April 24, 2025 – The London Wine Fair’s timetable of sessions is now live. More than 70 Industry Briefings, Masterclasses, Seminars and Tastings will take place across the three days at Olympia. The sessions, which promise thought-provoking content to address the industry’s challenges and opportunities, will take place across six areas: Centre Stage; Education Zone Theatre; Premium Masterclass Theatre; Walk-Up Tasting Sessions; and new for this year to absorb the growing amount of content, Signature Serve Theatre; and The Tasting Space. In addition, Mentzendorff will host a series of Mini Masterclasses and Feature Pour sessions on their stand (E38) throughout The Fair, featuring sought-after estates such as Klein Constantia, Domaine Chanson and Ponzi Vineyards.
This year’s topics shine a spotlight on the global economy, tariffs, duty, and sustainability. The Wine & Spirit Trade Association will again be partnering with London Wine Fair on a series of Industry Briefings and sessions, including this year’s State of the Nation address, a must-attend for the UK’s key decision makers.
The WSTA’s State of the Nation
Staying Grounded: Making Sense of a Rapidly Changing World
Monday, 19th May, 10h15 to 11h15, Centre Stage
This year’s London Wine Fair takes place against backdrop of a changing world which appears to be governed less by established rules and more by deals and alliances. WSTA Chief Executive, Miles Beale, will reflect on the seismic changes witnessed over recent months and looks ahead to what the future holds for the UK wine market.
Hosted by senior executives at Wine & Spirit Trade Association: Miles Beale, CEO; David Richardson, Regulatory & Commercial Affairs Director; and Simon Stannard, Director of Policy.
How Occasions Are Evolving for Drinkers and Shoppers
Wednesday, 21st May, 12h45 to 13h45, Centre Stage
This WSTA run discussion will explore how wine is evolving for both drinkers in the on-trade and shoppers in supermarkets and specialist retailers. The session will focus on latest consumer trends and explore shifting occasions influenced by other drink categories.
Hosted by Davina Kortright, Head of Research & Insights, WSTA.
The Future of Independent Merchants: Mastering the Omnichannel Approach
Tuesday, 20th May, 15h00 to 15h45, Education Zone Theatre
This panel will explore how Independent Merchants can blend in-store education, tastings, on-trade sales, subscription models, online retail and experiential experiences to build customer loyalty and drive growth.
Hosted by Simon Cairns, WSTA and John Chapman, Oxford Wines.
Circular Economy: Opportunities and Challenges
Wednesday, 21st May, 10h15 to 11h15, Centre Stage
This session will delve into the new UK policies to introduce a circular economy for packaging. The Collection and Packing Reforms include Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), Packaging Recovery Note Reform (PRNs) and plans for packaging reuse.
Hosted by Miles Beale, CEO, WSTA and Freddie Joosten, Associate Director of Environmental Policy, WSTA.
Head of London Wine Fair, Hannah Tovey, said: “The appetite for sessions at London Wine Fair is just tremendous. I’m thrilled that we have been able to introduce two additional theatres this year, in response to the ever-growing demand. Whilst trading is still at the heart of the event, it’s fair to say that education, support and information share has become equally important in terms of the value offering. And this is no doubt a reflection of the testing conditions we are all navigating. The importance of coming together once a year to help futureproof our industry and create opportunity cannot be underestimated.”
The London Wine Fair will take place at Olympia from 19th to 21st May. All sessions in the theatres are accessible to London Wine Fair ticket holders on a first come, first seated basis. Additionally, the Premium Masterclass Theatre will have an allocation of seats that can be pre-booked by VIP’s, verified media, MW’s and MS’s; pre-booking is open now via the Essential Planner platform for registered visitors: https://lwf-2025.eventware.com/lwf-2025. The full schedule can be seen here: https://www.londonwinefair.com/2025-session-schedule
