Important Announcement

RAW WINE

2 min read

RAW WINE London 2020 – Postponed

Dear friends,

It is with a heavy heart that we write this letter.

Due to the heightened risk of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and all the threats that this poses, we feel that it is sadly in the best interest of our community of growers, makers, partners, importers, distributors, stockists, tasters and staff to postpone RAW WINE London 2020 until the threat of the virus subsides.

Our team has spent much of the past few days talking to our community and hearing about concerns worldwide. Alongside our hundreds of UK visitors, we were thrilled this year to also be welcoming over 500 international visitors from 33 different countries. The bitter-sweet nature of this also brought with it concerns of involuntary spread, worries about quarantine and flight cancellations. Many, many people were understandably concerned.

It has been a particularly tough decision since at the weekend many partners were still urging us to continue with the show given that we had implemented a vast array of new cleaning and hygiene protocols to keep everyone as safe as possible at the fair. Others had, however, begun to suggest that we should postpone it. Initially the polarity of responses was very tricky to handle as we did not want to upset or let anyone down. However, over the last couple of days, recent developments have meant that it is now clear the majority of our community want the show, but they do not want it now.

This is why we are officially postponing RAW WINE London 2020 with the intention of announcing a new date for the fair in the next few weeks.

As Isabelle Legeron MW, our founder, said in her email to our growers & makers this morning, “we have now organised some 23 fairs around the world and have had to deal with some very challenging situations, but we have never had to face anything of this magnitude and fluidity. I know some of you are very keen for us to carry on with the fair as planned, but an even greater number in the community at large have asked us to postpone the event or have advised us that they are unable or unwilling to travel at the moment. It is now clear that the majority of voices are saying they want RAW WINE London to take place but not this weekend.”

We will work closely with everyone involved to identify a suitable new date when the situation improves. Our commitment to serve and support low-intervention organic, biodynamic and natural wine worldwide, and our dedication to the well-being of our community and clean farming principles, means that we have definitely not gone for good. We will be back later on this year for an even more exciting RAW WINE London 2020.

As a ticket holder, your ticket will of course be valid for the new fair but should you prefer to join us for one of our other 2020 fairs you are more than welcome to swap your entry for one of those instead. Alternatively, refunds will also be available. Details regarding these various options will follow shortly.

We certainly hope you will all be able to join us for at least one of our 2020 fairs.

Thank you for your understanding.

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