Inaugural International Sparkling Wine Symposium

The world’s first International Sparkling Wine Symposium will take place in the UK on Wednesday 18th March 2009 at Denbies Wine Estates in Surrey, just outside London. With a host of top speakers already confirmed including Steve Charters MW, Dominique Demarville, Tony Jordan, Michel Salgues and Tom Stevenson, the event is set to attract winemakers, buyers, journalists and industry leaders from across the world in a forum devoted to all things bubbly.

The event is the brainchild of winemaking consultants John Worontschak, Sam Harrop MW and Denbies. John explains, “Despite working with wineries across the world we have found no current forum for sharing sparkling winemaking and marketing experience. After discussing the idea with Denbies, who agreed to host a Symposium, we assembled a team of specialists including journalist Dr Jamie Goode and wine specialist PR and marketing company Proven PR to organise the first ever globally-focused event.”

Topics covered at the Symposium will include: Global challenges of growing grapes for sparkling wine; the Art of Assemblage, including a tasting of vins clair; New developments in sparkling winemaking; and Global market trends and consumer insight.

But why in the UK, and why in March 2009?
Jamie Goode explains, “Currently there is a great deal of interest in sparkling wine production in the UK, with several new ventures underway, and existing producers making increasingly impressive wines. While this symposium will have a global outlook, it is the level of interest shown by the industry here that has led us to initiate what we hope will become a regular event.

“We’re delighted that Denbies Winery is going to host the inaugural event, timed to coincide with the Champagne Information Bureau annual tasting which takes place in central London the previous day.”

More details about delegate rates, speakers and sponsorship opportunities is available from the event website: www.sparklingwinesymposium.com or by contacting Jamie Goode on Jamie@wineanorak.com.

For further information please contact:
Sarah Hembrow/ Bryony Wright at Proven PR
Tel: +44 (0)117 924 9303
Mob: +44 (0)7974 741764
sarah.hembrow@provenpr.co.uk or Bryony.wright@provenpr.co.uk