Industry body Wine Australia is holding its Australia Redefined tasting this month, challenging the industry to rethink its perceptions of the country’s wines.
Taking place on 17 September, the tasting will explore Australia’s fine wines (over £20 RRP) with a line-up of over 200 expressions. Highlighting styles designed to redefine and challenge traditional perceptions of what the country can produce, an eclectic bunch of Australian winemakers and winery owners representing 74 wineries are heading to London to showcase their products.
Among them are Bruce Tyrrell of Tyrrell’s Wines; Chester Osborn of d’Arenberg, Robert Hill-Smith of Yalumba, Peter Barry of Jim Barry Wines, Johann Henschke of Henschke, Lauren Hansen of Penley Estate, Rebecca Santolin of Santolin Wines and Brad Hickey of Brash Higgins. To view the full list all of the winery owners and winemakers attending the event, please click here.
As well as the trade tasting, there will be a masterclass programme including Australia’s first families of wine unlocked panel and a future icons of Australian wine seminar, presented by Andrew Caillard MW and Mike Bennie. A consumer tasting will follow later in the evening.
According to data from IRI, Australian wine has just a 3% share of the £20 and over market in the UK off-trade, compared to 23% of the total market. Wine Australia hopes that events such as these will increase awareness of the scope of wines that can be produced in the country, and get both consumers and the industry to trade up.
Laura Jewell MW, Wine Australia’s regional general manager for Europe the Middle East and Africa, said: “The Australian wine landscape is more exciting than ever and now is the time to challenge preconceptions and show the exceptional quality and diversity of Australian wine.
“It’s fantastic to have such a talented group of winemakers and owners here in the UK to tell stories about the people, the places and processes that make Australian wine unique.’
Chester Osborn, chief winemaker at d’Arenberg, who will be at the event, said: “We sell good quantities of wine in the UK and we certainly want to sell more at the premium end, so it’s crucial to come over and present our wines. We want to keep d’Arenberg in the forefront of our customers’ minds, and to show off new vintages and new wines. I’m excited to see the trade’s response to our super premium range The Icons.”
Details
Event: Australia Redefined
Date: 17 September
Location: OXO2, OXO Tower Wharf, Bargehouse street, London, SE1 9PH
Times: 11am-5:30pm: Trade tasting. To sign up please click here.
11:30-1pm: Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) unlocked panel
2pm-4pm: Future icons of Australia wine seminar
6:30pm-8:30pm: Consumer tasting. Tickets available here.
