Free masterclasses confirmed for Wine & Spirits Show

With The Wine & Spirits Show now just days away, we can confirm the line-up of free seminars and masterclasses that will be on offer this weekend.

Healthy Hospo founder Tim Etherington-Judge to host a seminar on improving the health of the industry at The Wine & Spirits Show

The Wine & Spirits Show will take place this week on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 October at The Royal Horseguards Hotel in London.

The event is a collaboration between The Spirits Business and the drinks business teams.

Over the course of the two days, the event will bring leading wine and spirits brands together for an exciting programme of discussions, tastings and masterclasses.

The Wine & Spirits Show will encompass two halls – one dedicated to wine and one to spirits – and will feature a number of masterclasses for the trade and consumers.

The show’s series of educational masterclasses has now been confirmed, featuring some of the industry’s leading communicators and educators.

At 2.30pm on Friday 12 October, Healthy Hospo founder Tim Etherington-Judge will present ‘A healthier, happier alcohol industry’ as he looks at the health of the wine and spirits industry and what we need to do to change it.

Former Bulleit brand ambassador Etherington-Judge launched not-for-profit organisation Healthy Hospo last year with the aim of trying to improve health and wellness in the industry. He has held talks on the subject at industry events around the world, including Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, US, and Bar Convent Berlin.

At 4pm on Friday, Michael Vachon, head of brand development at Maverick Drinks, will host a masterclass called ‘The relationship between brands and bars is broken’.

The masterclass will introduce the traditional ways of working and a discussion on how brands and bars can partner together to deliver more value to both sides.

Vachon launched the #ForwardDrinking campaign last year to target industry taboos such as the notion of ‘retros’ (when brands pay for bar listings) and ‘pay-to-play’ schemes (when brands offer monetary incentives, or otherwise, to gain a retail listing – an illegal practise in the US).

Robert Peller from Welsh distillery Penderyn will take to the stage at 2.30pm on Saturday to present a showcase of the best single malt whiskies from Wales and how they are made.

At 4pm on Saturday, Claire Best will host a ‘Gin worldwide’ masterclass, which will cover five gins from four different countries outside the UK and how each location affects the final product.

At 5.30pm on Saturday, Billy Abbott of The Whisky Exchange will present ‘A beginner’s guide to whisky’ – an introduction to whisky tasting.

Shane McNamara will also host a masterclass on ‘Beer flavours and their sources’ at 5.30pm on Friday.

On the wine side, Albino Armani and Nazareno Vicenzi will present ‘Discovering the revolution of the Italian-style Pinot Grigio’ at 2pm on Friday.

At 3pm on Friday, Trevor Cleogh will host ‘Does glass shape affect the taste of the English wine?’ followed by a tasting of fine wines from iDealwine’s online auctions at 5pm, presented by Lionel Quenca.

Patrick Schmitt MW, editor-in-chief of the drinks business, will host a Champagne and sparkling wines masterclass at 6.30pm on Friday and 5pm on Saturday, as well as a ‘Fine and rare, great wines from new frontiers’ masterclass at 2pm on Saturday.

A Champagne Pol Roger masterclass, presented by James Simpson MW, will also take place at 3.30pm on Saturday.

All masterclasses are free to attend and places will be available on a first come, first served basis.

Trade professionals will be welcome from 1-5pm on the Friday. The event will open to consumers from 1-9pm on the Friday and 12-8pm on the Saturday. To register for the trade session, click here.