UK's top French wine experts lined up for October's France Summit

By Richard Siddle

Published: 05 September, 2014

A line up of top speakers from across the UK wine trade, including Master Sommeliers, multiple buyers, restaurateurs and leading independents will all be taking part in the second Harpers France Summit taking place on October 21 at London's St Ermin's Hotel.

France Summit 2014 France Summit 2014

The event offers a full day dedicated to analysing and exploring the opportunities for French wine in the UK on and off-trades. An open industry debate will focus specifically on how the UK wine trade is working with the French wine industry to develop wines that are suitable for British consumers.

The day's line-up of activity will include the latest trade data and insights in to how well the French wine category is performing in the UK off-trade by Tim Wilson of the Wilson Drinks Report, an analysis of French online wine sales from Wines Direct and an assessment of UK French wines sales compared to the rest of the world from Anne Burchett of summit partner, Sopexa.

The day will also include case studies of how both large and small operators are succeeding with French wine in different channels of the trade, and the chance to taste across a wide selection of wines specially selected by the summit's partners.

A major highlight of the France Summit will be a series of specialist masterclasses where visitors will get the chance to taste wines and hear their views of Master Sommeliers, Gerard Basset and Kathrine Larsen, the current UK Sommelier of the Year.

The day will conclude with the Harpers French Wine Awards based on the votes of key trade figures which will determine which supermarkets, independents, restaurants, bars and individuals will be rewarded for their achievement selling French wine over the last year.

Key speakers and companies lined up to appear include; Richard Evans, Dedicated Wines, Free Run Wines, Beverly Tabbron, Hallgarten Druitt, Rebecca Palmer, Corney & Barrow, Simone Jerrome, Matthew Clark, Nick Darlington, Red Squirrel Wines, Hal Wilson, Dr Arabella Woodrow MW, Broadland Winery, Kingsland Wines, Murphy Wine, Alistair Morrell, Wine Fusion and Marie Knight, PLB, Tim North, Les Grands Chais de France, Alex Canetti, Berkmann Wine and wine consultant, Angela Mount.