January 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact:

Anne Meerboth-Maltz
Tel. (312)781-5185
Fax (312) 781-5188
email: ameerboth@mdna.com

Messe Düsseldorf North America
150 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 2920
Chicago, IL 60601

SPAIN REPRESENTED AT PROWEIN 2010 WITH OPTIMISM

Spain will be represented at ProWein 2010, International Trade Fair Wines and Spirits, in Düsseldorf, Germany (March 21 - 23, 2010) with a wide range of wines. Generating interest will be the many wines from Levante which will be available for tasting at the joint stands. This native Spanish variety Monastrell (known in France as Mouvèdre) is a key quality driver for a new generation of red wines that convince consumers with their fruity exuberance and appealing softness plus often moderate to very reasonable prices. Forming the traditional focus here will be exhibitors from Castile and León who will present a significant number of new wines. Particular attention should be paid to the still largely unknown appellations Arlanza, Arribes, Tierra de León and Tierra del Vino de Zamora. These new quality wine-growing areas, which were granted official D.O. status in 2007, will offer more wines than ever this year. Another tasting zone likely to prove rewarding is the highly acclaimed Priorato whose cool 2007 vintage was good for the warm region. However, visitors should not limit themselves to this one renowned Catalan appellation. In the last few years, its little neighbour Montsant has made extraordinary progress when it comes to quality and with its full red wines is now an ideal alternative, especially in terms of its convincing price structure.

In view of this vintage, the Andalusian range also promises to be of interest. Still going unnoticed by the general public, significant progress has been made in the interior of Andalusia. An impressive number of wine growers are now producing remarkably “normal” table wines very far from the classics from Jerez, Málaga and Montilla with the focus on reds cultivated using modern methods.

Tastings by the Spanish Export Institute ICEX

After the highly acclaimed launch last year, the Spanish Export Institute is again planning to feature a large tasting zone at ProWein 2010. After the great success of the thematic tasting sessions including focuses on wines and their soil structures or the specific climatic conditions of the country, we can now look forward to the range of guided tastings on offer at ProWein 2010. Here we can expect interesting area presentations – now a stronger focus again at ProWein. The spotlight here will be particularly on growing regions that are less familiar to trade visitors such as the already mentioned Levante.

Upward Sales Trends for Spanish Wines

The Spanish wine sector saw a patchy year in 2009. Against the backdrop of the economic crisis at home, even wine sales in Spain itself decreased. The restaurant and hotel trade in particular as well as the specialist retail trade posted clear minuses compared to the previous year. By contrast, food retail held up here surprisingly well. The export business also saw a noticeable decline trough in the first months of the year before the long awaited turnaround in the second half of the year improved the figures again. Overall, however, there was still a minus in total exports by the end of 2009. Nevertheless, the sales trend for Spanish wines on international markets is pointing upwards again, which has led to moderately optimistic expectations for exports this year.

Last year’s harvest can also be rated positively. Initially, Spain expected a complicated harvest as conditions were anything but ideal especially in the entire southern half of the country. Overall, late spring and summer saw high temperatures and the continuing dry spell threatened the quality of the harvest in almost all parts of the country. In the north of the macro appellation La Mancha late frosts also triggered reduced yields. A very early start to the harvest kicked off last autumn, even though picking had to be interrupted in many places due to heavy rain in September. However, thanks to the very good conditions in the second half of September and the first two weeks of October, a very good quality vintage is now expected. The harvest was noted for the excellent quality of the grapes that were picked ripe and in a delightfully healthy condition. Many of the renowned growing regions like Rioja, Bierzo and Ribera del Duero in Castile and León as well as the Galician appellations in the north-west now have above-average quality wines stored in their cellars. However, the quantity was considerable lower than in the previous year, which allowed producers to breath an initial sigh of relief.

Current Vintages

At ProWein 2010, Spain’s producers will focus on presentations of wines from the 2006 and 2007 vintages while the 2008 vintage will dominate among the young wines. 2006 is considered a good, even solid vintage without promising any outstanding wines. Catalonia displays generally good quality here. It is also anticipated that some of the appellations in the northern plateau, i.e. Castilla y León, will await us with some very successful wines.

The 2007 vintage is of particularly interest when it comes to Rioja. This region enjoyed a very good harvest producing a plethora of fine and elegant wines boasting that traditional Rioja character. 2007 and 2008 both come under the so-called “cool climate block” that has given the Spanish some unusually fresh, very fruity and pleasantly lean wines.

2005, 2006 and 2009 have to be rated as “Mediterranean/typically Southern European” vintages. Those interested in the great 2005 vintage will certainly discover “late comers” in the premium segment which are only now becoming available.

The author David Schwarzwälder is the Spain correspondent for the magazines Weinwirtschaft, Weinwelt, Sommelier Magazin (published by Meininger Verlag) and writes, amongst others, for Feinschmecker, Weingourmet and various Spanish magazines.

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at ProWein 2010, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit our web site http://www.mdna.com; Subscribe to our blog http://blog.mdna.com; Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/mdnachicago

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