We often receive mail shots from odd places around the world inviting us to trade fairs and exhibitions. Obviously, from the point of view of selling wine (alcohol), these would only be attractive to us in places where there might be a reasonable demand. For example, there are an increasing number of fairs springing up in the Middle East, and it sometimes strikes me as a little odd to think that you might be exhibiting your wine in a country where the general consumption of alcohol is strictly against the law. Of course, in these Middle Eastern countries, and other places such as India, there still remains a growing demand as the number of foreign visitors, and the construction of new international hotels moves on a pace. In time, these locations may well become the markets of the future and therefore could be worth serious consideration.

I was however, mildly shocked the other day when I saw an invite from a country that would not perhaps figure at the top of your potential new market list…. Libya. Obviously it is a country that needs all the help it can get with its on-going reconstruction programme, but is it really ready for albariño at this moment in time? Probably not is my guess. After all, it’s not that long ago that the old despotic regime was overthrown, and tanks rolled through the streets, quite apart from the fact that Islam is still by far the most predominant religion.

One day in the future perhaps?

We often receive mail shots from odd places around the world inviting us to trade fairs and exhibitions. Obviously, from the point of view of selling wine (alcohol), these would only be attractive to us in places where there might be a reasonable demand. For example, there are an increasing number of fairs springing up in the Middle East, and it sometimes strikes me as a little odd to think that you might be exhibiting your wine in a country where the general consumption of alcohol is strictly against the law. Of course, in these Middle Eastern countries, and other places such as India, there still remains a growing demand as the number of foreign visitors, and the construction of new international hotels moves on a pace. In time, these locations may well become the markets of the future and therefore could be worth serious consideration.

I was however, mildly shocked the other day when I saw an invite from a country that would not perhaps figure at the top of your potential new market list…. Libya. Obviously it is a country that needs all the help it can get with its on-going reconstruction programme, but is it really ready for albariño at this moment in time? Probably not is my guess. After all, it’s not that long ago that the old despotic regime was overthrown, and tanks rolled through the streets, quite apart from the fact that Islam is still by far the most predominant religion.

One day in the future perhaps?