Austria puts the exclamation point on Vintage 2017!
The trade fair ProWein in Düsseldorf is nothing short of the professional-sector rendezvous for wine and spirits in Europe. 6,600 exhibitors from all over the world make for a comprehensive overview of the global product range. But 2017 certainly put the dampers on the international portfolio: compared with 2016, wine production worldwide sank by more than 8%. And the great wineproducing nations of western Europe were obliged to report historically modest volumes: Spain, 33.5 million hectolitres (-15% compared with 2016), France, 36.7 million hl (-19% compared with 2016) and Italy, 39.3 million hl (-23% compared with 2016).

In stark contrast with these figures, Austria can put an exclamation point on the ‘17 vintage: quality ranges from good to excellent, coupled with a harvest volume of some 2.5 million hectolitres – which is above the long-term average. Together, this means contentment and confidence for the Austrian wine industry at this year’s ProWein. Willi Klinger, head of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB), casts a positive eye upon the country’s prospects for the coming trade fair: ‘For Austrian wine, ProWein is practically a home-game. There’s nowhere else abroad where we have such a commanding and comprehensive presence as we do in March in Düsseldorf.’

Tasting highlights in Hall 17
In 2017, Austria was already fielding the sixth-largest national contingent at ProWein, and this year as well there will be some 350 Austrian wine producers – together with the AWMB – once more bringing a powerful and unified presence to Hall 17. To round off the ‘little bit of Austria’ feeling, Gruber’s ‘Schmankerl’ Restaurant will be serving traditional Austrian culinary delicacies. A sophisticated supplementary programme will provide exciting tastings on a daily basis, including for the first time the royal class of Austrian sparkling wines, Austrian Sekt with protected designation of origin (Sekt g.U.). In addition, the AWMB will be presenting a tasting of award winning top-drawer wines from Austria exclusively for Chinese trade visitors in the ProWein Forum (Hall 10).