The London Wine Fair has launched a day-long Welcome Back Wednesday preview event for the on-trade, which is due to take place on 28 April.
Leading UK wine suppliers, including ABS Wine Agencies; Enotria&Coe; Fells; Hallgarten; Hatch Mansfield; and Noel Young Wines, have signed up to take part in the event.
Welcome Back Wednesday has been created to give the on-trade a chance to preview new wines, assess opening strategies and gear up for the end of lockdown.
Among the events taking place on 28 April will be a panel session focusing in the recovery of the on-trade, chaired by Richard Siddle at 10am, which will assess how the full re-opening of the hospitality industry can be successfully managed.
The panel will include Xavier Rousset MS of Black Book and Blandford Comptoir; Enotria & Coe’s managing director, Ants Rixon; and publican Heath Ball.
At midday The Drinks Community will host ‘Talk Uncorked’, which will highlight the help available for hospitality staff affected by the pandemic.
This will be followed by a ‘break out’ session for attendees to share their tips, concerns, pitfalls and opportunities for re-opening.
At 2pm Enotria&Coe will host an ‘Iconic Winemakers’ masterclass featuring nine wines from Old and New World estates, including d’Arenberg; Joseph Drouhin; Planeta; Chateau Ste. Michelle; and Maison Trimbach.
Visitor registration for the 40th London Wine Fair and Welcome Back Wednesday is now open. Those intending to access tasting samples for the masterclass are encouraged to sign up by 23 April.
Attendees will receive their networking login two days prior to the event.
Tickets cost £25 and give access to live content on both 28 April and between 17-19 May, as well as access to the virtual exhibitor stands, the sampling platform and recorded content for three months.