Between 10 and 12 March, 200 Austrian winemakers presented 2,500 wines at ProWein in Düsseldorf. Industry specialists from around the world were able to sample the diversity of Austrian wines while enjoying the chance to network with both existing and new contacts.
A total of 14 masterclasses and five themed tastings hosted by the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine) provided an in-depth insight into the Austrian wine industry.
"It’s been a very intense and exciting three days," confirmed Chris Yorke, CEO of Austrian Wine. "Once again, this year’s ProWein Düsseldorf is our strongest trade fair presence outside Austria. It is a key platform for our winemakers, which allows them to strengthen their existing international network and make new contacts. Even if current economic conditions are anything but easy, it is clear that our wines are still in demand and appreciated around the world, because of their high quality and environmentally conscious production."
THE MANY FACETS OF AUSTRIAN WINE
Altogether 2,500 wines were presented at ProWein by a total of 200 Austrian wineries from all of the country's wine-growing regions. Austrian Wine also had their own stand, a masterclass area and a tasting bar at the fair. Fourteen masterclasses and five themed tastings were hosted during the three-day event, focusing on topics such as premium-quality Weinviertel DAC, Blaufränkisch and Zweigelt, mature Sauvignon Blancs from Steiermark (Styria), and environmentally conscious viticulture in Austria.
SPOTLIGHT ON ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS VITICULTURE
This topic is playing an increasingly important role in Austria, and this was reflected by the Austrian wineries that were exhibiting at ProWein. Almost half of the producers that attended the fair carry the "Sustainable Austria" certification, and more than a quarter are certified organic or biodynamic. Austrian Wine also had their own display panel on their stand, which presented the key facts and figures about environmentally conscious viticulture in Austria.
NEXT STOP: VIEVINUM
After successfully kicking off the trade fair year with Vinexpo Paris and Millésime Bio in January, followed by ProWein in Düsseldorf, the Austrian wine industry will put on its biggest exhibition of the year at the end of May. In just a few months’ time, VieVinum will turn the HOFBURG Vienna into a powerful platform for Austrian wines. Austrian Wine will be bringing around 1,000 key business partners from the international wine industry to Vienna, giving them the opportunity to meet with Austrian winemakers.
Source: Austrian Wine (ÖWM)