Q&A WITH HANNAH TOVEY - DIRECTOR, LONDON WINE FAIR 2024

Hannah, ranked No. 36 in Drinks Retailing's Top 100 Most Influential People in Drinks and the accomplished Event Director of LWF, is a renowned wine and events expert with also an interest to empower female leadership in the industry. Her vibrant energy and approachable nature make her a delight to engage with, embodying excellence in wine event management. It was a pleasure to do the Q&A ahead of LWF 2024. 

1. What exciting new features or highlights can attendees expect at this year's London Wine Fair, and how does the event aim to provide a unique and memorable experience for visitors?
"Keeping London Wine Fair fresh and relevant for both our exhibitors and visitor audience is always imperative, and we have several new features which will be a significant draw for 2024. First up – and the news which has attracted significant attention already – is Judgement of London. This will pay homage to Steven Spurrier’s ground-breaking Judgement of Paris but will go beyond pitting France against California. Judgement of London will have a much broader remit and feature pairs of wines from Europe and the Rest of the World; eight white, and eight red. The wines and the tasting format is being curated by two of the wine industry’s most experienced professionals, Ronan Sayburn MS and CEO of The Court of Master Sommeliers, and high respected wine writer and tasting judge, Sarah Abbot MW, and we have a panel of 20 of the UKS most impressive palates to judge.
The tasting will take place at The Fair on Monday, 20th May, with the results shared with the LWF audience the following day on Centre Stage. We are also introducing a new Hosted Buyer Programme for all exhibitors and visitors this year and a full Concierge Service for 50 of the UK’s top buyers. As in previous years, visitors and exhibitors will
have access to London Wine Fair’s digital networking and show planner platform, where sessions can be booked, and meetings requested and confirmed based on tailored searches. Implemented based on feedback from VIP buyers attending the 2023 show, the new bespoke service will comprise a dedicated space for meetings “The Hosted Buyers Lounge”.

2. In what ways has the London Wine Fair adapted to current challenges (in your view) and trends within the wine industry, and how will these adaptations enhance the overall attendee experience?
“Every year sees the LWF evolve, mirroring the UK and international wine industry in terms of trends, challenges and opportunities. This is most obviously reflected in our content, which we believe is absolutely unrivalled. This ranges from State of the Nation Industry Briefings, Panel Discussions, Masterclasses from emerging markets to fine wine producers and Seminars from W.S.E.T, to name just a few. In terms of trends, we are able to platform the latest innovations in the world of wine, from cutting edge AI technology to sustainable bottle producers. These sit alongside wines from more than 40 producing countries – more breadth than any other drinks exhibition in the UK – many of which are coming to the UK for the first time and are from as far flung as Japan, Mexico, Belgium and Tasmania.”

3. As the industry continues to evolve, what emerging markets or regions are showing promise, and how is the London Wine Fair positioned to showcase and promote these new opportunities?
“Emerging regions very often choose to launch onto the UK market at the London Wine Fair. The fact that we attract such a strong professional visitor audience, from top sommeliers to independent wine merchants to supermarket buyers, means that even the smallest region can make an immediate and effective impact. For this year, we have several emerging regions exhibiting, a number of which for the first time. These include: Armenia; Bulgaria; China; Czech Republic; Japan; and Serbia”.

4. How has the global wine industry evolved over the past year, and what emerging trends do you foresee impacting the market in the near future?
“Over the last five years, the global wine industry has evolved faster than at almost any other time. Covid appeared to be a catalyst for much of this, especially the burgeoning market for No and Lo. But also, the challenges – especially for the UK – with duty rises and the not-unrelated fall in wine consumption, have necessitated changes to the market with more opportunities for lesser known regions. In terms of trends, I see no let up in the growth of No and Lo, and the steady rise of our own domestic production. Drinks which are sustainably made, be they regenerative organic, low carbon, or zero waste, are clearly resonating with the consumer and the industry is taking note. We are seeing more sustainable wines and other drinks exhibiting each year.”

5. In your opinion, what are some of the most pressing challenges women face in the wine industry today, and what steps can be taken to address and overcome these obstacles?
London Wine Fair 2024 Inclusivity Survey Plan “Gender equality continues to be an issue in many industries, and the wine industry is starting to recognise the areas in which it is falling short. London Wine Fair itself is run by a diverse team of women and as such is well invested in working towards a more equitable industry. This year we are giving space to two sessions dedicated to Diversity & Inclusion in the industry. They are both happening on Tuesday 21st May. The first is in the Education Zone and seeks to advise our visitors of simple, first steps they can take to improve access and equity for all intersectionalities. The second on Centre Stage is fronted by WSTA, WSET & The Drinks Trust and will lay out their plans to work in collaboration and create an industry-wide, industry-owned programme to deliver diversity, equity and culture change at every level.”

6. Which female wine industry professional do you most admire and why? 
“It has to be Jancis Robinson MW OBE. She has done the most – by some way – to advance the position of women in the wine industry in this country. The fact that she is arguably the world’s most influential wine writer and happens to be female is part of this, but she has always actively championed women in a wine and has shone a spotlight on issues such as wine’s #MeToo moment.”

7. Looking ahead, what initiatives or changes do you believe are necessary to foster greater diversity and inclusion within the wine industry, particularly in leadership roles and decision- making positions?
I think that the collaborative programme that I refer to above from the WSTA, WSET & The Drinks Trust is absolutely right to start with industry wide consultation. Seeking to improve safeguarding must also be a priority. Mapping of existing support and gap analysis of what is lacking will help to identify next steps. They are also creating an advisory council and ensuring that the industry is aware that this is an industry owned programme into which everyone’s input is vital. Then education and resources will follow.

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London Wine Fair 2024 
Over 10,000 drinks industry professionals attended the UK's biggest live and digital drinks trade event in 2023. This progressive fair was rich with inspirational content, featured outstanding wines to taste from around the world and had an abundance of networking opportunities taking place in person and on the fair's intuitive digital platform. Connecting the Drinks Trade. 20-22 May 2024, Olympia London.

​To attend London Wine Fair this May register here. 
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