April 30, 2013

Wine Expos for Lovers of the Grape

Some people eat to live and then there are those who “live to eat.”   These are the foodies of the world who will travel wherever they can to sample the best that can be offered by the gourmet goods industries.

 

Wine Expos are popular among people who love to sample liquor and food.  They also attract restaurant owners and caterers who want to serve the latest popular vintages and snacks to impress their clients. In general, anyone who loves cooking can be found at a wine expo.

 

These expositions which can be small and simple and feature a couple of local wine-growers who want to feature wines made from a certain region such as the Niagara region in Canada. Sometimes a group of small brewers will get together and hold an outdoors event where wines can be sampled at a wine expo that is like a county fair.

However usually wine fairs are gigantic like the annual Toronto Food and Wine Show which can feature over 500 vendors featuring wines, beers, hard liquors, cocktail treats, cheeses, meats and glass ware.

 

Vendors selling condiments and exotic garnishes for cocktails are also very common at these types of expositions as are vendors selling home wine-brewing kits, wine stoppers, wine decanters, wine racks and coolers for keeping wine at the right temperature.

 

There are usually a couple of booths selling cookbooks or the newest cooking gadgets on hand and many demonstrators on the floor offering you free samples of food and alcohol or discount coupons.

 

Depending on the laws where you live you can buy bottles of alcohol right at the wine expo or you can visit a licensed vendor to buy bottles of the wine you sampled during the show. Usually tickets are sold at the door and must be presented to each vendor, instead of cash, to trade for tasting various wines and products.

 

The fun part for many is all of the free samples. Depending on the laws in the country or state where you are enjoying the expo you might be offered free alcoholic drinks sponsored by a liquor company.  Most expos also have bars where you can independently sample the wine and liquor that you are interested in at a discount price.

 

It is also not unusual for travel agencies offering to sell you vacations that include wine tasting tours at wine expos or opportunities to go on cruises that feature wine tastings.