17.07.06
Fair organisers predict food and drink trends for 2006
We're going to be drinking 'less but better'
this year according to the organisers of the upcoming Cornwall
Wine and Fine Food Fair, who are predicting that premium products
will headline on South West menus and wine lists this season.
The annual Cornwall Wine and Fine Food Fair has become an
essential diary date for the region's booming hospitality
trade, offering a 'fashion week' type preview
of wine and food trends. It takes place at St Mellion Golf
and Country Club near Saltash on 21st and 22nd February.
David Hearnden of Castang Wine Shippers, joint organiser
of the fair, is predicting that consumers' wine tastes
will become even more discerning this year. "Interest
in the quality and heritage of wines is growing fast. We can
already see this with the increase in champagne drinking,
but wine lists need to change and move away from manufactured
branded wines in order to meet and surpass customer expectations."
Similarly, on the food front the region's restaurateurs
and hoteliers are recognising the benefits of using premium
local produce to attract business and a record number of them
have requested tickets for this year's Cornwall Wine
and Fine Food Fair.
"Cornish producers are creating food that consumers
love seeing as menu ingredients, from starters right through
to coffee and chocolates," says Angie Coombs of Cornwall
Taste of the West. "As well as naming Cornish produce
on their menus, many hotels and accommodation providers are
also signposting guests to hamper providers, which is helping
raise the profile and reputation of Cornish food way beyond
our borders. This illustrates perfectly how exciting the market
can be when the local food and hospitality sectors work closely
together."
 Demand
for top quality, traditionally reared meats is expected to
be a particularly strong market force this season, as reflected
in an increased number of meat producers in the fair's
food hall, including the Cornish Pig Company from Truro and
Swannacott Manor Meats from Week St Mary, both exhibiting
there for the first time.
In the wine hall, more than 10 wine producers from France
will on hand to talk directly to people about their wines
from the Rhone, Muscadet, Loire, Bergerac and Burgandy regions.
Castang's own advisers will be guiding visitors through
the more than 300 wines from around the world available to
taste and buy, as well as offering guidance on predicted wine
trends for the coming year which include:
| |
A consumer shift away from manufactured branded wines
towards more expensive premium products; |
| |
Increased sales of food-style wines such as Sauvignon
Blanc (French or New World), which compliment Cornwall's
seafood so well; |
| |
A resurgence in sales of Spanish wines due to vastly
improved quality and competitive pricing; |
| |
Continued growth in rose sales after its successful
come-back last year. |
Master classes in wine tasting are available throughout the
two day event with wine guru Stephen Barrett. This year's
theme is 'What's your style?' – a
lively tour through different wine styles and how they're
affected by soils, climates and wine makers. Cost is £10
and pre-booking is essential by calling Castang Wines on 01503
220359.
Cheese master classes are also being offered from Cornwall's
only cheesemonger Stephen Gunn of The Cheese Shop in Truro.
Entry is free and places can be booked on the day at the Taste
of the West reception desk.
Entry to the Cornwall Wine and Fine Food Fair is free of
charge but by ticket only. To request a ticket contact Cornwall
Taste of the West on 01579 349363 or Castang Wine Shippers
on 01503 220359.
For further 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 Cornwall 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 on 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:
| 1. |
Food hall exhibitors at the Cornwall Wine and Fine Food
Fair 2006: |
Swannacott Manor Meats - Week St. Mary, North Cornwall
Cornish Chesse Company - Liskeard
Kernow Chocolate - Wadebridge
Boddington's Berries - Mevagissey
Whalesborough Farm Foods - Bude
Cornish Food Hampers - Redruth
Cornish Coffee Company Ltd - Redruth
Seriously Good Ltd - Padstow
Cornish Orchards - Liskeard
Sisley's Cornish Preserves - Penzance
Roddas - Redruth
Lynher Dairies Cheese Company - Truro
Trewithen Dairy - Lostwithiel
Cornish Pig Company - Truro
Kernewek Herb Kitchen - Helston
Lydia's Delight - Redruth
Kilhallon Quality Meats - St Austell
Gwennan Apiaries - Portreath
Cornish Meadow Preserves - Helston
A & J Richards (meats) - Liskeard
Ivy House - St Germans
Cornish Country Meats - Liskeard
Chocolicious - Truro
Cornish Farmhouse Cheeses - Penryn
| 2. |
Taste of the West in Cornwall is a £5million Objective
One umbrella 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
|
| 3. |
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
 back
to top
|
