Noticias, May 2009

Beginning of 2009 promotional campaigns in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States

The Control Board of the Navarra Designation of Origin and the Asociación Bodegas de Navarra have initiated their promotional activities for 2009 in Germany, the United Kingdom and United States.

The campaign began in 2008 and will continue through 2010. It encompasses various activities aimed at promoting Navarra wines abroad. In 2009, there will be various tastings scheduled in different countries, as well as press trips, talks, participation in international trade fairs, and so on.

In Germany, the campaign, in which 16 bodegas participate, will include the following activities in 2009:
1. Wein und Pintxos Presentation of wine and tapas pairings for the press, retailers and the catering sector in Stuttgart, Cologne and Berlin. 75 are invited to each presentation and all the wineries will have wines combined with food. Furthermore, a specialist or top sommelier will comment on the wines and the pairing.
2. Participation in the Prowein Trade Fair A 30 square metre Navarra wine stand will be set up to exhibit the wines of all the wineries participating in the campaign, while the agency will ensure their exposure by inviting journalists and professionals.
3. Tasting at the Meininger stand in the Prowein Trade Fair A wine of each of the bodegas that participate in the campaign is to be featured, announced in the fair catalogue, in Weinwirtschaft and via e-mail to about 2000 addresses of the on-trade.
4. Round table for the press In either Berlin or Munich (as yet to be decided), there will be a presentation of Navarra wines, with a guided wine tasting led by a specialist and accompanied by a suitable meal. All the wines of participating bodegas are to be present and a representative of the Control Board of the DO Navarra and of the Asociación Bodegas de Navarra is scheduled to attend.
5. Seminars at reputed catering schools Classes will be taught by a professional and include a presentation introducing Navarra, and a tutored wine tasting.
6. Press trip to Navarre for wine specialists
7. Mailing to trade press Information will be sent with news about the harvest, pairings and details of wineries and their importers. This mailing goes out to approximately 200 wine and food journalists.
8. Mailing to mainstream press Information will be sent to about 200 journalists in charge of the food and drink sections of mainstream magazines, with information on aspects of interest for the public, descriptions of wines, etc.
9. Drafting of a dossier for the magazine Weinwirtschaft In the United Kingdom, where 18 bodegas are participating, the following activities will be carried out:
1. Tasting of Rosé Wines at the premises of the Wines from Spain office (February)
Without the presence of the wineries but with representatives of the Control Board of the Navarra Designation of Origin and the Asociación Bodegas de Navarra, a dossier will be handed out to all participants about Navarra Wines, with specific information on rosé wine.
2. Navarra Club at the London International Wine Fair
Wines of participating bodegas will be tasted throughout the day. Visitors are also provided with information about the region and participating wineries and may attend specific tastings. Representatives of the Control Board of the DO Navarra, the Asociación Bodegas de Navarra and participating bodegas are expected.
3. Presentation of Navarra wines with a tasting for the trade press
The Asociación Bodegas de Navarra will present the region’s wines to journalists and then hold a guided tasting of the most outstanding wines. Also, a seminar is to be held on relevant aspects of Navarre, fostering exchanges and discussions among participants.
4. Consumer press trips to Navarra
5. On-trade trip to Navarra
6. Off-trade trip to Navarra
7. Trip for a prestigious specialist to the region
In the United States, 15 of the Association’s wineries will participate with the following activities:
1. Sending of samples to select media (April and October)
Two shipments of an assortment of 6 wines are to be sent to 100 addresses each. Each shipment will be accompanied by a dossier about Navarre and an explanation on the range of wines available in the region and information about the winery.
2. Tasting in San Francisco (21 April)
There will be a day-long tasting for professionals —prescriptors, restaurateurs, distributors, importers and retailers.
3. Dinner with the media (The Wine Spectator) (April)
On occasion of the trip to San Francisco, a dinner is planned, organized for the trade press with wines from participating bodegas. The dinner is to be attended by the President of the Control Board of the DO Navarra and Manager of the Asociación Bodegas de Navarra, Pilar García Granero.
4. Press trip to Navarra (May)
5. Trip for Mr. Potashnik and his business partner Jay Youmans (May)
The International Wine Review (www.i-winereview.com), which has over 10,000 members, will be publishing a feature on Navarra wines in its late June issue.
6. Participation at the annual conference of the Society of Wine Educators in Sacramento, California (25 to 31 July)
This is an association of wine educators that has 2,000 members across the United States and 17 countries. Members are educators, importers, distributors, retailers, restaurateurs, hotel managers, wine consultants, journalists, public relations professionals, collectors and consumers. A seminar is being organized for 50-60 people, and a lunch with Navarra wines for 600-700 diners has been sponsored.