Winegrowers in Australia and New Zealand will team up to organise the annual UK Trade Wine Tasting together in London on 30 January and in Edinburgh on 4 February 2025.
The Taste of Australia and New Zealand Trade Festival will take place at Lindley Hall at the Royal Horticultural Halls in London and Balmoral Palace in Edinburgh, and will connect wineries and importers with trade and media from across the UK and Europe.
The annual New Zealand winegrowers' trade wine tasting competition has been held since 1982, while the Wine Australia competition has been held since 1986, and this will be the first time the two national associations have come together to run the event.
Previous events
This collaboration follows a successful training course held in Australia and New Zealand in Manchester in June 2024, and product tastings by traders and consumers in Copenhagen and Stockholm in October 2023.
Mark Stevenson, director of Grape and Grain Retail, said the event in Manchester was a great initiative: “The union of Wine Australia and New Zealand Winegrowers is great news for the trade.
“It was a pleasure to taste wines from both countries under one roof in Manchester. There is a synergy between the two countries, the wines complement each other, and help buyers fit their busy schedules.”
Rich in information
This sentiment was echoed by wine writer and educator Jane Clare, of One Foot in the Grapes, who travelled from Liverpool to Manchester to attend the course.
“It was a great and very informative day, and one of the best tasting sessions I have ever attended,” she said. “Thank you for your collaboration and providing a double dose of the Southern Hemisphere. I look forward to more collaboration between Australia and New Zealand.”
Laura Joel, Wine Australia’s regional general manager for UK/EMEA, said the UK is a key market for Australian and New Zealand wine, and highlighted the camaraderie between the producers: “Australians and New Zealanders are good friends, and we have a lot in common. Good wine, great food, stunning scenery, the cool Southern Ocean and a friendly, easy-going attitude.
“The tasting event will showcase Australia and New Zealand’s distinctive terroir, vibrant winemaking communities and exciting wines.”
Wider wallet
Chris Stroud, Wine Farmers Market Manager New Zealand – Europe, said he was very pleased to be collaborating with Wine Australia again: “Our trade tastings were a week apart and in the same venue in 2024.
“The collaboration allows importers to showcase a wider range of products at one event, and helps buyers, retailers and wine connoisseurs make the most of a day away from their business. Guests travel from across the UK and Europe, so this collaboration is cost and time efficient, and provides greater exploration of the southern hemisphere.”
Registration will soon open to Australian and New Zealand wineries, importers, distributors and UK agents. Full and half tables are available, and can showcase Australian and New Zealand wines.
More information about the event coming soon here and here.
