The 9th annual Miami International Wine Fair (also known as “MIWF”) announced that this year was the largest program to date with the anticipation of more than 1,500 wines from 20 countries, 80,000 exhibitor square-feet, and the return of the Collector’s Club, an exclusive pavilion featuring the world’s top-rated wines. Organizers have also extended the traditional two-day event into a comprehensive four-day trade, education and grand tasting program from October 14 to 17, with activities that were open to the public on October 15 and 16, 2010 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

General admission is $75 per day or $130 for two days (Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16). Collector’s Club tickets, showcasing the Fair’s top 100 wines, are $125 per day or $200 for two days and includes one-hour early entry. Proceeds from all the ticket sales are benefitting a local charity.

“We are extremely excited about this year’s Wine Fair,” said David Bernad, founder and president of MIWF. “Not only is the economy on a path to recovery, we are also seeing more foreign producers than ever determined to invest in the U.S. wine market. With wine consumption lagging in Europe and everywhere else in the world, wineries are flocking to our Fair to find new distribution channels while solidifying their existing relationships.”

The Miami International Wine Fair is hosting a series of events, wine tastings and seminars, securing a dynamic mix of exhibitors in line with consumer trends and demand:

• Chile’s spirit translates through its resilient and steadily stabilizing wine industry following the major earthquake that hit South America in February 2010. The Berlin Tasting-New York, a prestigious 10-wine competition, attests to the country’s bold strength as its high-end Carmenère recently topped wines from Napa Valley and Bordeaux to win best in show.
• New Zealand will increase their presence at the 2010 MIWF in an effort to expand their market reach. As the second largest wine consuming state in the U.S., just after California, Florida possesses a key audience to whom producers will reveal their quality work with Pinot Noirs.
• Argentine Malbec, the uniquely rich and full-bodied varietal which continues to experience exponential popularity in the U.S., is expected to be a continued favorite for Fair-goers.
• The rapidly emerging Grenache, a dry, difficult grape, best sourced from aged vines, is to be represented by Aragon, Spain – a region boasting some of the oldest vineyards in the world.
• Sopexa’s extraordinary success at the 2009 MIWF has prompted producers to significantly enlarge their booth with added focus on the regions du jour, the Loire and Rhone Valleys.

The Miami International Wine Fair offers Latin American and European wine producers a platform to forge valuable trade relationships. As a result of the 2009 agenda, more than 500,000 9L-case sales and purchasing orders were generated. On the heels of last year’s success, two trade seminars - What sells in America and Exploring Wine in America; an expanded wine buyer program; an industry-only tasting and targeted wine dinners will also be major components of the upcoming Fair.

Further, Vintrade, the rapidly growing organization responsible, alongside Iberwine, for producing the Miami International Wine Fair, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Massolo as MIWF Executive Director. A member of the Fair’s founding team in 2000, Massolo previously held positions with the Remy-Cointreau Group (now Maxxium) in Vancouver, Canada, and Concha Y Toro in Santiago, Chile. Her superior leadership skills and industry experience will uncork this 9th edition in spearheading a well-rounded program that is both a consumer and trade wine extravaganza.