49,000 visitors from 141 countries attended ProWein, according to the fair organisers, despite strikes at Düsseldorf and other nearby airports in the immediate run-up to the fair and a public transport strike on the second and third day.
The seats were packed, the stage was lit, and the lights were dimmed. The 17th Meininger Awards Excellence in Wine & Spirit began, in front of 500 of the most significant people in the wine and spirits sectors.
Just in time for ProWein, the Ver.di union has announced there will be transport strikes on days two and three of the event. Their industrial action had already closed the Düsseldorf, Cologne and Stuttgart airports on 17 March, just when exhibitors were making their way to Germany.
Despite the conflict, life goes on in Ukraine. Grapes are picked and wine produced, sold and consumed. And 12 wineries are making their way to ProWein in the hope of building their export sales.
For many visitors, the day spent manning stands or visiting them and taking part in the actual events at the fair is only half the attraction of ProWein. There is plenty on offer in Düsseldorf in the evenings - from French fries with cool wines to Korean-inspired dishes with Champagne and Altbier. Wolfgang Fassbender has put together exciting evening events.
When the fair starts on 19 March, Peter Schmitz, former head of Messe Düsseldorf’s international contract business, will have been in charge of ProWein for only 47 days. In view of this short time period, Michael Degen, Executive Director of Messe Düsseldorf, will retain responsibility for ProWein until the end of the fair. Clemens Gerke and Alexandra Wrann spoke with Degen and Schmitz about their view of ProWein and its wider environment as well as how they want to position the fair in the future.
Which countries' wines are in which hall? Where to find the special features and presentations? We navigate you through the halls of the Düsseldorf Messe exhibition venue.
Tradition demands the participation of individuals who are dedicated to preserving it. For the Trentino winegrowers’ cooperative Mezzacorona, this involves safeguarding the indigenous grape varieties Teroldego and Marzemino, showcasing their qualities both as monovarietal wines and in blends.
