Saturday, September 24, 2011
Miami International Wine Fair (“MIWF”) announces the 10th edition celebrating Florida’s booming wine culture with a significant change in direction, date and venue. For the first time since the Fair’s inception in 2001, organizers will present its public program in a one-night-only, special anniversary event on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at The Moore Building (4040 Northeast 2nd Avenue, Miami). Transforming the Design District’s historic property into rich wine country, an elegant evening of tastings, dinner and cigars will be complemented by live performances, a silent auction, and a pop-up wino and foodie shop boasting the latest in culinary accessories. The 7th Annual Florida International Wine Challenge (“FIWC”), originally scheduled for July 2011, has been rescheduled to uncork on this fall occasion, further offering patrons the chance to sample more than 300 medal-awarded wines.
“We are proud that two of the most important wine events with a long-standing history and following in Miami are joining forces to offer consumers a brilliant night of unlimited tastings with some of the world’s top producers,” said David Bernad, president of Vinamericas. “Now that MIWF’s curriculum at the Miami Beach Convention Center will predominantly center on trade, we will pay homage to a decade of success with the many oenophiles and gourmands that have helped make Florida the second largest wine consumption state in the country.”
Florida International Wine Challenge entries will be judged by an expert panel on Friday, September 23 and Saturday, September 24 at the Miami International Wine Fair’s Convention Center site. All wines will be tasted in a preliminary “Pass/Fail” round on the first day, and on day two, passing wines will be graded for gold, silver or bronze medals, vying for the Best-in-Show honor and the opportunity to be featured at the Fair’s consumer event.
Producers hailing from more than 20 countries will be participating in both the Fair and the Challenge in effort to introduce their brands to the rapidly expanding U.S. market. Recognizing the need to segment and hone-in on specific audiences, Bernad and Jennifer Massolo – MIWF executive director – have curated industry and consumer programs that address each market’s demands, and promote domestic growth and international imports.
Admission to Miami International Wine Fair’s 10th anniversary affair is $175 per person including a four-course dinner with wine pairings, and for the more robust palate, a showcase of premium cigars and spirits. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Florida Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food – a non-profit organization founded in support of gastronomy as essential to the quality of human existence.
Florida International Wine Challenge (“FIWC”) is owned and managed by VINAMERICAS, Inc., a leading wine import and marketing company dedicated to helping wine producers and trade associations from around the globe penetrate the U.S. market. Hundreds of wineries from 16 countries enter the competition every year for an opportunity to earn one of the coveted medals awarded by the FIWC board, an increasingly useful tool to increase wine sales in America. For additional information, please call 1.866.998.VINO or visit www.fiwc.net.
The Miami International Wine Fair (“MIWF”), owned by VINTRADE, LLC, has grown in the last 10 years to become the leading wine trade show in the United States, showcasing more than 1,800 wines from 20 countries over 80,000-square-feet of exhibitor space. Thousands of wine importers, distributors, retailers and restaurateurs from across the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America attend the Fair annually looking for new exciting wines to add to their portfolios. For additional information, please call 1.866.887.WINE or visit www.miamiwinefair.com.