The ProWein event in Düsseldorf, which took place from March 10-12, hosted around 47,000 trade visitors from 135 countries and 5,400 exhibitors from 65 nations. Despite a rail strike affecting the last day’s turnout, the event showcased remarkable resilience and enthusiasm. Peter Schmitz, ProWein’s Director, emphasized the event’s significance, stating, “For those keen on the future of industry trends, ProWein is the place to be. It’s where the latest trends are showcased through Trendshows, Special Shows, and Forums, which is crucial for trade buyers from the sectors of retail, hospitality, and food service.”
Alex Kitts, Director of Intra Vino, was among the attendees. He engaged with numerous producers eager to penetrate the Ontario market and sought new additions for the company’s expanding portfolio. The event also provided a chance for the team to reconnect with wineries they represent and discover their latest offerings.
The Panagitopoulous Wines’ 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon stood out remarkably. Dimitris Panagiotopoulos surpassed expectations with this exceptional rendition of an old-world Cabernet Sauvignon. Previously, Dimitris had spent several years honing his craft at a local winery, enjoying the winemaking process and gaining invaluable experience. Yet, as an employee, he was unable to create wines that aligned with his personal vision.
In 1982, Dimitris and his father, a seasoned winegrower, set out to realize their dream. They gathered a dedicated team, each member bringing their own expertise and knowledge to achieve their collective vision.
By the time the 2005 vine harvest approached, they had established their own winery, poised to welcome the inaugural batch of grapes and the first visitors. The journey had begun.
Dimitris’s extensive experience in winemaking enables him to infuse his passion for viticulture and oenology into every bottle. His dedication to quality and his meticulous nature allow him to craft wines that truly reflect their origin, looking towards the future with optimism.
Peter Schmitz, Director of ProWein. “What’s more, whoever is interested tomorrow’s trends should visit ProWein today. Here the current industry trends are picked up on in Trendshows, Special Shows or Forums. This is of paramount importance to the trade buyers from retail, hospitality and food service.” One of the secrets to ProWein’s success – alongside its consistent orientation towards trade visitors – is its forward thinking and proactive development of market-driven formats.
ProWein is thus continuing its unique 30-year success story: launched in 1994 with 321 exhibitors on just 2,300 square meters of exhibit space in almost two exhibition halls and 1,517 visitors, next year it will once again impressively underline its market relevance with around 71,000 square meters in 13 exhibition halls.
“We are proud and happy that ProWein has developed into the most relevant international specialist wine trade fair thereby making the wine-growing country Germany the center of the international wine-experts’ universe for three days every year. Even after 30 years, ProWein still manages to inspire wine experts with new and exciting topics,” added Monika Reule, Managing Director of the German Wine Institute (DWI).
