“We’ll look at wine from the angles of attracting new consumers, marketing to them and creating the right product for them, how that’s changing and what that means for players across the industry” says Andrew Reed, Managing Director of the Drinks Division at William Reed Business Media. “Traditional markets are under pressure from squeezed margins and increased consumer choice. New markets are evolving – not without risk but with potentially big rewards. We’ll get the best minds in the trade to identify the biggest challenges and how the industry needs to shape up to succeed in a volatile future where change is the only constant.”Recently appointed speakers will drive that challenge home. Jaime Araujo, strategic advisor to some of the world’s biggest wine producers, will discuss the industry’s response to globalisation asking, when is it right to pursue a global market and when will a focus on local markets deliver a better return? Charles Banks, venture capitalist and the name behind California’s cult cabernet, Screaming Eagle, will advise on investment and development strategies, Sandra Taylor, President and CEO of Sustainable Business International and previously head of sustainability for Starbucks, will reveal what coffee retailers can teach wine producers about commercially astute approaches to sustainability, while John Morter, creator of ‘Condescending Brand’ and dubbed ‘Social Media Hell Raiser’ by New York Times, will provide a master class in social media marketing.This exceptional group joins an impressive line-up of speakers that also includes Mike Veseth, author and editor of The Wine Economist, Jean-Guillaume Prats, President and CEO of Moët Hennessy Estates & Wines, and Tyler Balliett, founder of Second Glass and the Wine Riot Events that have taken the USA by storm.Simon McMurtrie, Group Chief Executive of Direct Wines, will Chair Wine Vision 2014 and comments; “Wine Vision 2013 brought together the movers and shakers in our global industry for the first time. They’ll return in 2014 because they know we will address – with intelligence and rigour – the things they care most about – the things that will stimulate innovation and commercial success in the next decade. They know that, for anyone that wants to play a leading role in the changing world of wine, attendance at Wine Vision is non-negotiable.”As well as insightful talks, Wine Vision will include a series of panel debates, led by industry players, inviting audience participation and confronting controversial issues such as e-commerce vs traditional routes to market, new directions in wine packaging and the emergence of the new consumer. One brings together leading retailers from the UK, Sweden and Austria – Dan Jago of Tesco, Sara Norrell of Systembolaget and Anne Thysell of SPAR – to discuss the questionable power of retailers and their sometimes challenging relationships with producers. “Ours is a programme that welcomes controversy and doesn’t shy away from difficult issues,” says Andrew Reed. “Rather, it addresses them head on. If an industry wants to grow and evolve it needs to confront the challenge of change. Wine Vision will do just that.”Wine Vision 2014 will be held between 17 and 19 November at the Shangri-La at The Shard and The Hurlingham Club. All of last year’s sponsors have returned for a second year including Taylor’s Port, The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), Amorim, the world’s largest cork stopper producer, and ecommerce innovator BlackSquare.They are joined by Araex Rioja Alavesa & Spanish Fine Wines, the leading Spanish group of independent wineries and Ball Packaging Europe, a leading beverage can manufacturer and subsidiary of the Ball Corporation. “Our group of independent wineries is delighted to be back at Wine Vision and proud to join the ranks of sponsor. This event has set a new standard for the industry and is not to be missed if you’re a global player.”Javier Ruiz de Galarreta, President and CEO, Araex Rioja Alavesa & Spanish Fine Wines “As a company that has pioneered the ‘wine in cans’ movement, we are keen to be involved in an event that is focused on innovation and challenging conventional wisdom.” Antti Laakkonen, Business Manager, Ball Packaging Europe.The full Wine Vision programme can be downloaded from www.winevision.com/advance-programme.