London International Wine Fair launches bloggers' zone

The 2010 London International Wine Fair (LIWF) will for the first time ever incorporate a dedicated bloggers' zone, reflecting the growing trend for social media within the wine trade.

Brintex has teamed up with a number of key influencers in social media, including Ryan and Gabriella Opaz of Spanish and Portuguese wine blog Catavino, plus WineConversation.com, the European Wine Bloggers Conference, and Wineblogger.info to create "The Access Zone".

This 600sq ft stand will offer bloggers a space to meet up and talk about wine online, incorporating a dedicated area for recording video interviews, as well as Wi-Fi and powerpoints, so that bloggers can upload their LIWF stories on-site.

In addition, Catavino will run seminars and tastings designed to highlight how wine producers can utilise social media to engage consumers and build awareness of their brands.

These seminars will incorporate an interactive element, as Catavino is inviting fellow bloggers to join them in running on-stand tastings, and making videos on-site.

Already signed up to attend "The Access Zone" along with Ryan Opaz and his wife Gabriella are leading social media authorities Andre from Adegga, Wink Lorch from Wine Travel Guides, and Robert McIntosh from Wine Conversation.

Ryan Opaz, of Catavino, said; "we are very excited to be teaming up with the London International Wine Fair. It is great that they recognise the value that the internet has in the future of wine promotion. We hope to have a chance to engage both advocates and skeptics during the fair to keep the story of wine online alive!"

James Murray, event director at Brintex, added; "Social media is of ever-increasing importance, so we are delighted to have such influential names in the world of blogging on board for 'The Access Zone'.

"We are sure that this feature will be popular both with bloggers, and exhibitors keen to expand their knowledge of the sector."

The tasting will be located at the West End of ExCeL, and will be open to bloggers, as well as anyone else interested in learning more about social media.

The LIWF is being held at the ExCel exhibition centre from May 18 to 20.