Sampling the delights of the London International Wine Fair

I spent a recent Tuesday afternoon working my way around the ExCeL centre, chatting to all sorts of weird and wonderful characters looking for a piece of the UK wine market action: a genuinely fascinating event.

I spoke to an Italian producer in search of a UK distributor for an aperitif that combines Prosecco and sparkling water. It is designed as a light drink that you can share with your friends or colleagues after work without getting too drunk or feeling too bloated prior to dinner. It all sounds very civilised but I wonder if we are culturally ready for it yet. It also tasted way too much like the watered down fare of my University ‘