Germany to host Flavours of the South@ ProWein

Su Birch

A group of high-profile tastemakers in the world of wine has been handpicked by the organisers of the stand to present a new, more focused version of the popular show-within-a-show which forms part of the leading European wine trade exhibition.

Flavours of the South marks the first time that Uruguay has been included in the collaborative, three-day series of master-classes that highlights the best and the newest trends to emerge from the participating countries. The show comes at a time when several key critics are drawing public attention to what they are describing as the original and very exciting developments from these emerging wine-producing countries.

Despite the shift of the global wine market axis away from Europe to the developing world, ProWein remains one of the most important international wine trade exhibitions and annually draws around 4 000 exhibitors from some 50 countries and close to 40 000 delegates. Even during last year's recessionary trading conditions, the organisers hosted record numbers of exhibitors and delegates, and this year a very strong turnout is anticipated.

Presenters

Flavours of the South presenters this year include top-level wine writers and educators working in Europe.

• Lynne Sherriff MW, the South African born wine-marketing consultant who works across the world and was until recently the head of the prestigious Institute of Masters of Wine
  
• Widely published wine journalist and educator Caro Maurer MW, who was the first German woman to earn her Masters of Wine
  
• Jürgen Mathäß, a specialist in Latin-American wines who contributes to the influential wine guide Gault-Millau, as well as to Meininger's Wine Business International, Weinwirtschaft and Weinwelt;
  
• André Dominé, author of the monumental Culinaria France and books on wine;
  
• Tim Atkin MW, a UK-based wine writer and critic, who covers the South African wine industry very closely

Pairing develops tastes of the south

The master-class sessions will showcase the top-rated and signature wines of the four countries, matching them with foods to cater to the growing appetite for new ideas in flavour pairings, said Wines of South Africa (WOSA) CEO, Su Birch, who has been involved in the multi-country collaborations since their inception four years ago.

"By focusing exclusively on South America and South Africa, we are offering delegates a taste from the source of where much Southern Hemisphere innovation is taking place in both wine and food. Observers from across the world are increasingly looking to these regions for refreshing new wine expressions. It is here that hitherto undeveloped wine-growing areas are being opened up and winemakers are exploring lesser-known varietals and new techniques, while reinterpreting classical flavours."

Birch said the emphasis on pairing would be particularly useful to sommeliers, who were fast becoming the new arbiters of taste. "They have become an important gateway to wine menus but also to wine shoppers looking for interesting new flavours."

Combined trade expo later this year

She said the spirit of co-operation amongst the four wine regions was just one example of the growing move to highlight the wine-producing countries of the South. In September, Argentina, Chile and South Africa will also present a combined trade exhibition in the UK, entitled 'The Beautiful South'.

Seats for Flavours of the South seminars are limited to 50 delegates at each session. Presentations will be offered in both German and English. Delegates are urged to visit the stand, Hall 1 B04, early each morning to guarantee their reservations, given that virtually all of the past Flavours seminars have been oversubscribed.

For more information, go to www.flavoursofthesouth-prowein.com.