Wine Industry Report

28 February to 1st March 2006

The 4th Dubai International Wine & Beverage Fair that is taking place at the Madinat Jumeirah Convention Centre will be filled to its capacity of 120 companies from 19 different countries, representing every single major wine growing region of the world. Having grown from 10 exhibitors in 2003 to 80 exhibitors in February 2005, the Dubai International Wine and Beverage Fair has now established its place as the regions’ premier wine tasting forum.

France is the largest producer of wines, and will be represented by over 30 separate wine producers, including famous brands such as from Baron Philippe Rothschild, Latour, Calvet, William Fevre, Moreau & Fils to name just a few of the delicious wines on offer. Spain is well represented too with this year the prize-winning Abadia Retuerta alongside top-selling Torres, and of course the ever-popular Gonzales-Byass. South Africa will be offering tastings from a range of different producers including leading wine producer: KWV and Fairview and De Wetshof. Popular Aussie wines from Scotchman’s Hill, Barwick and Jacob’s Creek will offer a range of interesting wines to taste, and then there are famous brands from Argentina (Trivento) and Chile (Concha Y Toro). In second place behind France this year is Italy, with around 20 companies, from Spumante, Distelleria Bottegga, Scrimaglio, Friulvini….

In short the 2006 Dubai International Wine and Spirit Fair will be the largest festival of wines and spirits ever collected together in the Middle East, providing the on-trade a great opportunity to taste and learn about the wines and spirits that are available to the thousands of guests that are filling the hotels, restaurants and cafes of Dubai and the Gulf states.

‘I am delighted at the response we have had from producers all over the world. The 4th Dubai International Wine & Beverage Fair is set to be the ‘must attend’ event for all trade buyers and wine consumers in the region’ Clive Rogerson, MMI Wines

Dubai is developing the world’s highest concentration of luxury hotels and resorts (with 13,000 new 5 star hotel rooms currently under construction). It will be home to between 1-2 million expatriates, and has gained an enviable reputation as the economic centre of activity for a vast oil-rich region with the highest GDP in the world.

The Dubai International Wine & Beverage Fair is the only dedicated International Wine and Spirits Trade Show in the Middle East, and as such occupies a unique and privileged position. It is organised by IM2 Events in association with MMI Wines, the leading distributors of alcoholic beverages in Dubai and a major re-exporter within the region. Because of their unique position in Dubai, coupled to their tax-free warehousing; MMI WINES is also able to act as a re-exporter by providing beverage supplies in smaller volumes to importers in nearby countries including the Indian sub-continent, Middle East and East Africa.

DIW&BF provides a perfect opportunity for producers that have not yet introduced their brands into the region to test and influence the regional market and to provide hotel, restaurant, club and beverage managers with an opportunity to taste and comment on their produce. Furthermore, the Public evenings, Wine dinners, Master Wine Classes, Meet the Producer events, and other professional networking occasions that are organized around the Fair, are a perfect opportunity to further influence the rich expatriate community, embassies and other organizations that purchase fine wines and spirits.

For existing suppliers to the region, it has become the essential platform to re-enforce their brands and to increase market share by supporting the activities of their main distributor. For new suppliers, it provides a perfect opportunity to test and gain access to a new market, and to introduce their produce.

The 2 day fair is split into Trade and Public. It is strictly Trade-Only from 10h00 to 16h00 daily; and Trade and Public from 18h00 to 21h00.

In 2006, professional event organisers’ IM2 Events, have initiated a wide-ranging change to the marketing mix, that will oversee a vast promotional campaign throughout the middle east and western asia region using direct mail, trade and consumer advertising and tele-sales, to ensure the widest possible attendance at what is undoubtedly the largest Fair of its’ kind in the region.

For further information, contact:
Simon Berger - Event Director
Tel: ++351 91 917 2287.
simon@im2events.com
www.dubaiwinefair.com