The fair’s masterclasses, much appreciated in 2011, will run again this year on a hotly-awaited theme: the grape varieties that epitomise the Loire Valley. On the programme: Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon, Melon de Bourgogne, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Gamay.

In another development for 2012, there will be an interactive Media Corner in a central fair location. This open stand will let exhibitors present their new products and services as well as engaging directly with visitors.

Saumur-Champigny and Bourgueil Hold Showcase Tastings  :
For the first time this year, the Syndicat des Producteurs de Saumur-Champigny and the Syndicat des Vins de Bourgueil are staging “showcase tastings” – which essentially aim to promote these appellations through tastings of a representative selection of wines.

On Tuesday 7 February, the Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair is holding a lecture/debate to exclusively release the findings of the Ipsos survey on wine bars. It’s the first time that these establishments have been surveyed.

The fair’s masterclasses, much appreciated in 2011, will run again this year on a hotly-awaited theme: the grape varieties that epitomise the Loire Valley. On the programme: Chenin, Sauvignon, Melon de Bourgogne, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and Gamay.

This year, the tasting of the Fines Bulles de Touraine sparkling wines will be held on 6-7 February 2012 from 11.30am to 2pm, over; brunch will be served. A unique opportunity to discover a low-profile appellation in an original way. For wine retailer Jean-Pierre Lecluse, who runs Le Cellier Saint Germain in Rennes, Brittany, it’s a must.

Every year, Horeca professionals prove to be strong Loire Valley enthusiasts. In 2011, they represented 21.9 % of visitors to the fair – a figure that underscores Loire wines’ top rank in restaurants, which sell an average of 6.3 (75cl) bottles from the region daily.

The 24th Best Student Sommelier in Loire Valley Wines Competition, held in conjunction with the Union de la Sommellerie Française and the Loire trade bodies, will take place at the Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair on Monday 6 February.

The Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair, to be held in Angers on 6-8 February, is showing its commitment to new technology. The Wine Blog Trophy, which since 2007 has been showcasing the best online oenophiles, gains fresh impetus this year with a dedicated blog.

Dedicated to a single region of production, the Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair is one of Europe’s leading vine-and-wine events. Visitors can (re)discover the 82 AOC and IGP rated wines – reds, rosés and whites, dry and sweet, still and sparkling – that make up France’s third-largest wine-producing region.

The Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair is having a makeover for 2012, courtesy of a new visual identity that takes a contemporary, graphic and symbolic approach. A bunch of grapes offers an elegant, original evocation of wine-and-vine culture. It interacts with the wave representing the River Loire...

How do you define a wine bar? How do they develop? What sort of wines are drunk there? What’s the profile of their customers? For the first time, French wine bars – a fairly hazy notion – are to be the subject of a market survey by Ipsos.

Created by the Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair in 2007, the Wine Blog Trophy has become the key focal point for the online community. In 2012 it turns the spotlight on wine bars – the central theme of this year’s fair – with a competition with the tagline: “My wine bar, Loire wines, and me”.

PDAs at the ready! From Monday to Wednesday, 6-8 February 2012, the Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair will hold its 26th edition in Angers. This trade-only event, which brings together the entire Loire Valley vine & wine community, hosted 600 exhibitors and over 9,000 French and foreign buyers in 2011.

In 2012, the Loire Valley Wine Trade Fair will confirm its role as a forum, primarily teaming with wine-bar professionals. This year, the organisers have decided to pamper these specifiers with an array of events: an Ipsos survey of this distribution channel, the Wine Blog Trophy, themed talks, pop-up wine bars in central Angers, and more.

This year, the Wine Blog Trophy, which rewards the best bloggers on the subject, is having a makeover. With “my wine bar, Loire wines and me”, it’s playing the originality card by inviting each entrant to showcase the wine bar of their choice through a profile, a singular story, an outstanding tasting experience...