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Bibendum will be showing off
its new Californian range, Marmesa, which has been developed
with winemaker Larry Brooks.
Produced in Edna Valley, it includes the Hollister Peak Chardonnay and Cerro Romauldo Syrah
.
Stand D 30
Peter Lehmann Wines will present new vintages from
Hess Collection Winery , California. The range is expected to include two new single vineyard wines from the 300ha vineyard situated next to Mount Veeder.
Stand L30
Cellar Door Californian winemakers Jennifer Beloz of Ravenswood and Mark
de Vere MW from Robert Mondavi Winery will
be hosting seminars at the show. Beloz will talk about Ravenswood on May 23 at 10.30am and
de Vere will be taking a focused look at wines from across the valley in Best of Napa on May 24 at 2pm.
Stand F40
Ron Schrieve, winemaker at Beringer since 1995, will be holding
seminars on May 22 at 12pm and May 23 at 1pm.
He will talk about his wines, including the Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1995 which finished
equal first against top Bordeaux and Californian Cabernets at the Judgement of Sauternes.
Foster's EMEA will also launch the Beringer California Collection range
as well as showing the winery's flagship duo :
Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 and
Private Reserve Chardonnay 2004.
Stand D40
Blossom Hill winemaker Carol Thorup will be flying over for the show and will have the 2006 vintage Sauvignon Blanc on taste at the Percy Fox stand.
Stand D62
E & J
Gallo Winery will be showcasing the entire Gallo Family Vineyards portfolio, which has a new member
- Shiraz Rosé. The
rosé sits alongside the existing White Grenache and White Zinfandel and provides a drier style of wine.
Other ranges being shown are Winemaker's Seal
- which has new packaging - and Sycamore Canyon.
Stand T30
Jackson Wine Estates International will preview several
vintages of
its Californian Pinot Noir, including Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve, Cambria, La Crema and Hartford.
With the recent
shortage of Pinot Noir, many Californian wineries
were forced to go to France for their grapes,
but thanks to the recent purchase of Byron Vineyard and Winery in Santa Barbara County,
Jackson now sources all its wine from company-owned vineyards.
On show will be a re invented Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay ,
and Vintner's Reserve 2005 Riesling will be on taste for the first time in the UK .
Stand E70
PLB launches Blackburn & James
- a
Californian brand with "the spirit of the wild west".
Wines have been sourced from
EOS winery in Paso Robles and created to meet a gap in the market for premium Californian wines in the over -£5 sector. The importer will also be showing its tri-varietal range
Ménage à Trois, from Napa producer Folie à Deux.
Stand F60
Great Western Wine is showing wines from Bogle in California's Central Valley, which it says are great value.
Stand D12
Liberty Wines has added a new agency
- De Loach Vineyards from Sonoma County
- to its portfolio.
The winery will be launching three ranges at this year's show. The California Series consists of a 2005 Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel , while the Russian River Valley range includes a 2005 Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir, as well as the Green Valley Pinot Noir 2005.
Stand G42
2007 will be the biggest year yet for American producers at the LIWSF
, with new generic bodies joining the well established California Wine Institute to launch their state s' wines in
the UK.
Both New York Wine and Grape and North Carolina Department of Agriculture will be exhibiting for the first time. T he Oregon Wine Board (OWB) and Washington Wine Commission
have decided to exhibit together .
Robin Pollard, executive director of the WWC sa ys: "Previous visits have been low-key, but we are back with a stand presence that represents a 'statement of intent' from the WWC towards the UK market."
The OWB
is also keen to have its wines noticed at the show. Ted Farthing, executive director of the OWB sa ys: "This new stand really builds on the excellent start Oregon wines made with Hilltop Wines in 2006. A presence at the London International Wine & Spirits Fair is essential for us if we are to build an increased profile for Oregon in the UK market."
Twelve wineries from each region have so far confirmed they will be attending and will exhibit their wines at stand F50, which is nearly 10 times the size of Oregon's stand last year.
Although newcomers are hoping to make an impact this year, California will still have a major presence. The California
Wine Institute will be presenting internationally
recognised brands and some new brands which show
the market has developed. The institute will also be showing the 2007 Benchmark Wines
- a roster of exemplary wines chosen by an independent panel to demonstrate the best of California
from £5-10.
