Down2Earth showcases green

These include Lynne Sherriff MW, who heads the Institute of Wine Masters in the UK; Prof Monika Christmann who heads the Geisenheim Research Centre in Germany; economist and wine writer Jürgen Mathäß; climate change specialist and wine writer Pancho Campo MW; Chandra Kurt, a Swiss-based wine writer; and Felicity Carter, editor-in-chief of Wine Business International.

They will be joined by three award-winning sommeliers: Romaine Audrerie of Scotland's Hotel du Vin in Edinburgh; Alessandro Marchesan, who is the group sommelier for London's Zuma and Roka restaurants and has also served as a judge for Decanter World Wine Awards; and Christina Fischer of Germany, who writes extensively about wine and food and runs her own restaurant in Cologne.

The initiative is an affiliation of the five normally competing New World wine-producing nations - Argentina, Chile, South Africa, the US and New Zealand. They are collaborating for the second year in succession, following their debut that drew crowds last year.

Prof Monika Christmann

In a first for the international wine industry, the heads of five New World national marketing bodies will be sharing a panel at the Down2Earth exhibition, where they will present their respective visions for a greener future and provide updates on what their countries are currently doing to advance sustainability.

South African-born Sherriff, who will be participating in three panels, believes, "This is an outstanding opportunity to showcase to the international wine community the ongoing excellence and progress evident in the wines of the host countries."

Christmann says attendance is critical for those concerned with sustainability in the wine industry, "Sustainability is becoming a driving force for all of us in our daily lives to protect our globe and preserve the world for future generations. We'll be exploring how, by taking small, individual steps, members of the wine industry can make a meaningful and lasting impact in learning how to protect non-renewable and scarce resources."

For more information and bookings go to www.down2earth-prowein.com.