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IN THE OPINION OF EXPERTS AND CRITICS: WINEFUTURE WAS A ROARING SUCCESS

2009-11-30 09:53:50

27th & 28Th OCTOBER, 2011: THE PROVISIONAL DATE FOR THE NEXT WINEFUTURE CONFERENCE Experts such as Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson, Rafael Ansón and José Peñín all agree that Winefuture- Rioja’09 has shown “a before and after” in the wine industry. Spain, 30th November 2009 –. Two weeks after Winefuture – Rioja ’09, the experts and attendees of the congress are now beginning to reflect on the importance of Winefuture to the wine sector, as well as understand the wide range of ideas generated by the industry that it believes are fundamental challenges. Challenges such as consumption and sales and the problems caused by the global recession, globalization of markets and using education as a way of drawing in new customers, as well as communication and the interaction with consumers. The Wine Academy of Spain, the organizing team behind Winefuture already has its sights set on future events: the third edition of the Climate Change and Wine conference, featuring Kofi Annan, will take place in November 2010, with the next Winefuture coming in October 2011. “People will be able to see a before and after thanks to Winefuture”, explains the renowned wine critic Robert Parker. Kevin Zraly, Technical Director of Winefuture – Rioja ’09 adds his view by saying that this event was “the best wine conference in which he had taken part in his 35 years in the profession”. Jancis Robinson, MW, also agrees and has said that “Winefuture has been the best event that I have ever been to”. For Rafael Ansón, President of the Spanish Royal Academy of Gastronomy, “Winefuture has been the most important event held in Spain regarding the world of wine. Spanish gastronomy must be grateful to Pancho Campo, coordinator of the event, and his organisation for being able to bring to Rioja the most important names in the world of wine, amongst whom, the elusive Robert Parker”. Many of the speakers are on a similar vein with regards to the conclusions presented by Winefuture, as is José Peñín, one of the most influential people in the Spanish wine industry: “I agree with the comments made by Parker, Robinson and others that I have heard. I have been to many conferences where much is said and little is done, but this has not been true of this event”. At the local level, the President of the CRDO La Rioja, Victor Pascual, showed his satisfaction with the conclusions of Winefuture, and has in the last few days added that “the ideas put forward by the experts will help the wine sector of La Rioja to make new decisions with regards to the new opportunities in the markets, given that we have a sector that is perfectly aligned, and with a proven track record of making these types of decisions with the speed demanded by the circumstances”. Winefuture-Roja’09, which took place on the 13th and 14th of November in Logroño, brought together for the first time the most influential experts in the wine industry, and gave them a forum in which to conduct an exhaustive and complete analysis of the current sector, as well as predict the trends that will appear in the next few years. More than 1000 people from forty countries came together in Riojaforum during the two days of the conference, which received excellent media coverage from over one hundred journalists, who gave accounts of everything that went on in the Auditorium, the exhibition hall, and above all, the Grand Tasting conducted by Robert Parker, in which 530 people took part. Next to the quantity of personalities present, the quality of the participants also shines out, with ticket holders coming from all areas from the trade: wine makers, distributors, sommeliers, representatives of the On Trade, importers and buyers, among many more. Robert Parker, with the Vincente Ferrer Foundation The man considered by many to be one of the most influential wine critics in the world had a private meeting with representatives from the Vincente Ferrer Foundation during his stay in Rioja to make a donation to the foundation. In this way, Parker wanted to help out with the work that the Vincente Ferrer Doundation has been doing in India over the last 40 years. Leer Más

ROBERT PARKER AWARDED BY THE ROYAL SPANISH ACADEMY OF GASTRONOMY

2009-11-20 13:29:10

During Winefuture-Rioja ´09, the Royal Spanish Academy of Gastronomy presented and award to Robert Parker in recognition for his contribution to the Spanish wine industry. Rafael Anson, President of the Royal Spanish Academy of Gastronomy presented a diploma to American critic Robert Parker, coinciding with the participation of both in the Winefuture conference in Logroño on 12 and 13 November. The event organizers wanted to show their support the Royal Academy because one of the main objectives of the conference was to highlight the importance of wine to be understood as a fundamental part of gastronomy. Robert Parker welcomed this recognition and congratulated Rafael Anson for the important role that the Royal Academy has had in promoting Spanish cuisine and helping to make of Spain a world leader in gastronomy. Mr. Anson said that "Wine Future has been the biggest event held in Spain in the world of wine. It represents the equivalent of what was, in its day, Madrid Fusion for the world of gastronomy. The Spanish wine industry has to thank Pancho Campo and his organization for being able to gather in La Rioja the most important players of the international wine industry, including the legendary Robert Parker ". Leer Más

ROBERT PARKER: “THE SECTOR IS LIKE A DINOSAUR WHE IT COMES TO THE INTERNET, THE KEY IS IN THE INTERACTION WITH CLIENTS”

2009-11-17 15:53:33

The economic crisis, globalization, education, communication and the interaction of consumers in the market are the main challenges of the future for the wine industry. Logroño, Spain, 14th November 2009 – The fundamental goal of WineFuture – Rioja ’09 was to create a forum that looked at and evaluated the challenges that are facing the global world wine industry. For that reason, with the participation of 38 speakers from across the wine industry, this event has created a framework on which to expose the challenges facing a sector that has been badly affected by the global financial crisis. The conclusions of WineFuture show the main challenges as seen by the industry as the problems of consumption and sales caused by the global recesion, globalisation of the markets, education as a means to attract new consumers, communication and interactoin with the consumer. it is this last point that Rober Parker, founder of The Wine Advocate, referred to during the discussion that analised the current and future situation of wine: “The economy is, on the one hand, a challenge that we must overcome” but it is also necessary to ovcercome the fact that “the industry is like a dinosar when it comes to the internet. The key here is in the interaction with clients. Each winery needs an interactive website to promote their product and themselves. An example would be someone walking through the streets of Tokyo and fancies a ‘Rioja’. Where can I find one? This is the level of information that needs to be obtained”. To overcome the economic crisis is another of the challenges, according to the experts who have tried to predict the future of the wine industry. Jorge Ordóñez, President of Orowines, added that: “The globalisation of the industry, industrialisation, agriculture and changing of the vineyards must all also be taken into account”. On the other hand, Justin Howard, Master of Wine, made it clear that “in the short term we must look at profit margins, and in the long run at sustainability as we must know and understand what we can do with the Earth and its natural resources because we are using them up”. As for the future of wine, the experts gathered for the last talk of WineFuture – Rioja ’09 were convinced that the focus will be on topics such as the environment, new technoloigies, and emerging markets. “The trend is that emerging markets such as Asia and the USA are going towards continued growth, and from then, the rest of the markets will be able to start to recover”, assured Mel Dick, of Southern Wines and Spirits. Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine, also spoke of her worry over “the loss of knowledge and understanding of wine making techniques” while for Robert Parker on the topic of alcohol consumption: “the tendency for consumption to be dominated by markets such as France or Spain are on the downturn thanks to the restrictive legislation of these governments”. In the last installment of talks at WineFuture – Rioja ’09, the topics of blogs and internet sites were covered. For Jancis Robinso, “people use blogs indiscriminately but this is not the only method, we also need to know how to create them. In my opinion, I believe that they are a healthy practice, and a very important and extensive form of communication, especially in the Anglo-Saxon part of the world. It is a way manifesting this new enthusiasm for wine”. In contrast to Robinson’s opinion, Parker believes that “There are some truly wonderful blogs, but as in all aspects there are some good and some bad. There is so much information in wine blogs that is senseationalised. Honestly, I think that this sensationalised and erroneous information will remain overlooked and the best blogs will survive”. Don St. Pierre, President of ASC Fine Wines, also argued that “new technologies like blogs, make wine more accesible to markets like Asia, and help generate enthusiasm and interest there”. Alongside these themes, the panel of wine experts gave a special mention to the presence of wine in restaurants. Jorge Ordóñez explained that “In Spain and America, wine has been the best way of making money in a restaurant. And we can’t stop selling them there because it would cause many to close down. What is for certain, is that there are some restaurants that sell the wine at 300% the cost of the same bottle in a shop. I don’t consider it to be a fair business that buys 1000 bottles at low cost to make an indiscrimainate amount of money from them”. Parker responded, continuing along these lines: “I wouldn’t like to be told what I have to do or charge in my restaurant. But I am not going to deny that if prices in restaurants are prohibitive, then something is going to have to done about it. In California, for example, it is thought that the price of a bottle of wine is 100% of its cost, if they charge me 300% of what it costs in a restaurant, it is as if they mugged me in the street”. When the debate turned to the topic of education, the panelists were questioned about their own interpretation of wine eductaion. The presentation served to give a glimpse at a real possibility of introdcuing the wine industry into other forms of education, like that, for example, of the university community. In this way, Jancis Robinson set out her next example: “I always say that if a consumer asks me , I tell them . It is like going to a library and asking I believe that education is something that varies from person to person, and it can go so much further than what a book can tell you”. Wine education and its relationship with the new generation of consumers go hand in hand in the last presentation. The point was debated that the youth of Spain are drinking more and more wine mixed with sugary soft drinks to create products such as ‘Tinto de Verano’ or ‘Calimocho’. “ I have no problem with this style of consumption. I remember when I was young drinking lots of rosé wine and nothing came of it. It is a starting point, so if the interest is there, it can be beneficial and taken further. Equally, one day these young people will discover and start a love affair with wine” claimed Parker. Justin Howard expressed another point of view: “It is clear that many young poeple feel the need to add sugar to their wine because they don’t like the taste of it alone. It must also be taken into account that the label and its design also influences the young poeple’s impressions and attraction to a wine. If the group that drinks this style increases, I don’t know where we will end up... Now we should help those young people starting with sweet wines and then channel them towards other varieties”. This final concluding pannel was composed of Mel Dick, Jorge Ordóñez, Robert Parker, Christopher Cannan, Jancis Robinson, Don St. Pierre, Paul Pontellier and Justin Howard. In a final closing speech of WineFuture – Rioja ’09, Kevin Zraly, technical director of the event, emphasized the major milestone achieved by WineFuture “ the ability to bring together wine experts in the same place in order to discuss key points and get to be able to discuss these and recieve other ideas from other people, because we have all learnt things durning WineFuture”. It is also hoped that in the next Winefuture event, there will be a greater link between wine and gastronomy. Leer Más

MIGUEL TORRES: “WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PRODUCE THE SAME QUALITY OF WINE IF TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO RISE WITH CLIMATE CHANGE”

2009-11-17 15:51:49

Winefuture will cover the relationship between wine and climate change and education, before the final talks which will analyse the challenges and opportunities facing the sector with Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson, amongst others. Logroño, Spain, 13th November 2009 – The Earth is experiencing a period of climate change that is affecting the health of the vines, and as a result, the wines that they produce all over the world. This is the opinion of the many viticulture specialists on the second day of WineFuture – Rioja ’09. In his talk, Miguel Torres, President of Bodegas Miguel Torres, affirmed that “we will not be able to make wines of the same quality of temperatures continue to rise with climate change”. In his opinion, this is an area “of great importance” given that for the vineyards “a few degrees hotter and you can’t make wine”. “For every bottle of wine produced, 2kg of Carbon Dioxide is burnt away” explains Torres, and for this he says that new ideas about recycling are an important challenge for wineries. This point of view is shared by Nicola Jenkin, an expert in wine and recycling. “We have to increase our efforts of recycling glass bottles, and minimizing the materials used for labelling, we must also reduce the amount of water we waste”. At the same time, the business opportunities offered by climate change and the environment is one of the topics discussed in the wine education courses. Along these lines, explains Kevin Zraly, who is considered to be the best wine educator and technical director of WineFuture, during his talk that “education is the only way towards a consolidated industry, making this an industry of qualified professionals”, and he finished by saying: “The role of educators is fundamental for the sommeliers across the globe”. Leer Más

EXPERTS DEFEND THE OPENING OF NEW MARKETS IN ORDER TO IMPORVE COMPETITION WITHIN THE WINE TRADE

2009-11-17 15:48:51

Great participation of the attendees in the exhibition hall, where 150 wineries from 45 wine producing regions from around the world were represented. Logroño, Spain, 13th November 2009 – The second day of the WineFuture Rioja ’09 conference saw the speakers discuss the importance of opening new markets within the wine trade in order to retain competition at a global level, given that the current economic crisis is present in almost all social sectors across the globe. Under the title ‘The crisis in the Off-Trade – New Strategies’, his second talk since the start of the conference, Mel Dick, President of the South Beach Food and Wine Festival, discussed what is needed to create new strategies in the current economic climate. Dick described the present climate in North America as a sector in which, even within the same country “there are many different markets and styles of sales and distribution”. The North American worked out that there are 32 different markets there. “The leader in wine sales is California, with a total of 53million hectolitres consumed within the USA, followed by Florida and New York with 24million.” With regards to the North American Market, Dick told the conference that 6% of the wine drunk in the USA is from Spain, and that those from Rioja have a good position within the market. To finish, Dick highlighted the fundamental points for improving sales “understand the market that the producers are targeting, know the sector that are interested, education, the close relationship between wine and food, and look for expert distributors to enter into the market”. On the other hand, Christian Barre, Director General of Domecq Bodegas, established the importance of big and small markets “because wineries must decide why it is they are producing wine: for pleasure or to make money”. “It is clear that in order to make profits, a winery needs to enter into the larger markets, but they can also develop brands that are much more specialised whose aim is to enter into reduced and limited markets”, explains Barre. With respect to brands, he argued that “despite entering the larger markets, producers must still respect their identity and origins, and develop their market strategy with regards to the marketing of their own brand, their DNA, who they are”. Quim Vila, Director of Vinavilateca , continued with a similar sentiment: “With the label, for example, it should be attractive, and this could even mean adapting it to the different sectors of society who drink the wine”. One of the most outstanding features of WineFuture – Rioja ’09, is the coming together in the same place of more than 40 different nationalities to talk about their current situation and what the future may have in place for them. Indeed, in the second round of morning talks of WineFuture, speakers such as Lisa Perotti-Brown, Master of Wine and Don St. Pierre, from ASC Fine Wines, outlined the challenges of emerging markets such as China, Japan, Scandinavia or Russia. It is in this last country that “Spanish wines enter with more force and more well known” commented Dimitri Pinsky in his talk. Esteban Cabezas, Marketing Director of the Wine Academy, organiser of the event, was overwhelming with his references to the ways of selling a product to the consumer: “The communication that is being carried out to promote wine is minimal, and that is of poor quality”. At the same time, Cabezas defended the structure of the same sector by saying: “There does not exist an industry like the wine industry”. The exhibition hall: 150 wineries show off their latest products WineFuture – Rioja ’09 had an area specifically for exhibitors and companies from the sector that the whole conference could access. The main entrance hall of RiojaForum, which covers an area of 5,300m2, was set up as an exhibition show room with 102 stands representing 150 wineries form all over the world. During the lunch and coffee breaks between the conferences, the companies exchanged information about their products, forming commercial relationships between the professionals of the industry and the consumers. In this way, WineFuture – Rioja ’09 put an open space at the disposal of companies from the sector, as well as attendees of the conferences to show off the variety of different wines and styles from the major wine producing regions of the world. Spain had the largest number of exhibitors, but there was also a large presence of wines from France, Chile, the USA, Brazilian, Australian, German and Portuguese, to name but a few examples. Leer Más

KEVIN ZRALY: "WINEFUTURE WILL BE THE LARGEST WINE WORLD FORUM TO DISCUSS THE CURRENT STATUS OF THE INDUSTRY"

2009-11-10 01:46:40

Both the technical director of the event as well as speakers of the stature of Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson or participants as Marques de Riscal or Dinastia Vivanco, among others, are convinced that on the 12 November next Logroño will be "the world capital of wine" Madrid, November 9, 2009 -. On 12 November starts in Logroño the conference Winefuture-Rioja'09 with the participation of some of the most influential personalities in the wine world. The common goal is to establish guidelines for the challenges and opportunities that the industry is facing. The technical director Kevin Zraly of Winefuture argues that "not many events in this industry focus on global sales and marketing of wine. Moreover, not only the event will bring together the most important wine industry professionals but also the most prestigious wine writers in the world. " Robert Parker leads the impressive list of wine industry authorities travelling to Logroño. Besides the tasting he will direct, Parker will also present at Winefuture-Rioja'09 his reflections on challenges such as currency fluctuations, the proliferation of wine regions and education. "I am honoured and it is a privilege to be invited to be part of Winefuture's impressive list of wine personalities, each bringing a vast experience and valuable perspective," says Parker about the conference. Meanwhile, another of the speakers, Jancis Robinson, Master of Wine and editor for the Financial Times declared: "I have great expectations about Winefuture. I know many people in the industry and we will analyze, among other topics, the close relationship between wine entities and consumers through the media and blogs. It is very important as new technologies provide tools to go into this line of communication. " For Troy Christensen, speaker and president of Constellation Europe, "Wine Future gives the opportunity for producers, sellers, and wine critics to converge on one global and international forum and discuss the issues that are affecting the industry today." Along the same lines, Zraly adds that Winefuture "will offer a valuable perspective to attendees thanks to the quality of the speakers and their knowledge about the markets, both domestic and international. With a more national approach, Rafael Vivanco, Technical Director at Dinastia Vivanco, stressed the importance of Winefuture. "It is of great importance that the event is held in Spain, specifically in Rioja, which will allow the region to portrait to the world wine industry, even more the quality and potential of the region. "Winefuture will also tap on the specific situation of the Spanish industry: "The Spanish winemaker sector has a great potential because we have a great advantage under the current economics, which is the excellent value for money that our wines have to offer. Indeed, but this industry will have to undergo a process of restructuring or consolidation because at the moment there are too many brands competing against each other on the retail shelves and consumers are increasingly confused. Therefore, each brand will have to find its place in the market" according to Alejandro Aznar, President of Marques de Riscal. The main challenge that Zraly is facing as the Technical Director of the event "is to make sure the conference is dynamic, interesting, entertaining and educational, and, of course, to implement good logistics for nearly a thousand professionals" that will gather at Riojaforum from Thursday onwards in Logroño. Leer Más

WINEFUTURE RIOJA’09 WILL GATHER CLOSE TO 1000 WINE PROFESSIONALS FROM OVER 40 NATIONALITIES

2009-11-05 13:32:29

The conference has been sold out for the last two months and has attracted close to 1000 professionals from all over the world, including wine makers, sommeliers, wine writers, critics, importers, distributors and students. Madrid, November 5th, 2009 –. Winefuture-Rioja’09 will be the center of the global wine industry on November 12th and 13th in the city of Logroño. This is due to the large number of delegates that have registered for the event but mostly due to the high standard of the professionals traveling to attend the event. Winery owners, importers, distributors, wine makers, sommeliers, Masters of Wine and students from over 40 nationalities will gather at Winefuture. Without a doubt, one of the main attractions of Winefuture will be the Grand Tasting that the American wine critic Robert Parker Jr. will conduct on the first day of the event. Parker will guide a tasting for 530 participants who will have the chance to taste 20 wines from around the world, including two legendary wines from Rioja. During this important occasion, Parker will be supported by a group of 20 sommeliers under the guidance of Kevin Zraly, Technical Director of Winefuture. These 20 professionals, led by Bruno Murciano, Spain´s Best Sommelier, will be responsible for setting up the tasting room where 10.700 Riedel glasses will be used. They will also be responsible of opening and pouring the 600 bottles of wines needed for the tasting, making sure that they are all in perfect shape. The congress also features a series of conferences and panels featuring some of the most influential wine professionals and experts. Winefuture-Rioja’09, which has been sold out since last August, will offer a Trade Show Area with 103 tasting tables and stands representing more than 150 wineries and wine related companies from around the world. More than 45 wine producing regions will be represented amongst the exhibitors, in a spacious hall next to the auditorium planned with the goal of promoting business contacts and networking. The Wine Academy of Spain, owners and organizers of the Winefuture-Rioja’09 summit, has granted 70 scholarships to students from prestigious wine making schools, universities and sommelier academies, as well as Master of Wine students. The Wine Academy of Spain, in line with its philosophy of promoting excellence in education decided to reward 70 students of different areas of the industry that would allow them to benefit from the event for their respective careers. The relevance of the Winefuture-Rioja’09 summit is demonstrated by the level of the delegates that have registered, including 21 Masters of Wine and MW students, presidents and CEOs of some of the most important wine companies, the leading importers and distributors, as well as 150 journalists from that will cover the event for more than 100 countries. WineFuture-Rioja’09 in numbers 941 Total registrations 10.700 Tasting glasses 40 Nationalities 600 Bottles for the Grand Tasting 530 Registrations to the R. Parker Jr. Tasting 21 Masters of Wine and MW students 150 Journalists from 18 countries 45 Wine producing regions showing their wines 70 Scholarships granted by The Wine Academy of Spain 103 Tasting tables representing over 150 wineries Leer Más

WINEFUTURE ´09 AND THE WINE ACADEMY JOIN THE "WINE IN MODERATION" CAMPAIGN

2009-11-04 08:15:38

Paulina Campo, Executive Director of The Wine Academy of Spain and Pau Roca, Secretary General of the Spanish Wine Federation (FEV), have joined forces in the new initiative known as 'Wine in Moderation'. The program 'Wine in Moderation’ represents the commitment of the European wine sector to contribute effectively to reduce the damage caused by alcohol abuse and promote the notion that wine can be enjoyed only through moderation. This initiative, which falls within the Forum of the European Commission on Alcohol and Health, is based on three fundamental pillars: scientific research and dissemination, coordination and implementation of training and education, and self-regulation in the wine industry of advertising and commercial communications. 'Wine in Moderation’ is mobilizing the entire European wine sector to build close ties of cooperation with government-both at the supranational (EU), national, regional and local level, as well as complementing and supporting other initiatives that are already being carried out by the consumer. Through this agreement, The Wine Academy of Spain commits itself explicitly to promote the development of activities that encourage the responsible consumption of wine. The Wine Academy of Spain, founded in 2003, is a private organization which focuses on forming wine professionals as well as amateurs. It promotes Spanish Wine at an international level through the program ‘Spanish Wine Education', promotes Spain as a wine tourism destination, and analyses the impact of climate change in the wine industry. The Wine Academy also carries out courses in Spain from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and has organised events such as the World Congress on Climate Change and Wine, amongst others. The first event of The Wine Academy of Spain that will benefit from this agreement will be WineFuture Rioja'09, which takes place in Logroño on the 12th and 13th of November. This congress will gather leading personalities of the wine industry from all over the world. The aim of this gathering is to analyze the current developments and challenges faced by the wine industry: economic crisis, sales and consumption; new marketing strategies ... WineFuture, which is to be held every two years, aims to become a global reference in the wine field. The Spanish Wine Federation, the most representative business association in the industry, is a member of CEEV (European Committee for Wine Enterprises), the organization responsible for the implementation and development of the initiative 'Wine in Moderation’. It collaborates with FIVIN (Wine and Nutrition Research Foundation). In recent years, all members of the FEV have been applying the guidelines set by the program, particularly in the advertising and educational areas. Recent businesses to have joined this initiative include those related to wine tourism, specialized media and designations of origin. Also, several leading Spanish organizations in the wine industry will soon become part of this new initiative. Leer Más

MORE THAN 150 WINERIES FROM AROUND THE GLOBE WILL EXHIBIT THEIR PRODUCTS AT WINEFUTURE

2009-11-02 09:24:51

Winefuture - Rioja'09 will have an area for exhibitors and industry related businesses that will be an added attraction to the training offered by the congress itself, which will gather in Logroño, on the 12 and 13 November, some of the leading specialists of the wine industry to discuss the future of wine and the challenges that the sector is facing. Next to the conference room and auditorium, the exhibition hall of Rioja Forum that covers an area is 5,300 m2 will be enabled as a large trade show area with 102 tasting tables where more than 150 wineries will be represented from all over the globe. In addition, lunch both days will be conducted within the exhibitor´s area to promote the interaction between attendees and exhibitors. This will also promote the exchange of points of views, experience and trade relations between stakeholders. The trade show area will be open to the attendees during the breaks between the various conferences in addition to the aforementioned time for dinner. In this way, Winefuture-Rioja'09 allows companies and wineries to show their products and wines from all the major wine regions of the world. The Spanish representation will be the largest but also there will be a large presence of French wine, Chileans, Americans, Brazilians, Australians, Germans and Portuguese among others. Spanish Regions 1. Rioja 2. Navarra 3. Alicante 4. Castilla la Mancha 5. Priorato 6. Jerez 7. Montilla-Moriles 8. Campo de Borja 9. Calatayud 10. Cariñena 11. Penedés 12. Toro 13. Rías Baixas 14. Ribera del Duero 15. Málaga y Sierras de Málaga 16. Jumilla 17. Cava 18. Condado de Huelva 19. Ribera del Guadiana 20. Rueda 21. Montsant 22. Penedes 23. Catalunya 24. Amporda 25. VdT de Valdejalón 26. VdT de Extremadura Rest of the World 27. Bordeaux 28. Chateauneuf du Pape 29. Chile 30. Brazil 31. California 32. Australia 33. Burgundy 34. Germany 35. Oporto 36. Douro 37. Southafrica 39. Languedoc Rousillon 40. Italy 41. Champagne 42. Cotes du Rhone 43. Leer Más

60 STUDENTS WILL GRANTED SCHOLARSHIPS TO ATTEND WINEFUTURE

2009-10-30 04:26:39

One of the main objectives of The Wine Academy of Spain is to help improve in the education and training of wine students and professionals. Because of this philosophy, 60 scholarships have been offered to students that will cover their participation in Winefuture, valued at 800 € The Wine Academy of Spain, which organizes the summit Winefuture-Rioja'09 will award 60 scholarships to students attending some of the most prestigious sommelier schools, hospitality educational centres, oenology universities and Master of Wine students. These scholarships will allow them to attend, at no cost, the conference that will be held in Logroño on the 12 and 13 of November 2009. The Wine Academy of Spain is thus responding to one of its basic goals that is the formation of wine professionals in Spain and internationally. It provides these students with a unique opportunity to attend an international conference which will analyse the challenges facing the global industry as well as meeting some of the most influential personalities of the industry. The scholarship, which cost in economic terms would amount to 800 €, includes attendance at all lectures and conferences, except the Robert Parker tasting master-class because it was sold out since July. It is also includes invitation to the official lunch that will be served both days, where the students can socialize with other participants and get to meet the speakers. To facilitate access to these bursaries, The Wine Academy has identified a number of educational institutions that will help channel the scholarships, establishing their own criteria for the selection of the students. The only requirement that The Wine Academy demands is that the scholarships are granted to students not alumni, faculty or professionals. Students would be eligible for these scholarships from Sonoma State University, the Polytechnic University of Madrid, students of the Society of Wine Educators, University of California at Davis, WMBA - Bordeaux, Escuela de la Viña, Burgundy School of Business, Escuela de la Viña de Utiel Requena and the Institute of Masters of Wine, to name a few. Students from the University of La Rioja will also be eligible and their applications will processed by the CRDOCa Rioja. Leer Más

A GREAT LINE UP OF SOMMELIERS WILL ASSIST IN WINEFUTURE

2009-10-23 06:06:58

A great line-up of professional sommeliers will be responsible for handling the wines for Robert Parker´s tasting and at the Official Dinner of Winefuture. Four prestigious sommeliers will lead the staff that will work at the event to guarantee it is professionally handled. These four sommeliers are: Bruno Murciano - Spain´s Best Sommelier of 2008 David Denton - Sommelier at Charlie Palmer in Washington Fred Dexheimer - Master Sommelier Maria Denton - General Manager for Ruth´s Chris Steak House in Washington During Parker´s tasting, a group of 20 sommeliers will work under the direction of Kevin Zraly. This group of professionals will be responsible for setting up the tasting room for 535 tasters. Because 20 different wines will be presented, 10.700 tasting glasses will be provided by Riedel for the event. Their responsibility also includes opening and tasting 600 bottles to make sure they are in perfect shape. Each bottle will also be checked by Robert Parker and Kevin Zraly before the wines are poured. During the Official Dinner, these four professional sommeliers will be responsible for the wine service. They will also introduce each wine to the 600 attendees that are confirmed to attend this event to close Winefuture-Rioja ´09. Leer Más

WINEFUTURE-RIOJA `09 - SOLD OUT!

2009-10-22 09:56:26

WINEFUTURE-RIOJA ´09 is totally sold out! The Wine Academy has closed the registrations for the event since they have filled the capacity of the Auditorium at Riojaforum. According to Rony Bacque, General Manager: "we have achieved all our targets and exceeded all our expectations, and we are still 2 weeks away from the event". The conference has attracted 700 participants from over 40 nationalities. Out of those 700 registrations only 530 will be able to take part in the Grand Tasting that Robert Parker Jr. will conduct on November the 12th from 06.00 PM onwards. The rest of the delegates have registered only for the conference. However, the organizers are arranging plasma screens in a hall next to the conference area from where they will be able to follow the tasting. The media coverage will also be important because close to 100 journalists have been accredited, representing more than 60 different magazines, radios, webs, blogs and TV. The Trade Show area is also fully booked, with 102 tasting tables that represent more than 160 wineries from almost 40 wine producing regions. The organizers had made arrangements with 12 hotels of the region which are also fully booked with delegates, journalists and speakers that will travel specially to Rioja to attend and cover the conference. Leer Más

INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN ZRALY - TECHNICAL DIRECTOR OF WINEFUTURE-RIOJA ´09

2009-10-14 14:01:30

The founder of the Windows of the World Wine School, Kevin Zraly, was appointed last week by The Wine Academy as the new Technical Director of WineFuture-Rioja’09. This event will gather in Logroño, Rioja, on November 12th and 13th, the world´s leading wine experts. The goal is to study the challenges that the wine industry if facing today. During the conference, the speakers will also discuss opportunities for the industry. Kevin Zraly is arguably the best known wine educator today. He was wine director for the Windows on the World restaurant on top of New York's World Trade Center from 1976 until its destruction on September 11th, 2001. He is the founder and instructor of the Windows on the World Wine School, now in its 30th year, where over 19,000 students have completed the course. He is also the author of the "Windows on the World Complete Wine Course" book which has sold over 3 million copies. Kevin also collaborates with Robert Parker Jr. with whom he founded the "Parker & Zraly Wine Certification Program". Kevin has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Culinary Institute of America since 1990. He is the recipient of the James Beard Award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year. He is also the recipient of the European Wine Council Lifetime Achievement Award. Kevin has been featured in The New York Times, People Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, GQ Magazine, and Newsweek. Kevin has a wide experience in event management since he was the director for the New York Wine Experience and the California Wine Experience, the largest wine events of the United States. 1. What is the importance of Winefuture-Rioja `09? In a worldwide recession, it is extremely important for the wine industry to come together and share information on how to move forward with wine and wine sales. 2. Which is the importance of the event for Rioja and its wine industry? As all eyes this week were on the choice for the Summer Olympics, so to will the top wine people in the world be focused on the region of Rioja on November 11-13, 2009. To have over 700 wine professionals visiting and staying in the beautiful Rioja landscape, they will all have a chance to experience both the historic and new bodegas. Bordeaux has its "VinExpo", Veneto has its "VinItaly", and Rioja will nowhave its "WineFuture." 3. Numerous world experts have considered the event as one of the most important ever organized in the industry, why? There are very few wine events that focus on the worldwide sales and marketing of wine. WineFuture also brings together not just the trade but the top wine writers in the world. 4. Do you think the local industry has realized the level of the speakers and attendees, as well as the repercussions it will have for Spain and Rioja? I think that any new venture is always open to discussion. If they haven't realized it by now they certainly will by the end of the event. This is a very important event for wine, Spain, and Rioja. 5. Which is the biggest challenge that you will be facing as the new Technical Director? Keeping the event lively, interesting, entertaining, and educational. And of course, the logistics of moving 700 wine professionals from one seminar to another as well as a tasting of 20 wines by Robert M. Parker, Jr. 6. What do you see as the big global challenges facing the wine industry? Last year I travelled to 15 countries and over 100 wine regions to update the Windows on the World Complete Wine Course. I firmly believe that after this trip, this is the "Golden Age" for wine and there are great wines being produced throughout the world which is all good news. But the bad news is that there are more choices than ever for the consumer and competition in all price categories exists. 7. Do you believe that there will be a before and an after for the wine industry once the World overcomes the current crisis? Absolutely! Just as the United States is moving closer to becoming the #1 wine consumer in the world, other markets have also opened up to wine such as Asia (China and South Korea) and Russia, etc. We've all gone through recessions before and even though this one is longer than most, there are thousands of new wine drinkers every week. 8. Many experts believe that most wine writers will dissappear in a near future. Please comment. I hope not otherwise I will be looking for another job! But seriously, there may be fewer wine writers than we have now but there will always be a need for wine information and evaluation. 9. Will wine brands become more and more important? I think that most wine brands are produced for the beginner wine drinker so as we have more and more people drinking wine, it makes sense that wine brands will continue to thrive. 10. Why do you think wine consumption is decreasing drastically in European wine producing countries such as Spain and France? Yes there is no doubt that they are decreasing however it is from a very high per capita level. I believe this will level off and that wine will continue to be enjoyed as it has historically been for thousands of years. 11. Which countries do you think will be the winners and losers going forward - and why? I can only speak from the postive and not the negative. On the European front, I think Spain and Italy; they continue to produce very high quality wines but also have promoted them effectively throughout the world. In the New World, Chile, Argentina, United States (California), and South Africa. 12. In your opinion, why Spain has never managed to have a leading role in the most important markets? I think everything takes time. In my opinion, the "new" Spain and its wines have over the last 25 years grown with consistency, quality, and availability. So I see in the future a great international role for Spanish wines. 13. Will Winefuture offer some ideas and solutions in this area? I think that the quality of the speakers and their knowledge of the marketplace both domestically and internationally will give a tremendous insight to all of the attendees. As I said earlier, it is a rare forum that has both wine trade professionals and the top wine writers together in one room. 14. Which is the outcome you expect from Winefuture-Rioja? That there will be more WineFutures! Pancho Campo has done a tremendous job in bringing all segments of the market together to discuss how we can all move forward in the distribution of wines throughout the world. The logistics of putting a first time event like this together were enormous and I congratulate Pancho and his team for having the foresight and energy to organize this event. Leer Más

FIJEV / AEPEV SUPPORTS WINEFUTURE-RIOJA ´09

2009-10-13 04:39:50

The International Federation of Wine Journalists and the Spanish chapter AEPEV have confirmed its support towards Winefuture-Rioja ´09. María Isabel Mijares, president of AEPEV and Vice-president of FIJEV has confirmed to the organizers of Winefuture-Rioja ´09 the support of the members of FIJEV/AEPEV. All the members of this prestigious organization will be able attend the conferences and panels included in the program of Winefuture-Rioja ´09 thanks to the collaboration agreement stablished with the organizers. Mrs. Mijares has also confirmed that she will be attending Winefuture-Rioja as President of AEPEV and Vicepresident of FIJEV. Leer Más

KEVIN ZRALY APPOINTED NEW DIRECTOR OF WINEFUTURE-RIOJA’09

2009-10-01 14:59:06

Madrid, Spain, October the 1st, 2009 –. The founder of the Windows of the World Wine School, Kevin Zraly, has been appointed as the new Technical Director of WineFuture-Rioja’09. This event will gather in Logroño, Rioja, on November 12th and 13th, the world´s leading wine experts. The goal is to study the challenges that the wine industry if facing today. During the conference, the speakers will also discuss opportunities for the industry. Zraly will take over the responsibilities of the technical direction from Pancho Campo MW who has decided to step down due to personal reasons. Pancho justifies his decission because he wants to isolate the event from any outside situation that could interfere with the success of Winefuture-Rioja `09. The appointment of Zraly will allow Pancho Campo MW to focus in the defense of his interests and resolve the unjust judicial situation that he is facing. In this way Zraly will be able to take over the responsibilities of coordinating an event that so far has met all the expectations of the organizers, sponsors, and supporting organizations. Kevin Zraly is arguably the best known wine educator today. He was wine director for the Windows on the World restaurant on top of New York's World Trade Center from 1976 until its destruction on September 11th, 2001. He is the founder and instructor of the Windows on the World Wine School, now in its 30th year, where over 19,000 students have completed the course. He is also the author of the "Windows on the World Complete Wine Course" book which has sold over 3 million copies. Kevin also collaborates with Robert Parker Jr. with whom he founded the "Parker AND Zraly Wine Certification Program". Kevin has been a member of the Board of Trustees of the Culinary Institute of America since 1990. He is the recipient of the James Beard Award for Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year. He is also the recipient of the European Wine Council Lifetime Achievement Award. Kevin has been featured in The New York Times, People Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, GQ Magazine, and Newsweek. Kevin has a wide experience in event management since he was the director for the New York Wine Experience and the California Wine Experience, the largest wine events of the United States. WineFuture-Rioja 09 will gather the World´s leading wine industry experts who will study current issues such as consumption trends, the global economic crisis, the reduction in consumption, the environment, cliamte change, labelling, packaging, branding and the emerging markets, amongst many other topics. The goal of the conference is to analyze the challenges that the industry is facing, providing solutions, ideas and leadership. For further information and registrations please visit www.winefuture.es For further information contact: Marta Olea Media Manager The Wine Academy of Spain Tel. +34 636 466 179 Email: media@thewineacademy.es Leer Más

WINEFUTURE-RIOJA ´09 EXCEEDS ALL THE ORGANIZER´S EXPECTATIONS

2009-09-22 14:10:26

With more than 7 weeks to go, Winefuture-Rioja ´09 has exceeded all the expectations and goals of the organizers. The conference has reached 600 registrations from wine professionals from over 40 nationalities. 450 of these registrations are VIP tickets that include access to the Robert Parker Master-class and to the Official Dinner. The rest of the registrations are regular tickets that give access to all the panels and speeches. "We are impressed with the excellent response and with the level of the people that have registered, including presidents and CEOs of large corporations and wineries, marketing experts, importers and writers. These professionals come from all areas of the industry and from all over the World", declared Esteban Cabezas, Marketing Manager for Winefuture-Rioja ´09. Something similar happens with the Trade Show Area since all the tasting tables have been sold, confirms Rony Bacque, Business Manager for the event. This exhibitor´s area boasts 100 tasting tables, representing more than 160 wineries from around the globe. From some of the most traditional areas such as Rioja, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Mosel, Ribera del Duero, or Champagne to the New World and emerging regions such as Brazil, Chile, Argentina or California. Spain will have a strong representation through approximately 50 wineries from numerous Denominations of Origin. As we get closer to the event, the media interest is increasing noticeably. Over 75 journalists and wine writers have requested accreditations, coming from all around the World and from some of the most prestigious publications. Because of this interest Marta Olea, Media and PR Manager expects a considerable coverage, both nationally and internationally, "which will turn Rioja in the industry´s capitol city during the two days of the event". Although the VIP tickets that give access to Robert Parker´s tasting are sold out, there are still tickets available for the conference. These tickets allow the entrance to all the conferences and panels as well as to the Trade Show Area. This regular ticket also includes lunch both days. Hasta la fecha se han inscrito casi 600 profesionales del vino procedentes de más de 40 países. De ellas, 450 son acreditaciones VIP que incluyen acceso a la cata con Robert Parker y a la Cena Oficial mientras que las ciento cincuenta restantes dan entrada sólo a las conferencias y mesas redondas del congreso. “Lo más satisfactorio del proceso de acreditación es comprobar el nivel de los participantes, entre los que se encuentran presidentes de grandes bodegas, directores comerciales, de exportaciones y de marketing, quienes vienen de todas las áreas de la industria y de las grandes regiones vinícolas” declara el responsable de marketing de Winefuture-Rioja’09, Esteban Cabezas, que reconoce estar impresionado con la excelente respuesta que ha tenido el sector. Leer Más

GRENACHE WILL BE THE STAR OF ROBERT PARKER´S TASTING AT WINEFUTURE

2009-09-14 10:39:55

Robert Parker is considered one of the most powerful wine critic in the history of the industry. He is a respected taster and the founder of The Wine Advocate, one of the most influential wine publications. During Wine Future 2009 Robert Parker will conduct a masterclass and tasting of 18 wines. The main topic of this masterclass and tasting will be Grenache based wines. Grand Tasting with Robert Parker Date: 12th of november Hour: 18.30 Venue: RiojaForum Taster: Robert Parker Moderator: Kevin Zraly y Pancho Campo. Important: Access to this tasting is restricted to those who have purchased the VIP tickets. Capacity: 450 tasters ATTENTION - TICKETS FOR ROBERT PARKER´S TASTING ARE SOLD OUT! The list of the Grenache based wines that Robert Parker Jr. will be tasting at Winefuture-Rioja `09 are: Châteuneauf-du-Pape – Francia/France 1. Domaine Charvin 2007 2. Marcoux Vieilles Vignes 2007 3. Mont Olivet - La Cuvee du Papet 2007 4. Chapoutier Barbe Rac 2007 5. Barroche Pure 2007 6. Vieille Julienne 2007 7. Pierre Usseglio-Mon Aieul 2007 España/Spain 8. Atteca Armas 2007 – DO Calatayud 9. Mancuso 2005 – Vino de la Tierra de Valdejalón 10. Espectacle 2006 – DO Montsant 11. Clos Erasmus 2005 – DOCa. Priorat 12. Aquilon 2006 – DO Campo de Borja California 13. Pandora – Alban 2006 14. Sine Qua Non Atlantis 2005 Australia 15. Killikanoon Duke 2006 16. Greenock Creek Cornerstone 2006 17. Clarendon Hills Old Vines Romas 2006 18. Torbreck Les Amis 2005 Rioja 19. Marqués de Riscal de 1945 20. Contador 2007 Leer Más

PAUL PONTALLIER FROM CHATEAU MARGAUX AND CHRISTOPHER CANNAN NEW ADDITIONS TO WINEFUTURE

2009-09-09 10:01:37

Two new speakers have been added to the impressive list of wine professionals that will take part in Winefuture-Rioja `09. Paul Pontallier from Chateau Margaux and Christopher Cannan have accepted to participate in one the most attractive and interesting panels of Winefuture-Rioja. This will be the closing panel of the conference and will study the challenges that the industry will face in the next years, which will be the trends, upcoming regions and varieties as well as where will the opportunities arise for the wine sector. The speakers that will take part in this panel will be: Jancis Robinson Mel Dick Don St. Pierre Robert Parker Jorge Ordoñez Paul Pontallier Christopher Cannan Dan Jago Moderator: Pancho Campo MW Christopher Cannan - Europvin One of the industry´s most experienced and respected wine professionals. Founder of Europvin, one of the most prestigious wine traders that works with top quality single estates in each appellation and represents some of the most legendary wineries in the Rhone, Burgundy, Bordeaux and Spain. Owner of Clos Figueras in Priorat. Decorated as “Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole” by the French government. Paul Pontallier - Chateau Margaux General Manager of the legendary Chateau Margaux in the Médoc where he has been working since 1983. Paul studied oenology in Montpelier where he also obtained his Phd in 1981. He was a professor of oenoly in Chile at the Universidad Católica. Leer Más

INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT PARKER JR. - 2ND PART

2009-09-02 15:00:44

The following is the interview that Robert Parker Jr. answered to Pancho Campo on August 7th, 2009. 1. Why are you looking to attend and speak at the Winefuture`09 conference? I certainly feel it is an honour and a privilege to be asked to attend the 2009 Winefuture Conference. Furthermore, I have not been to Spain in a long time, and I look forward to seeing how the country has changed. On my previous visits (1970, 1971, and 1972), there were no highways! 2. Winefuture`09 has managed to attract the most influential wine leaders from all over the World such as Mel Dick, Jancis Robinson, Don. St. Pierre, Oz Clarke, Robert Joseph, etc. What do you think will be the contribution of these leaders at the conference? It is an impressive list of wine-world personalities, and each one of them brings an enormous depth of experience as well as a valuable perspective. 3. What do you see as the big global challenges facing the wine industry? There are a number of global challenges to the wine industry. The fluctuations of currency are certainly a major problem, as is the proliferation of wine regions. The effect of this is that production has outstripped demand and consumer awareness. Educating wine consumers and ensuring effective distribution of wine throughout the civilized world has always been a challenge, and continues to be a significant one today. 4. Do you believe that there will be a before and an after for the wine industry once the World overcomes the current crisis? It is difficult to know how long the current crisis will endure. It is certainly the deepest anyone alive has experienced, and the global impact is not to be diminished. Overall, the wine industry has fared reasonably well. At this point, I had expected far more consolidations, bankruptcies, and related misfortunes than what we have seen to date. So, I suspect the industry is in a good position to thrive once the current crisis has run its course. 5. What kind of role do you think you can play in? I am a wine critic, and while I do not review as many wines as I did a decade ago, the entire team that now works for the Wine Advocate has one overwhelming goal - to provide meaningful as well as unbiased and independent information for wine consumers, especially with respect to the diversity and quality of wines from the different viticultural regions throughout the world. We strive to educate the consumer regarding different wine styles and what each region does best. 6. Your influence often goes before you..but what do you see as your ultimate role in the sector? Worldwide influence is personally gratifying, but in my case, it is often greatly exaggerated, and creates its own set of problems with people believing in some sort of mythical omnipotence not based on reality 7. Which do you think has been your most important contribution to the global wine industry? Bringing integrity, credibility, and a democratic view to the wine world is what I think has been my most important contribution to the global wine industry. Judging wines for what they are, without respect to price, pedigree, branding, or prestige has great significance to me and my other writers. It is something about which I am exceptionally proud. 8. Challenges facing wine media/wine writers? Fewer and fewer wine writers are able to make a successful living today as the print media is dying. We have seen a proliferation of bloggers, much of which is useless noise. However, there are some good blogging sites, so I am not denigrating all of them. As in the wine industry, it appears there has been a consolidation of power in the hands of a few wine writers, and that is never a good thing. 9. You will be conducting a Grand Tasting during Winefuture. Why have you chosen Grenache to be the topic of such tasting? I have chosen Grenache because I think it is one of the most challenging grape varietals in the world. It is far more difficult to produce fine wine from Grenache than from Pinot Noir (which is often considered the most troublesome of the major red grape varietals). Moreover, my tasting in Spain of Grenache, or Garnacha as you call it, is indeed a first, and a rare look at some of the finest Grenache-based wines throughout the world. I believe this will be a great opportunity to look at some diverse styles from different areas, and the singular nature of the tasting will be far rarer than anything that could have been done with Pinot Noir or Bordeaux varietals. 10. Why do you think wine consumption is decreasing drastically in think European wine producing countries? It seems clear that the European governments have taken a strong anti-alcohol position, which has swept wine under the umbrella of these restrictive rules. At the same time, I think the younger generation has found wine too intimidating and/or expensive, and thus has chosen other alcoholic beverages, further decreasing wine sales. However, we do see wine consumption in the USA as well as Asia increasing, so perhaps that compensates for the downturn in Europe. It is a sad irony that European countries, renowned the world over for their wine culture as well as sophistication, are seeing a dramatic fall in the consumption of wine. 11. Spain leads today's gastronomy and it has become probably the most fashionable with Ferran Adria, Arzak or Jose Andres amonngts many other celebrity chefs. If food and wine are supposed to go together, why Spanish wines do not have the same success? I think it takes time for wine consumers to fully understand the depth and diversity of the Spanish qualitative wine revolution. The culinary giants in Spain have attracted enormous publicity, and so have certain Spanish wineries. However, for many wine consumers, Spanish wines do not possess chicness/prestige and are too new to be considered world-class wines. All of this contradicts the country’s history, and the fact that many Spanish wines are made from very old vines, and from viticultural areas that have existed for hundreds of years. 12. Other wine writers you respect and like to read their work? It is difficult to say because I have read and learned from so many wine writers. However, several deceased luminaries stand out largely because of their contributions to my wine knowledge long before I became a wine critic. These include Alexis Lichine, Edmund Penning-Roswell, Harry Waugh, Sheldon Wasserman, and André Simon. 13. Wine drinking and wine making trends? What do you see as the wine styles of the future? Wine making trends have followed the proliferation of major viticultural areas throughout the world, offering consumers an increasingly broad range of styles and wines. The recapturing of indigenous varietals in both Spain and Italy that were often sold off to cooperatives will certainly continue, assuming the world economy rebounds. There is no doubt that the power in the wine world will shift more and more toward Asia, led by Hong Kong and such emerging wine consuming giants as South Korea and China. The New World wines will continue to have to prove their ability against those from Europe that have hundreds of years and tradition and history on their side. But, modern day consumers, especially those in the Americas and Asia, are willing to try wines as long as they are of high quality. Hopefully, with educational efforts on the part of the wine media, the competition for both high quality wines and high quality values will continue at an accelerated pace, giving the consumer better and better wines in a multitude of styles as well as price points. 14. Which countries do you think will be the winners and losers going forward - and why? It is obviously easier for Old World countries with impressive histories, old vines, and well-established vineyards to present an image of quality. Newly arriving viticultural areas, such as South America, South Africa, and Australia, have to work harder to educate wine consumers about what they are doing. Of course, the media plays a role in this, but I do believe the winners will be those countries and wine producers that effectively promote their wines, providing interactive internet services that give up to date information and profiles of what they are doing, and do not depend on the media for attention. They have to create it themselves by spending time in different countries and doing educational tastings throughout the world. 15. Parts of the world you would like to know more about - where you would like to visit/discover more about their wines? There has never been enough time to learn as much as I would like to know about all different sorts of wines, even in areas I cover extensively. Each year there is a new vintage, and it’s like a student going back to school. As I get closer to the end of my career, my only regret is that there is not enough time left to learn as much as I desire. 16. Who do you admire in the wine industry? be it winemakers-producers-individuals. There are too many people to name, but those I admire the most are wine producers of great individuality and vision, and who recognize that 80-90 percent of their wines’ quality comes from their viticultural work and the vineyard. This admiration is not specific to any country, but is for the world’s best producers, many of whom I profiled in my book “The World’s Greatest Wine Estates.” Just about any of the 150+ producers who were profiled are those that I admire enormously. 17. You have been decorated by the Presidents of France and Italy. Would you like to meet King Juan Carlos during your visit to Spain? He happens to be a great wine enthusiast. It was very humbling to be decorated by two separate presidents of France and one of Italy, and it would be an extraordinary honour to meet King Juan Carlos of Spain. I have been incredibly blessed with the honours I have received, and never take it for granted. To meet King Juan Carlos would be the thrill of a lifetime. 18. Favourite restaurant? I have many favourite restaurants, as my waistline can attest, but, much as with wine, I tend to prefer uncomplicated cuisine based on the finest, freshest ingredients and cooked with a minimum of external influences, other than salt, pepper, and garlic. For that reason, I tend to prefer simple restaurants that specialize in preparations driven by rotisserie, grilling, and roasting. I also enjoy great seafood served in its unmanipulated glory. 19. Food and wine match? There are so many great wine and food match-ups, more than most people tend to think, so I don’t really have a favourite. As I have always said, the most important component of a great meal is the proper choice of the people with whom you are eating. Once that is done, the food and wine tend to seem much better, no matter what you eat or drink. 20. Best place for a drink and a sunset... I would have to say Maui, one of the Hawaiian Islands, is the most beautiful place to watch a sunset that I have ever experienced. 21. You have never been to Spain before. What are you looking forward to visit and enjoy during your stay? I spent two months in the summers of 1970 and 1971 with my bride driving around every part of Spain, and saw almost every major tourist attraction at that time. Of course, back then, there were no highways in Spain, but we had a fabulous time on both trips. I have not been back to Spain since 1972, so I am thrilled to return. 22. If you have any outstanding ambitions...career wise and also personally. I know it sounds simple, even trite, but I have been very fortunate to achieve things that were beyond my wildest dreams, both personally and career-wise. But I think as a wine critic of 30+ years, I strive each year to get better at what I do. Trying to guarantee a level of unmatched professionalism in my field is essentially my goal. Copyright. Interview given by Robert Parker Jr. to The Wine Academy of Spain on August 7th, 2009. All rights are property of The Wine Academy of Spain. Printing of this interview or parts of it without the written authorization of The Wine Academy of Spain it is not allowed. Leer Más

WHO IS ROBERT PARKER JR.? - PART 1

2009-08-18 05:07:43

The following is the interview that Robert Parker Jr. answered to Pancho Campo MW on August 7th, 2009. Unless you are a wine professional or a serious aficionado, you have probably not heard of Robert Parker. If you are, however, in the wine business, you will probably know that Parker and his rating system are the most important points of reference around the world for buying, importing and trading with wine. This former lawyer at Capitol Hill has become one of the most powerful and influential people in the wine sector. There is no other industry where only one critic has so much power and influence. Like most critics, he is loved by many, respected by most but also heavily criticized. Nevertheless, what is undeniable, everyone knows who Robert Parker is in the wine industry. Robert Parker Jr. lives in the town of Parkton, Maryland, not far from Baltimore from where he tastes wines from every main wine-producing region and publishes his newsletter known as The Wine Advocate. Parker’s interest in wine began while at law school. He travelled to France to visit Joan, his girlfriend and now his wife. Being on a very tight budget while visiting Strasbourg, he realized that wine was cheaper than a Coke or a coffee, and that is how he first tried a glass of wine. He fell in love with it and soon it became his passion. After a couple of years of studying and tasting wine from around the globe he realized that, at least in the US, there was no ranking or classification that would help the consumer understand if a wine had more or less quality. He also noticed that many American consumers were confused when purchasing wine because they didn´t have a point of reference. Also, he was spending so much money in purchasing wines that his wife threatened him with a divorce if he continued. This prompted him to create the first “independent consumer guide” as he likes to call his publication, The Wine Advocate. He also developed a rating system based on scores, in the same way that any American school or college grades students, from 0 to 100 points. Bob´s goal was to get enough subscribers to The Wine Advocate so he could retire as a lawyer and spend most of his time tasting, rating and writing about wines. It was the 1982 vintage that gave Robert Parker a break through in his career and would change his life forever. Every year in March, critics, writers and gurus from around the globe gather in Bordeaux for the “en primeur” tasting. During this week, wines are tasted from the barrel and critics evaluate the quality of the harvest that will be released the following year. Based on their comments and ratings the wines will be priced by the negociants of Bordeaux. We must remember that the great châteaux from Bordeaux are the wines used as a point of reference for auctions and trading of fine wines. That year most critics did not rate the wines very highly, including Robert Finnegan who, at the time was the most respected and followed wine writer. Only a young American critic named Robert Parker believed that 1982 was a great vintage, rich, concentrated and of great wines. As time passed, the 1982 wines went on to prove that Parker had been right and all the others wrong. This was the birth of who has later been called “The Emperor of Wine”. The Wine Advocate became very popular and a point of reference for many professionals and consumers. It reached a high enough number of subscriptions that allowed him to retire as an attorney and dedicate his life to wine tasting. He is considered the number one expert in Bordeaux wines and his ratings have changed the business of wine in this classic region. Such has been the impact of Parker for the Bordeaux wine industry that on March 29, 1999, President Jacques Chirac signed a decree authorizing Robert M. Parker, Jr. to be a Chevalier dans l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur. He was decorated directly by President Jacques Chirac at a ceremony at the Elysée Palace on June 22, 1999. Robert M. Parker, Jr. is the only wine writer/critic in history to have been given the highest Presidential Honors by two French presidents and an Italian President. The Wine Advocate has today over 55.000 subscriptions from 37 countries. He has published 13 books and his website www.erobertparker.com is the World´s most visited wine web. Robert Parker has become one of the top five most influential and powerful personalities of the industry according to most wine magazines. His ratings can almost guarantee a total sell out of a wine if he gives it more than 95 points. Winemakers around the world impatiently wait for the release of his points every year. They know that a good score could help them tremendously to sell their wines to buyers from all over the world. Today Parker himself has specialized in wines from Bordeaux, the Rhone and the United States. His team of collaborators is responsible for tasting the wines from the rest of the world and rate them on his behalf, always under the umbrella of The Wine Advocate. Like most influential people he has many detractors who consider that he is contributing to promote a very one-dimensional style of wines, which are high in alcohol, tannic, oaky and extremely “big”. They claim that because of his tremendous influence, most winemakers are focused in producing “Parker wines” in order to please Bob and obtain the highest possible ratings. Regardless of what one might think of Robert Parker, it is undeniable as a wine professional, that he is a point of reference and that the world of wine has changed because of the influence he exerts on peoples opinion. Robert Parker will travel to Spain in November 2009 to attend a conference of world leaders of the wine industry. Bob and 30 other experts will gather at Winefuture-Rioja `09 to analyse the challenges that the wine industry is facing such as the global economical crisis, climate change, consumptions trends, etc. Robert Parker will also conduct a tasting and a conference, which will focus on the challenges and opportunities for the wine industry in a near future. Visit www.winefuture.es. Leer Más

GLOBAL WINE INDUSTRY LEADERS TO GATHER AT WINEFUTURE-RIOJA 09

2009-06-20 13:22:07

Mel Dick, Dan Jago, Troy Christenssen, Robert M. Parker, Jr., Jancis Robinson, Oz Clarke, Miguel Torres, Don St. Pierre and Gary Vaynerchuk to Lead Group of 35 Speakers in Rioja, Spain Madrid, SPAIN, 16-June, 2009 – Created by the Wine Academy of Spain, WineFuture-Rioja 09 will assemble influential wine industry personalities at Riojaforum in Logrono, Spain on November 12 and 13. Experts from around the globe will address topics including the economic crisis; trends in consumption and sales; as well as climate change, packaging, branding, and more. The objective of WineFuture-Rioja ´09 is to create a fórum to assess current and future challenges and opportunities. www.winefuture.es “We are very pleased with the quality of speakers who have agreed to share their expertise,” said Pancho Campo MW, founder of Winefuture 2009. “We intend for Winefuture-Rioja 09 to be a source of serious analysis of the current marketplace as well as a source of inspiration and leadership for the future,” he added. “To our knowledge it is the first time these leaders have all met at once,” said Campo. Speakers include Mel Dick, President of Wines for Southern Wines & Spirits; Dan Jago, Director of Wines for Tesco; Robert Parker, Jr. from The Wine Advocate; Jancis Robinson; Gary Vaynerchuk from Wine Library TV, and Don. St. Pierre, CEO for ASC Fine Wines in China, among many others. The Wine Academy of Spain reports that they have received 267 registrations from nearly 38 countries as of early June, and anticípate a total audience of 500 guests, speakers and journalists. Online registration is available at www.winefuture.es. Some conference sessions will be broadcast via Internet. The conference will include panel sessions, a grand tasting conducted by Mr. Parker, and a wine showcase. “Wineries from the most important wine regions are showing tremendous interest in presenting their wines at the Exhibitor´s Area,” commented Rony Bacque, International Sales Manager for the Wine Academy of Spain. Session topics will address: • The global economic crisis • How to improve consumption • How to improve sales in the on-trade and off-trade • Emerging and interesting markets: Asia, Russia and Scandanavia • The environment and its business opportunities • Wine education for increasing sales and consumption • The role of wine writers and critics in the future of the industry • The role of wine fairs and competitions as marketing and sales strategies • The importance of Internet for promoting sales and consumption • The importance of brands in the future of the industry Winefuture 2009 is organized by the Wine Academy of Spain with the generous support sponsors including Rioja, Avis, Constellation Brands Europe, Araex, Marqués de Riscal, and Dinastía Vivanco. For further information and to register visit www.winefuture.es # # # Maria Jose Martin Media Coordinator, The Wine Academy of Spain Tel. +34 699 589 060 Email: media@thewineacademy.es Leer Más

DON ST. PIERRE CONFIRMS HIS PARTICIPATION IN WINEFUTURE

2009-06-08 10:42:30

Don St. Pierre Jr. Is considered as one of the most powerful and influential personalities of the wine industry. Don is the CEO and managing Director of ASC Fine Wines, the largest and most important distributor and importer of wines in China. China is part of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China), the countries that potentially can become the largest consumers of wine. China is the country with the largest population and one of the fastest growing economies. China is already a large producer of wines and the Chinese population has slowly started to discover wine. Don St. Pierre will take part in Winefuture in a panel that will try to explain to the attendees the opportunities of these markets, specifically about China, as well as the challenges that a winery has to face when exporting wines to the Chinese market. In the same panel Don will be joined by Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, whos is based in Singapore and works for The Wine Advocate covering the Asian market. Ulf Sjodin MW is an expert in the Swedish market who will also speak about the opportunities of the Scandinavian monopolies. Dmitry Pinski will also join this panel and he is one of the most important importers and distributors of Russia. The session will be moderated by Felicity Carter, Editor of the German magazine Meininger´s Wine Business. Leer Más

WINEFUTURE-RIOJA `09 - ROBERT PARKER AND THE WORLD´S LEADING EXPERTS WILL MEET IN SPAIN

2009-05-07 04:16:25

WineFuture-Rioja 2009 is an international conference created and owned by The Wine Academy of Spain. This conference, supported by the CRDC Rioja, will be held in the city of Logroño on November 12th and 13th, 2009. The most important world leaders of the wine industry will meet in Rioja to discuss the current challenges that the global wine industry is facing, providing solutions, ideas, strategies and leadership. Some of the topics that will be covered at the conference include the global financial crisis, the environment, how to improve sales, consumption trends, the challenges that the on-trade is going through, brands, marketing strategies and the emerging markets. One of the stars of the conference is American wine critic and guru Robert Parker, who will visit Spain for the first time. Parker will make a speech, will take part in one of the panels and will conduct a guided tasting. Together with Robert Parker, The Wine Academy of Spain has confirmed the participation of the most influential names of the industry including Jancis Robinson, Oz Clarke, Steven Spurrier; experts in marketing such as Kevin Zraly (“Windows of the World Wine School”) or Robert Joseph (Founder of the International Wine Challenge); distributors such as Mel Dick (President of Southern Wine & Spirits), Dan Jago (Director of Wines and Spirits for Tesco), and Troy Christensen (President of Constellation Brands Europe, the World´s largest wine company), amongst many others. The venue that will host WineFuture-Rioja 2009 will be Riojaforum in Logroño and the main sponsor of the event is the “Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Calificada Rioja”. Winefuture-Rioja ´09 offers lectures, panels, a guided tasting with Robert Parker, an Official Dinner and an exhibitor´s area with a capacity for 100 tasting tables. A very interesting feature of the event is the live broadcast of some of the most important speeches through the website of the event, which will allow more than 20.000 viewers to virtually attend the event from anywhere in the Planet. The conference is expected to attract more than 500 visitors from all over the world to Rioja, including, importers, distributors, exporters, marketeers, retailers, critics, writers, sommeliers and other wine professionals. Registrations for Winefuture-Rioja `09 will be available on-line from the official website of the event from April 15th onwards. Please visit www.winefuture.es. Leer Más