Once again this year ProWein impressively proved it is the world’s most important business platform for the international wine and spirits sector. Over 6,500 exhibitors from more than 60 nations – more than ever before – were presented at ProWein in Düsseldorf from 19 to 21 March. Half the exhibitors came from Italy (1,600) and France (1,500), followed by Germany (1,000), the New World (600), Austria, Spain and Portugal. In focus were the new wines from all relevant winegrowing regions of this world supplemented by 300 spirits specialities. This year visitor numbers also set new standards. A total of 58,500 trade visitors from 130 countries came to ProWein (2016: 55,700 from 126 countries). One in two visitors came to Düsseldorf from abroad. Particularly pleasing here was the high number of managers: at least two-thirds of all visitors were top decisionmakers. They came to Düsseldorf with a clear intention to invest: just under 60% of all trade visitors performed their business deals during the fair or planned to place orders right after it. One in two visitors also found new suppliers. “ProWein is an incredibly intensive trade fair. For three days very concentrated and effective business goes on here. Visitors particularly included key players – important importers and representatives from large international commercial chains. Again this year the sector showed how strong and capable it is. An extremely high number of orders were placed and a great deal of new business ideas were discussed,” said Hans Werner Reinhard, Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf, summing up the success of the trade fair. 
 
Also attracting particular interest this year was the new ProWein Business Report that was developed in collaboration with the renowned Geisenheim University. Almost 1,500 experts from the wine sector from 46 countries were polled on international wine markets, marketing trends and the development of wine sales channels. The report takes the current temperature of the sector and in future is to serve as an annual barometer of trends.  Those polled included wine producers (small and large wineries, cooperatives) as well as marketers (speciality retailers/wine merchants, wholesalers, importers/exporters, hotels and gastronomy). The combination of different perspectives of the producers on the one hand and the marketers on the other constitutes a unique barometer of opinions for the sector.
The next ProWein will be held in Düsseldorf from 18 to 20 March 2018.