If you know your way around the wine industry, you'll want to mark these days in your diary. At the Arlberg Weinberg specialist symposium from 9 to 11 December, the big names from the wine world will gather in the Austrian alpine village of Lech.
Isabelle Legeron MW is the founder of the ‘Raw Wine’ event series, which is getting young consumers all over the world excited about natural wines. She will be talking about this international trend.
Sara Pérez is a gifted winemaker from the Priorat region in Spain. Her wines from the Mas Martinet and Clos Mogador wineries are among the most celebrated gems of the Iberian Peninsula. Sara will explain how she manages to bring so much freshness and elegance to her wines despite the heat and dry conditions.
The topic of water is a major focus, with drought a new challenge in Central Europe in particular. What does it do to our soils? How do vines react to dry conditions? And how does this affect wine, especially sparkling wines? Three scientists will be giving in-depth talks on the subject: Dr. Jamie Goode (UK author and biologist), Dr. Alain Deloire (oenologist) and Dr. Martin Grassberger (biologist, physician and author).
Young people have no interest in wine? Canadian Cokie Ponikvar can prove the opposite. Her Instagram account Cokiesworldofwine is followed by more than 460,000 wine enthusiasts from all over the world, the vast majority of whom are under 30. But her posts are also really exciting, informative - and fast-paced. Her fans will have the opportunity in Lech to get to know their idol in a very analogue way when she speaks about the perception of Austrian white wines in Canada.
Arianna Occhipinti is the standard-bearer of a new wine style from Sicily. Her wines are in demand like rare stamps of yesteryear. Self-confident and driven, she has gone her own way, crowned with success. The self-made winemaker is rarely seen, as she spends most of her time in the vineyards and in the cellar. At Arlberg Weinberg on 10 December, she will talk about her wine style.
Aleks Zecevic is one of the leading wine critics of the next generation. The former Wine Spectator writer now publishes his reviews in the US magazine Wine Enthusiast. He meticulously analyses the wines of Central Europe with a passion – and never minces his words. He also curates a tasting of alternative wines from Austria at Arlberg Weinberg.
Simon J Woolf has made a name for himself in the natural wine scene with his books ‘Amber Revolution’ and ‘Foot Trodden’ and is regarded as a critical chronicler of the wine scene with his online wine magazine and newsletter ‘The Morning Claret’.
Patrick Schmitt MW is the editor-in-chief of the UK magazine Drinks Business, whose website and international newsletter have developed into a kind of live ticker for the wine industry, providing the latest news from around the world. He will share his international perspective on Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc with symposium guests.
Together with numerous Austrian experts such as Andreas Wickhoff MW, Willi Klinger, Daniela Dejnega(Gault&Millau) and Willi Balanjuk (A la Carte), the symposium will explore pertinent topics in the wine industry and present exciting wine tastings.
Tickets for all the Arlberg Weinberg events (5 to 15 December) and for the symposium (9 to 11 December) can be booked online at Lech Zürs Tourism.
Arlberg Weinberg is an initiative of Lech Zürs Tourism and is organised with the support of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board.
Press information: Wine+Partners, +43 1 369 79900, [email protected]
Lech Zürs am Arlberg offers guests remarkable skiing, outstanding culinary offerings and the finest of wines. The 'Arlberg Weinberg' event, traditionally held in the first week of December, lavishes attendees with fantastic wines, gourmet food and captivating events. The program is tailor-made for wine lovers who also enjoy time on the slopes and indulgence for all the senses.
Arlberg Weinberg
Lech Zürs Tourism
Dorf 2
6764 Lech am Arlberg
Austria
