Prowein might not be quite the biggest wine fair in Europe, but in terms of visitor numbers it comes a very respectable third, behind Vinitaly and VinExpo. For the serious international wine buyer however, it could possibly rate as number one on the list, quite simply owing to its level of highly efficient (German) organisation and good access – only minutes by tram, train or bus from both hotels and Dusseldorf’s International airport.

In 2012 Prowein boasted some 3,930 exhibitors from around 50 countries, but more importantly, some 40,000 trade visitors from around the world – very slightly up on 2011 despite the economic crisis. You might be forgiven for thinking that the biggest fair of all is VinExpo, but in terms of visitor numbers it is apparently dwarfed by Vinitaly. In 2011 Vinitaly claimed 156,000 visitors over a period of only four days, whilst VinExpo attracted only 48,000 (even though the latter is only a bi-annual event).

Not mentioned in all of this is the London International Wine Fair – and the reason? It appears that this event may now be in a period of slow decline. Since it’s switch to  the Excel centre in Docklands (east London) it would seem that visitor numbers have been static at best, in 2011 it attracting just under 14,000 visitors, only one third that of Prowein. The London dilemma is no doubt compounded by the high cost of meals, hotels and public transport for visitors (in Germany free public transport is included with the entry ticket).

My own conclusion is therefore, if you need to chose only one fair to visit in Europe, it should be Prowein…….. and that’s coming from a Brit!

Prowein might not be quite the biggest wine fair in Europe, but in terms of visitor numbers it comes a very respectable third, behind Vinitaly and VinExpo. For the serious international wine buyer however, it could possibly rate as number one on the list, quite simply owing to its level of highly efficient (German) organisation and good access – only minutes by tram, train or bus from both hotels and Dusseldorf’s International airport.

In 2012 Prowein boasted some 3,930 exhibitors from around 50 countries, but more importantly, some 40,000 trade visitors from around the world – very slightly up on 2011 despite the economic crisis. You might be forgiven for thinking that the biggest fair of all is VinExpo, but in terms of visitor numbers it is apparently dwarfed by Vinitaly. In 2011 Vinitaly claimed 156,000 visitors over a period of only four days, whilst VinExpo attracted only 48,000 (even though the latter is only a bi-annual event).

Not mentioned in all of this is the London International Wine Fair – and the reason? It appears that this event may now be in a period of slow decline. Since it’s switch to  the Excel centre in Docklands (east London) it would seem that visitor numbers have been static at best, in 2011 it attracting just under 14,000 visitors, only one third that of Prowein. The London dilemma is no doubt compounded by the high cost of meals, hotels and public transport for visitors (in Germany free public transport is included with the entry ticket).

My own conclusion is therefore, if you need to chose only one fair to visit in Europe, it should be Prowein…….. and that’s coming from a Brit!