SIAL Fair in Paris

I attended the SIAL 2008 in Oct 2008 - one of the world's biggest Food fair held in Paris once in 2 years. This was my 3rd SIAL fair which was different from the previous 2 SIAL fairs which i attended because this time i was a visitor and not the Exhibitor. All our African clients generally come to this fair in Paris.

Though its a food fair, there are always a lot of beverages stalls mostly dedicated to juices and energy drinks but a few stalls are invariably wine and liquor stalls. I make it a point to visit all the wine stalls as much as i can in the general halls as well as the country specific halls where you get to taste wines from different countries like Italy, Hungary, Spain, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Bulgaria and other eastern european countries. Indian wine maker Grover, had their stall in SIAL 2004 if i am not mistaken or may be it was 2006 in the Indian section full of basmati rice, spices, nuts, pulses and cereals stalls.

Tasted quite a few Italian wines made with italian grape varieties apart from wines from Bordeaux like Pessac Leognan which is one of my favourite wine regions of Bordeaux and other east european wines.

They also have a innovation prizes for food , packaging as well as wine packaging and innovative labels and ideas.

This time the fair had organised interesting lectures and seminars about wine by some prominent people from the wine world. Will give a brief of many such lectures shortly.