Wines of Portugal for Monday 24th October
The tasting is open to both trade and consumers and the participants list will be announced shortly. Trade & press tastings take place from 12 noon to 6pm by invitation only. The consumer tasting will run from 18.30 to 20.30 on the same evening and tickets will go on sale at the end of September.
Portugal’s main strengths are the diversity of its wine regions and its wealth of native grape varieties, says event organiser Jean Smullen who pointed out that the multiples have largely missed the increasing reputation and demand enjoyed by Portuguese wines. In recent years these wines have become much sought after with still wines from regions such as the Douro or Alentejo creating waves in the wine world. Receiving recognition for both the quality and new wine styles has been encouraging, she added.
Here in Ireland Portuguese wines are also starting to make an impact. Recent Nielsen figures |indicate that Portugal has significantly increased its market share in the independent specialist off-trade sector with sales to March 2011 showing a value increase of 36.9 per cent. Volume sales in this sector also increased during the same period by six per cent, reflecting the growing interest in Ireland in Portuguese wines.
There are currently 28 Irish importing companies distributing Portuguese wines here and many will be showing at the 2011 trade show. As well as the wines already available here, some Portuguese producers are travelling to Dublin with a view to finding a distributor.
For more information: Tel Jean Smullen (086) 816 8468 or e-mail jean@jeansmullen.com
For more information about Wines from Portugal www.viniportugal.pt
