The second International Sparkling Wine Symposium

Event history

On Wednesday 18th March 2009, more than 100 delegates and speakers from the UK, Spain, Italy, France, USA and Australia descended on Denbies Wine Estate, just outside London, for the inaugural International Sparkling Wine Symposium on Wednesday 18th March 2009.

The day's packed agenda included presentations from top international sparkling wine consultants: Tony Jordan (former chief executive and winemaker for Cape Mentelle, Cloudy Bay and and Domaine Chandon) and Michel Salgues (founder of Roederer Quartet in Napa); a tasting of Veuve Cliquot vins clairs conducted by Chef de Cave Dominique Demarville; two panel sessions discussing new developments in production and the business of sparkling wine and a presentation of specially commissioned research into consumer perceptions of sparkling wine.

Sam Harrop MW, one of the event organisers, explains: "We were delighted by the response to the event in its first year. In particular, huge thanks must go to all the speakers and event organisers, who donated their time to make the event a success. The sponsors: Denbies, Proven PR, Litmus Wines, Codorniu, Bucher Vaslin, Diam (Mytik), Institute of Champagne, Dartington and Hijos de Barcelos should also be congratulated for getting behind a new venture like this, when many others took a wait and see policy, or even tried to oppose what we were doing!"

Click here to download the official proceedings from the 2009 ISWS.