There will be 9 wine maker at the London International Wine Fair (LIWF), three of them Bringing products specifically produced for the international market and the launching of their Space at Vinopolis which includes
Two tutored tasting with Dirceu Vianna Jr MW
Wines from Brazil - Hall 1 K42

For this sixth consecutive participation at the LIWF, to be held between 18th and 20th May at the Excel, in London (England), Wines from Brazil will bring some trump cards in their pack. Three of the nine wineries taking part will arrive with products specifically produced for the UK market and all of them will have their wines and sparkling wines tutored tasted by Dirceu Vianna Jr MW on the 21st, when the Brazilian stand at the 'trail of wine' at Vinopolis will be officially launched.

Brazilian wines and sparkling wines have been increasingly attracting the interest of traders and general public. The May edition of the respected Harpers Wine & Spirits publishes a positive result of 43-wine tasting done with traders, journalists, experts and PR in the sector. "The general impression was that Brazil has a wide variety of wines, with the majority of tasters declaring being well impressed with the quality and character of many of the products", writes the journalist Andrew Catchpole.

The export manager for Wines from Brazil, Andreia Gentilini Milan, believes that the sparkling wines are the perfect point of difference with which to introduce people to Brazilian wines." And she explains. "Our sparkling wines have their own characteristics, their own personality, which singles them out from other sparkling wines in South America and elsewhere."
"Our push for this year and next is to increase distribution, to focus on getting importers and putting more wines on the shelves," says Milan.

Since November last year, when first exported its wine Alisios do Seival exclusively to Bibendum in the United Kingdom, Miolo has put itself as a very good port of call for those interested in discovering the potential of the Brazilian sparkling. "Having the opportunity of taking part at the LWIF is essential in our strategy to spread the image of Brazilian wines, an indispensable work to conquer the international market This fair is a very important window for the European market as well", points out Fabiano Maciel, International Relations manager for Miolo Wine Group.

Being the international reference for fine Brazilian wines, present in 28 countries, Miolo has been researching tendencies and product development for the last year to produce this elegant wine which also contains some New World characteristics. Both a vintage Brut Rosé and vintage Brut Millesimé are on the UK market, selling into higher-end London restaurants and bars, including the influential Match Bar group.

Wine makers Aurora is in a perfect position to produce quality sparkling wines with reasonable, competitive prices due to their high production volume allied to their good long experience in the international market. "Sparkling wine is Brazil's best way of introducing itself to the markets," agrees the export manager Rosana Pasini. She is specially enthusiastic about the new vineyards of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, planted at 800m high in Pinto Bandeira, at the southern state of Rio Grande do Sul.

Apart from the sparklings, Merlot has been chosen as the other point of identity for the Brazilian products as being considered an accessible product to be introduced to traders and consumers, as it presents style and variety of the different regions in Brazil. Even though it is a young vine industry, the Brazilian Merlot has already taken an respected position. Master of Wine Dirceu Vianna Jr explains: "That's because it is one of the varieties where it has been possible to experiment with different plants, develop and find out the best combination with climate and soil "

The winemaker of Pizzato believes there is another explanation for the success of Merlot from Brazil. "If we want to sell red wines in the international market , then we need to chose a variety known worldwide and the French is the one people have heard of " , explains Flavio Pizzato

Brazil is the third largest wine producer in South America. Its six different wine producing regions include Serra Gaúcha, where Vale dos Vinhedos is located, Campanha and Serra do Sudeste, the country's newest winemaking area, Planalto Catarinense on the high altitudes and the São Francisco Valley, which has two harvests per year. The wide range of Brazilian wines and sparkling includes the noble varietals Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, together with other grapes such as Ancellota, Teroldego, Touriga Nacional and Marselan.

Wines from Brazil was created in 2002 with support from Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Agency) in partnership with the Brazilian Wine Institute (Ibravin) and it represents 38 and it represents 38 companies which export to 48 countries. But the Brazilians are aware of the need to work harder. "Our push for this year and next is to increase distribution, to focus on getting importers and putting more wines on the shelves," says Andreia Gentilini Milan. "At the same time, we are focusing on increasing awareness of Brazil, at trade events in key markets, by taking buyers and journalists to Brazil and seeking to put Brazilian wines in the best places such as independent stores and restaurants."

With this strategy in mind, Wines from Brazil has chosen 8 markets as their priorities: Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Sweden, Poland, Netherlands, Canada and Hong Kong. The United States are already the third destination of most of Brazilian exports, followed by Germany. Last year, the biggest buyer was Russia, followed by Japan. After the USA, it comes Germany and Portugal. The United Kingdom occupies the 12th place in the list of exports.

In the UK, Brazil's strong presence at this year's London International Wine Fair is being complemented by activities at Vinopolis where, in addition to creating a dedicated Brazilian wine section at this popular attraction, masterclasses will be run on Brazilian wines - one at the Brazilian embassy aimed at sommeliers and journalists, plus a further day of tasting activity for consumers with leading winemakers at Vinopolis. Brazil's sparkling wines and Merlots (plus Merlot blends) are the twin poles on which this activity will focus, with the aim of replicating the growing successes in Germany, the US and elsewhere.

WINERIES PRESENT AT LIWF

Vinicola, site and contact

Aurora: www.vinicolaaurora.com.br (Rosana Pasini - rosana.pasini@vinicolaaurora.com.br)

Miolo: www.miolo.com.br (Fabiano Maciel - fabiano@miolo.com.br, Morgana Miolo - morganamiolo@miolo.com.br)


ViniBrasil: www.vinibrasil.com.br (João Santos -joaosantos@vinibrasil.com.br, José Roseiro joseroseiro@daosul.com)

Lidio Carraro: www.lidiocarraro.com( Patricia Carraro -patricia@lidiocarraro.com)

Piagentini: www.piagentini.com.br (Ivini Granado - ivini@piagentini.com.br, Flavio Luiz Piagentino - flavio@izidro.com)

Pizzato: www.pizzato.net (Flavio Pizzato - flavio@pizzato.net)

Vinicola Basso: www.vinicolabasso.com.br (Fabiano Basso -leca@vinicolabasso.com.br)

Casa Valduga: www.casavalduga.com.br (Elisa Walker-export@casavalduga.com.br)

Salton: www.salton.com.br (Mauricio Salton - export@salton.com.br)

For further information in London , please contact

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