06.12.05
Wine and food fair is first and biggest of the year

The South West's first and biggest wine and food fair of the year promises to be even more of a highlight event this year, according to organisers.

The invitation-only Cornwall Wine and Fine Food Fair is taking place at St Mellion Golf and Country Club near Callington in Cornwall on 21-22 February. Each year it attracts thousands of people from the South West region's booming hospitality industry, as wine and food buyers search for and find inspiration for their new season menus and wine lists. It's also hugely popular with individual wine and food enthusiasts.

There's been unprecedented demand for space in the food hall, which is already fully booked by the best of Cornwall's fine food producers with a growing waiting list, according to joint organiser Cornwall Taste of the West, while Castang Wine Shippers is compiling the most exciting collection of wines to be showcased at the annual event yet. More than 300 fine wines from around the world will be available to be sampled, including those tipped to be 'hot' for the coming season's wine lists by UK wine experts.

"The feedback just gets better every year," says David Hearnden of joint organiser Castang Wine Shippers. "This fair is unique in the region, and it's become a real highlight for people in the trade looking to innovate and inspire. It really opens people eyes to what's available, as well as previewing the trends and tastes of the new season."

Angie Coombs from Cornwall Taste of the West adds: "From the feedback we get, we know that finding good ideas and suppliers at this time of year gives hospitality businesses a definite advantage. Local food has become a real selling point and being able to meet such a range of local suppliers all in one day is a great use of time and resources."

Visitors can book to attend master classes with wine expert and broadcaster Stephen Barrett and Cornwall's only cheese monger Stephen Gunn. Tickets for the event will be sent out in January. To ensure your details are on the list to receive a ticket, contact Cornwall Taste of the West on 01579 349363 or Castang Wine Shippers on 01503 220359.

For more information please contact Veronica Newport at npr on 01363 866927 or email: veronica@n-pr.co.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in the Taste of the West project through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Anyone considering a new horticulture, food and land based industries project is advised to speak with Maria Ford, at Government Office South West - 01752 635015 - before commencing development as there are now only limited funds available due to the successful uptake of funding by the agricultural sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Editor's notes:

Details of wines to be sampled and food exhibitors will be available in the New Year.

Taste of the West in Cornwall is a £5 million Objective One gateway project, funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund (EAGGF), the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) and private matched funding. It is part of the Taste of the West regional food group. Taste of the West's Cornwall project includes a trade development programme, a marketing grant scheme and a capital grants scheme, available to small and medium sized food businesses which produce, sell or process foods in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. For more information log on to www.cornwalltasteofthewest.co.uk.

Castang Wine Shippers, based near Looe, is an independent family business established in 1979. The company imports and supplies wines and grape-based spirits to hotels and restaurants, other merchants and an active private and corporate customer base. David Hearnden has been involved in the wine trade for 38 years and runs the business with his wife Janet, two sons Jonathan and Philip, and daughter in law Mel. The company operates throughout South West England, and has accounts and franchises in other areas of the country. Its portfolio of wines expands annually with selections from wine areas throughout the world. Many of the 400 wines listed are exclusive to Castang. The long-term involvement with the wine trade enables the family to provide a wide range of business skills, a comprehensive service and sound advice to clients.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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