changing the business practices of the drinks industry for the better, rewarding the winery which has made the strongest commitment to the environment with the title of “Green Company of the Year.”

This year Chile’s Viña Emiliana took home the prize.

Upon presenting the award, David Mawer, UK Managing Director of JF Hillebrand, commended the Chilean winery for “improving its business practice to better its carbon footprint by improving its own direct impact on the surrounding environment.”

Viña Emiliana was born in 1998 as a project to produce a world-class wine that includes both organic and biodynamic agriculture in its production.

“When we began this project more than a decade ago we were innovators and visionaries,” said José Guilisasti, General Manager of Viña Emiliana. “Today we realize that being 100% organic and sustainable from the social, environmental, and economic perspectives is possible. We are tremendously proud to obtain this award and it motivates us to continue working in the same direction.”

The winery currently has over 2,463 acres (997 hectares) of vineyards in the some of Chile’s most renowned wine growing regions, including the Casablanca, Maipo, Cachapoal, Colchagua, and Bío Bío Valleys. Emiliana’s vineyards are free of pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilizers. Today it boasts sustainable practices ranging from from energy efficiency programs to Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

In addition to taking out the top award at the ceremony, Viña Emiliana also won the “Sustainability Award,” topping a highly competitive field of wineries from Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Portugal, among others. The Sustainability Award recognizes the company’s efforts to achieve sustainable practices more efficiently and effectively.

Creating an environmentally responsible and sustainable industry has become one of the strategic goals of the Chilean wine industry’s organizing body – Wines of Chile, which was also a sponsor of this year’s Green Awards.

By 2020, Wines of Chile seeks to be the number one producer of premium, sustainable and diverse wines from the New World. This target has been embraced by many vineyards around the county, and by January 2012 Wines of Chile had officially certified 20 wineries with its new Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile seal, after a rigorous assessment and inspection process.

The following wineries have already been certified sustainable: Cremaschi Furlotti, Via Wines, Errazuriz, Caliterra, Arboleda, Montes, Montgras, Ventisquero, Santa Ema, Anakena, Santa Cruz, Santa Rita, Casa Silva, Emiliana, Miguel Torres, Maquis, Perez Cruz, Carmen, Sur Andino, and Nativa.

For a full list of winners and wineries honored at the 2012 Green Awards, click here.