The Algarve Wine Region was at Olympia London, the emblematic building where the London Wine Fair, the most important wine event in the United Kingdom, took place from 21 to 23 May.
«This participation was a pioneer for the region, because it was the first time that it was held outside the country with its own stand», stresses the CVA – Algarve Wine Commission, in a press release.
The presence of Vinhos do Algarve at the event was organized by CVA, with the participation of 17 producers who sent some of their wine references, and many of them were at the region's stand to directly and personally promote their production.
Carlos Gracias – president of CVA – returned satisfied with the Algarve participation, highlighting the relevance of choosing this event: “The United Kingdom is the 3rd most relevant European market for Portugal, and, in the case of the Algarve, there is an added importance in the promotion, because it is a country with a strong tourist presence in the region”.
"This fair is very particular because it is specialized for Trade, that is, all visitors are professionals in the sector, both in the area of catering, from the sommelier to the owner, passing through the wine stores, distributors and even British supermarket chains come here" , added Carlos Gracias.
In addition to the region's diversified wine exhibition, the Algarve stand was regularly attended by oenophile Gilmar Brito, whose WSET Level 3 certification allowed for monitoring the demanding level of the event and visitors seeking information at the Algarve stand.
Gilmar Brito said that the Algarve wines "had a good performance, but, being a very specialized fair, the tasters came looking for very particular, exclusive wines or with unique characteristics".
In this field, he highlights the doubts that the single varietal wines with Negra Mole, the autochthonous variety in the Algarve and unique in Portugal, “were the ones that captured the greatest attention and praise”.
The CVA stresses that "the balance of participation is clearly positive and there will certainly be close contacts for economic agents in the region to export their wines."
The London Wine Fair closes with a golden key a month of May full of successes, which began on the 7th, in Silves, with the XI Algarve Wine Contest, in which 85 wines participated, of which 27 were medaled, and having been awarded awarded the title of “Best Wine in the Algarve”, in competition, with the great gold medal, to Quinta dos Vales with its Marquês dos Vales Grace Vineyard, red 2012.
Continuing in May, from the 14th to the 18th, the Wine Competition of Portugal took place, which consecrated the Paxá Viognier 2017 (white) with the Silver medal, and with the maximum award – the Great Gold medal – the Al-Ria Reserva 2016 ( red), which thus became part of a selective list of wines that will represent Portugal in various international events for 2018.
May is also the month for the renowned Brussels World Contest, which this year was curious to have been held in Beijing, China, from the 10th to the 13th.
Still within the scope of curiosities, it should be noted that China rose from the 6th to the 5th position in the ranking of medals, which meant an increase of 68% to a total of 131 medals. Almost 10 wines from 48 countries participated in the competition.
The Algarve was awarded 5 medals, 4 silver and 1 gold, this being for a white wine. Portugal was the 4th country to receive the most medals (324), after the usual trio of France, Spain and Italy occupy the first 3 positions, respectively.
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