About Us
In 2009 a chance conversation between two wine-lovers led to the realisation that Fortified Wines needed a trade tasting all of their own. Too often, this historic class of wines would be left to the end of a tasting when palates were tired and time was short. A class of wines which had shaped – and been shaped by – the history of Europe deserved their own showcase.
And so, with the help and support of a number of trade bodies – in particular The Madeira Institute (IVBAM) the first Big Fortified Tasting was held by Danny Cameron and Ben Campbell-Johnston in Glaziers’ Hall, London on the 19th April 2010.
In 2013 the Big Fortified Tasting hosted masterclasses for the first time and that same year the show won the International Wine Challenge Generic Campaign of the Year. In 2014, the growing success of the show meant a move to a larger site at Church House Conference Centre. The following year Danny Cameron stepped away from the BFT to focus on his family’s gin Distillery in Wales leaving the show in the capable hands of his co-founder. Ben’s tragic, sudden and unexpected death in late 2016 could have meant the end of the BFT.While walking the Thames Footpath in the summer, Alex Bridgeman was reflecting on the loss of the 2017 show in a conversation with his wife. Her response of “Why don’t you try to run the show in 2018?” followed some weeks later by “Do you need some help with organising it, darling?” is what got us to where we are today.
It was in the summer of 2017, while walking the Thames Footpath with his wife, that Alex Bridgeman was reflecting on the absence of the BFT that spring. Missing the show brought home how important was the chance to speak directly with producers, to learn about new and forthcoming product launches, to taste new wines and to discuss changes in the vineyards and the markets. Never did he expect a response of “Well, why don’t you try to run the show in 2018?” followed some weeks later by “Do you need some help with organising it, darling?”. And that is what got us to where we are today.
Happily, the BFT now continues under the guiding hands of Alex and Elizabeth with the essential help of Ben Read. We even managed to find a way to run the show in the middle of a pandemic!
