Wine Australia’s ‘Australia Day Tastings’ – being held in January in London, Edinburgh and Dublin - are an established highlight in the UK’s tasting calendar. Offering trade professionals the chance to taste around 1,000 of Australia’s best wines and the opportunity to meet some of the winemaking talent behind them, the Australia Day Tastings have become must-attend events.
‘Australian wine gets its mojo back’ – Jamie Goode
In 2017 the reasons to attend are even more compelling than usual. In recent years Australian wine has experienced a period of change and (r)evolution that has been little short of transformative. It’s a change that presents the UK wine trade with a level of opportunity that we haven’t seen in years; and with new varieties, new winemaking approaches, new winemakers and even new regions emerging, the 2017 Australia Day Tastings should not be missed.
10 Reasons Why You Need To Attend The 2017 Australia Day Tastings
Whether you’re a merchant, an importer, a journalist, a sommelier, a researcher or an educator, there are a number of reasons why this year is the year to attend the Australia Day Tastings. Rarely have there been so many new commercial opportunities to be explored, so many new stories to be heard or so many insights to be gained. Need a reason to attend? We’ll give you ten:
Reason 1: Around 1,000 Australian Wines
2017’s Australia Day Tastings are shaping up to be one of the best ever. With around 1,000 wines on show from 80+ producers, it’s a unique showcase of Australian wine. Last year the London event alone attracted nearly 1,000 visitors, making it the UK’s biggest Australian wine trade event.
Reason 2: Taste The Change
Australian wine has changed radically in recent years, with subtlety, complexity and a distinct taste of place becoming the primary goals of many quality-obsessed winemakers. At the Australia Day Tastings you’ll be able to taste this new iteration of Australian wines, wines that are generating so much excitement from critics and consumers.
Reason 3: New Wines
A central component of the (r)evolution that has swept through the Australian wine industry has been the emergence of a raft of new, innovative wines. Some of these wines are innovative in terms of their point of origin, with new cool climate sites creating more elegant, nuanced and complex wines from established classics such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Other wines are completely new, based on newly established varieties such as Nero d’Avola, Grüner Veltliner, Fiano or Jim Barry’s new Assyrtiko. Many of these wines will be on show at the Australia Day Tastings, wines that offer not just fresh flavours, but fresh opportunities.
Reason 4: Bigger, Better, Even More Exciting
Next year’s London Australia Day Tasting will take place in a new, bigger venue at Victoria House, Southampton Row, Holborn. The move reflects the explosion of interest in Australian wine in the UK and will make 2017’s event the biggest and best to date.
Reason 5: New Regions
From Tasmania to Canberra District, Mornington Peninsula to Beechworth, Australia is bursting with new and emerging wine regions that are taking the world by storm. These are wines that will breathe fresh life into your Australian list so join us to discover the best of the best.
Reason 6: Taste the Classics
As well as the new stars, the Australia Day Tastings will give you the opportunity to sample some of the greatest wines from some of Australia’s greatest estates, including d’Arenberg’s The Dead Arm Shiraz, Henschke’s Julius Riesling and Torbreck’s Descendant to name but a few.
Reason 7: Opportunity Knocks…
We’re expecting over 1,000 guests at the Australia Day Tastings 2017, guests who will include leading importers, wine writers, sommeliers, wine merchants and wine educators, so no matter what your specialism may be, there will be networking and trading opportunities for all.
Reason 8: Meet The Winemakers
This year we are looking forward to welcoming another clutch of winemakers to the tastings, passionate professionals who’ll be delighted to discuss their wines with you and give you first-hand insight into what’s happening in the ever-changing Australian wine scene.
Reason 9: Taste the Future
The Australian wine industry has always been a hotbed of innovation and experimentation and this trend continues. Natural wines, organic and biodynamic wines, wines made with minimal winery intervention and emerging varieties will all be on show courtesy of cutting-edge producers such as Lethbridge Wines, Mac Forbes, Chalmers and Yangarra Estate.
Reason 10: Hear The Stories. Sell The Wines
Wine lovers are becoming much more interested in knowing where their wines are from, who has made them and what makes them worthy of their attention. At January’s Australia Day Tastings you’ll have the opportunity to gain all the insights you need to sell your wines to your customers, be they on or off-trade, and help them to enjoy wines that are amongst the most exciting in the world.
Join Us In January For An Australia Day Tasting To Remember
The wine world has changed and Australian wine is leading that change once more. Join us in January to taste the change and realise the new opportunities that these changes herald.
In 2017 we’ll be holding three Australia Day Tastings. The London Australia Day Tasting will be held on 24 January, the Edinburgh Australia Day Tasting will be held on 26 January and The Dublin Australia Day Tasting will be held on the 30 January. You can book your place to these unmissable tastings by clicking here now.
Disclaimer
This information is presented in good faith and on the basis that Wine Australia, nor their agents or employees, are liable (whether by reason of error, omission, negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any statement, information or advice given via this channel.
