Rioja will host next November the international congress “Wine Future” - Rioja 2009 bringing together influential figures from the global wine industry, like the famous American critic Robert Parker, to discuss and provide answers to the challenges the international wine industry is confronted to due to the economic crisis.

Wine Future Rioja ‘09 presents an attractive program of debates, which will be very useful for industry professionals, and which includes a tasting of ten wines led by Robert Parker, who will also offer a conference on his vision of the future of the wine industry in general and of Spanish wine in particular. It will be the first time that this prestigious prescriptor will visit Spain. There will also be an area where more than 100 wineries and wine companies from all wine regions are expected to showcase their products.

An outstanding cast of speakers will discuss the impact of the economic crisis in the industry, and provide ideas for addressing this challenge. Among other topics, they will discuss the opportunities and challenges for the Spanish wine; the role of education, critics and the press in the future of the sector; strategies to improve sales and consumption through various distribution channels including Internet; and examine the situation of emerging markets like Scandinavia, China, Russia and India, among others.

Among the speakers at Wine Future Rioja'09 are opinion leaders such as Jancis Robinson, Oz Clarke, Steven Spurrier and José Peñín; marketing experts like Kevin Zraly ("Windows of the World Wine School") or Robert Joseph (founder of the International Wine Challenge); distributors such as Mel Dick (chairman of Southern Wines & Spirits wine division), Dan Jago (responsible for purchasing wines and spirits for Tesco, the largest retail chain in the UK), or Troy Christensen (president of Constellation Europe Brands, the world's largest wine company).

Wine Future Rioja'09 will be held at Logroño’s (Rioja) Convention Center on November 12th and 13th. The congress is organized and owned by The Wine Academy of Spain, with the support of the CRDO Rioja, Avis, Constellation Brands Europe, ARAEX, Spanish Fine Wines, Marques de Riscal, and Dinastía Vivanco. For more information and registration visit www.winefuture.es