Megavino 2012

..surprises, with Austria as a main host!

Well ..to be honest.. this is not actually a surprise itself. Let me tell you why:

Austrian wine has recently been very hip and trendy, the export figures doubled in just 5 years. Austria in area and production is a small wine country. It employs about 46,000 ha of vineyards, with an annual production of 2.5 million hectoliters, or less than 1% of world production. These numbers puts Austria on the 18th place in the wine world, with a relatively small vineyard shared by more than 20,000 wine producers. And that means that the average area per area by 2.26 ha is particularly low.

The vineyards extend over four wine regions:

• Niederosterreich is by far the largest area of ​​27,128 ha of vineyards
• Burgenland (13,840 ha)
• Styria (4,240 ha)
• Vienna (612 ha).

Within these four regions we are still 16 demarcated wine regions with DAC (Districtus Austriae Controllatus), their version of wild known DOCs or AOCs.

Austria, nowadays, is known by their high quality and specific wine style.

The diversity of grape varieties is remarkable with no less than 35! And though Austria is by definition a white wine country, in the past 10 years red wine and rose has grown in importance (today is 2/3 white and 1/3 red).

The absolute star of Austrian Wines in white is the Grüner Veltliner, representing almost half of the white grapes planted. Followed by Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Weissburgunder (or Pinot Blanc) and Muskateller. In red Zweigelt leads the peloton, followed by far by Blaufränkisch and Blauer Portugieser. Also not to be forgotten are the Pinot Noir and Sankt Laurent (in small percentage).

Let me tell you that what makes Austria a fascinating wine country is that large number of producers, which one with different Terroir and planting different grapes. Is hard to find another wine country with such variety and high quality together. Do not surprise me that Austria has the strictest regulations in the world of wine!

MORE INFO..  AUSTRIAN WINE:    www.winesfromaustria.com

A record number of countries representatives, this year on Megavino, with more than 300 exhibitors from 30 different wine countries.

Italy is the second largest country in Megavino, with a huge pavillon from Sicily, regional pavilions from Aosta and Piedmont. Fot the first time, wine producers from Asti, Tuscany ,including a strong delegation of Pisa, and a large one from Puglia.

Spain is traditionally a obligatory stop for major importers, with Navarra as its star wine region.

France may not be a host this year, but still remain Belgian southern neighbors and one of the largest participants in Megavino. France boasts a real village in a beautiful pavilion where regions as Bordeaux and Beaujolais, in a gigantic “trial theater” present their attractions. New this year -> 17 different commented tasting, showing over 200 wines, for you to attend.

Countries like Argentina, two times as big as last year, Chile, California, South Africa, Brazil, Germany and Luxembourg are back in Megavino.

Not to mention the lovely “Night of the Luxembourg Crémants’ on the opening night.

New countries? Yes! For the first time present at Megavino are Mexico, Canada and Slovenia, a wine country that is particularly on the rise. All together with more than 50 different workshops, demos and commented tastings in our 4 showrooms.

After three years MegaSpirits is back at the exhibition! As a little brother it has significantly expanded. Numerous Whisky producers represented as well as Cognac, Armagnac, Marc and others distillates. If you’re looking for something for exotic, you can run over Rum, Tequila, Vodka and, of course, Cocktails J

You can figure out that Megavino this year is heading a very extensive and varied program.

See you there!!
L.

Megavino 2012, from October 19th to 22th, Paleis 3, Brussels Expo

To know more.. http://www.megavino.be