Wine is big business in Britain, and getting bigger all the time. British consumers are spending more than ever on the stuff, despite the recession (or perhaps that should that be
because of the recession). We are, in fact, the world's biggest importer of wine. With that many fans out there, the upcoming Wine Show is sure to be a big success.
You don't have to be a wine expert to enjoy
the Wine Show – in fact, if you arrive as a novice, the chances are you'll leave highly knowledgeable about the various wines of the world – or just sozzled.
Either way, the show sounds like a lot of fun, featuring wine experts and producers from around the globe, a tasting theatre where you can try a range of well known and not so well known tipples, a wine market where you can stock up on your favourites, and celebrity
wine critics, such as Oz Clarke. And let's be honest, what wine show would be complete without Oz Clarke making an appearance?
Masterchef Live happens to be taking place at the same venue at the same time, bringing with it shopping opportunities, representatives from some of London's best restaurants, celebrity chefs and lots more besides. And the good news? Your Wine Show ticket gives you free entry into Masterchef Live!
A 30-minute session in the Drinks Tasting Theatre needs to be booked in advance (£8), with a number of experts hosting tasting sessions. You'll get to taste four wines, getting background info on all of them and finding out what kind of food best complements each.
Also, look out for Tapas Time. Here, world-renowned chef José Pizarro will delight you with his culinary skills, showing you how to make delicious tapas dishes, as well as dispensing useful advice on which wines make the ideal accompaniment.
Head along to Olympia and uncork the delights of the wonderful world of wine. And though the professional wine tasters might spit out theirs, I'm sure you'll be just fine if you'd prefer to swallow!
