|  The year 2014 indicates exciting times ahead for the Indian wine and spirits industry. As the liquor companies prepare to enter another year, Ambrosia magazine gears up to host the eighth edition of its mega alcobev trade event INDSPIRIT 2014. For the first time, moving out of its home Mumbai, the event is all set to take place in the Millennium city, Gurgaon at Crowne Plaza Today Hotel on 24th January 2014.
INDSPIRIT has gone through some changes this year. From the usual two-day affair, it’s now cut to a day-long event, with more focus on Conference (two conference sessions, Industry session and Technical session running concurrently during the day) and tasting of several wine and spirit brands in the evening followed by the most awaited awards ceremony- Ambrosia Awards 2014 and cocktail dinner.
Some of the key topics to be discussed at this year’s industry conference are on ‘premiumisation’-Importance of Social Media and Digital Marketing, Impact of GST on liquor and beer sales, Changing Dynamics of travel retail industry in the Asia Pacific region and presentation of case studies on creating a successful brand in the present scenario.
The Technical session will have panel discussion on producing world class wines in Indian climate and a session on packaging. There is a line-up of eminent speakers who will speak on subjects like Modernizing distilleries to produce quality alcohol and Importance of Sensory for developing new products. The conference will be attended by the alcohol industry professionals, regulators, decision makers and members of the press.
Ambrosia Awards 2014 which will take place in the evening of 24th January will commence with a walk-around tasting of several wine, beer and spirit brands. There are around 40 awards this year to be conferred in four major categories. Product awards, Personality awards, Packaging awards and others. While Product Awards will be conferred on best wine, whisky, beer, rum, vodka and brandy brands along with best new product launch award, Personality awards will include Top five most Influential people of the year, Young Entrepreneur of the year and Life Time Achievement Award.
Just as in the previous years, in Packaging Awards, the nominated brands will be judged under 3 heads- Mono cartons, Unit Pack and Graphics in categories (Bottled in India) BiI and (Bottled in Origin)BIO. Other prominent awards will be awarded in the field of Excellence in CSR Initiative, Excellence in Retail and Distribution, Excellence in Supply chain, Excellence in Brand Promotion, Regulator of the Year, Emerging company of the year, Fastest Growing Company of the Year, Best Bar of the Year and Best Microbrewery of the Year.
Best wine award will be decided based on the scores of the special tastings organised by Ambrosia magazine during Vinexpo last year in Bordeaux which consisted of jury members like Tim Atkin, Neal Martin, Jane Anson, James Lawther, Gabriel Shaw and David Rowe.
The Personality Awards, Packaging Awards as well as others are jury awards where as the product awards and Best Bar and Microbrewery awards are based on the nominations by the Ambrosia Editorial and Research Team and evaluated by the eminent Jury. The jury members will decide and evaluate the awards along with the official tabulator of Ambrosia Awards Ernst & Young.
For further details or queries please contact indspirit@sapmagazines.com or Rojita@sapmagazines.com.
Rojita Tiwari |