Tesco expands Wine Club Fairs programme

Tesco is expecting more than 8,000 customers will attend its Wine Club Fairs this autumn, as the retailer expands the concept to include Scotland.

With an additional event in Edinburgh and the expansion of the Manchester Fair, the 2008 Tesco Wine Club Fairs will be the biggest yet.

Over 40 suppliers and six generic bodies will exhibit at the events in London, Manchester, Bristol and Edinburgh, and there will be more than 350 wines on taste.

Tesco will offer a series of wine workshops, in conjunction with Wine & Spirit Educational Trust and attending winemakers.

The retailer established the Tesco Wine Club Fairs in London in 2003. Since then Manchester and Bristol have been added to the tour, with Edinburgh completing the set.

The Fairs attracted more than 5,500 visitors last year, a record number, with customers able to select from over 300 wines from around the world and meet the winemakers.

Andrew Carpenter, wine category manager, said: “This is a really exciting time for the Tesco Wine Club Fairs. With the addition of Edinburgh and the expansion of Manchester, we can now offer the fair experience to a wider audience, and with the introduction of new features, we can continue to excite and challenge our customers.

“The fairs are unique in that we can offer our customers the opportunity to develop their wine knowledge and expand their repertoires face-to-face in a relaxed, fun and enjoyable setting.”

The fairs are being held at the Manchester Central exhibition centre (6-7 September 2008), Edinburgh Corn Exchange (20-21 September 2008), Royal Horticultural Halls, London (27-28 September 2008), the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum, Bristol (11-12 October 2008).