Serving as a gateway for international wineries to penetrate the U.S market and for regional and national wine buyers to discover new products, the seventh annual Miami International Wine Fair-managed by Vinamericas Inc.-took place over the weekend at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
The fair, which kicked off Saturday afternoon for trade and media attendees before opening to the general public in the evening, was spread across more than 70,000 square feet, ranking among the five biggest wine shows in the country.
"Thousands of industry professionals, including more than 100 out-of-state buyers representing hundreds of millions in annual wine purchasing power and presence in all 50 states, were scheduled to attend our event, making it the most comprehensive trade experience we have hosted to date," said David Bernad, co-founder and general manager of the fair.
Throughout the weekend, more than 7,000 industry professionals and aficionados tasted nearly 1,500 wines from 15 countries, including Spain, France, Italy, Australia, and the United States. Focusing on education, the show organizers also provided guests with a diverse seminar schedule, featuring topics such as pairing sushi with sake, and introductions to wines from India, the Pacific Northwest, and Brazil.
After the trade-show floor closed on both Saturday and Sunday, select guests were invited to intimate wine dinners at venues across the beach, such as Smith & Wollensky and Hotel Victor-and, on Saturday night, Opium Garden for the after-party.
The Miami International Wine Fair closed today at 4 p.m.
