Beyond Wine: Producers' Circle in Copenhagen
An invite-only gathering of the people behind the most interesting No & Low ABV specialty beverages (some call them wine alternatives or proxies). A chance to sit down together and talk about the things that actually matter: marketing, distribution, D2C, fundraising, and where this whole category is going. At heart, this is about getting to know each other as people and building the real connections.
Hosted by Roman Sydorenko, angel investor, author "BEYOND WINE: The Gourmand’s Guide to No & Low ABV Specialty Beverages".
Co-organizers:
Lucas Matthies, Friederike Duhme (@keinundlow), Maddalena Zanoni (@feral_drinks), Murray Paterson (@muri_drinks)
Programme
Day One — Tuesday 1 September
11:30–12:30 — Arrival and introductions.
12:30–13:30 — Lunch.
13:30–17:00 — Panel discussions.
Four panel discussions, each in the spirit of a fireside chat. A moderator and a few producers who know the terrain open each one; then it goes to the floor, where the room counts as much as the panel.
— Positioning & marketing — moderated by Lucas Matthies, with Ruben Van Aken (A.I.R. Distillations), Christian Arensbak (ARENSBAK) and Jeroen Groot (Cul Sec). Telling the story of a drink that answers to no old category.
— Direct-to-consumer — moderated by Roman Sydorenko, with Murray Paterson (MURI), Maddalena Zanoni (FERAL) and Walker Brengel (BOUCHE). Building a real relationship with the people who love what you make.
— Restaurants, chefs & pairings — moderated by Friederike Duhme, with Ramon Perise (AMA), Benoît d’Onofrio (La Sobrellerie) and Ina Averhals (A.I.R. Distillations). Earning a place on the world's best menus, and building pairings worthy of the food.
— The United States — moderated by Jens Christophersen. The largest and most demanding market: import, distribution, and making a name there.
17:00 — A visit to MURI Urban Blendery + tasting, hosted by its founder, Murray Paterson.
18:30 — Open bar – kein&low will provide a selection of bottles. Enjoy a glass, or two.
20:00 until late: Dinner at Dockside.
Day Two — Wednesday 2 September
Morning (location to be announced) — Breakfast with Friederike and Lucas of kein&low. A quieter, informal way to continue the conversations from the day before, share reflections over coffee.
The Venue
Sea Level at Copenhagen Dockside, Sundkrogskaj 17, 2150 Copenhagen
We're spending the day at Sea Level, Copenhagen Dockside's space on the quay in Nordhavn, the city's redeveloped harbor district. The house is Utzonhuset, built in 1999 by Kim Utzon — son of Jørn Utzon, the architect of the Sydney Opera House, whose family shaped this whole stretch of the harbor. Inside: high ceilings, water on two sides, and a door straight onto the dock.
Getting there: a few minutes' walk from Orientkaj metro (M4), about 15 minutes from the city center.
Wanna join us in Copenhagen?
Please submit a request to join through Luma. Your place is not confirmed immediately.
The standard ticket price is €150. This helps cover the shared meals and venue costs.
Travel support
If travel costs are a barrier to joining us, please get in touch. We have set aside a small travel fund and a limited number of discounted tickets for emerging producers who would otherwise be unable to attend. Email roman@aceofcups.vc and we will do our best to help.