Trade prepares for 25th anniversary ProWein show

The international drinks trade is gearing up for the 25th anniversary ProWein event, which kicks off on Sunday.

ProWein is one of the most important events in the global drinks industry’s calendar

More then 60,000 trade visitors and almost 7,000 exhibitors will head to Düsseldorf in Germany for ProWein’s jubilee event.

As the show seeks to place a greater emphasis on the spirits industry, around 400 producers of whisky, gin, vodka, brandy, liqueurs and more will showcase their brands.

Spirits will be featured in two dedicated areas: in Hall 12 and the Same but Different area, which will display around 100 craft products from across the worlds of spirits, beer and cider.

Sustainability will also come under the spotlight in the Fizzz Lounge, situated in the Same but Different area. Leading bartenders will demonstrate how venues can incorporate zero waste and best­-practice recycling without diminishing the flavour of their drinks.

Once the show is completed, ProWein will move to new management, with Bastian Mingers taking over from Marius Berlemann as global head of wine and spirits, and director of ProWein at Messe Düsseldorf in Germany from 1 April 2019.

Berlemann will assume project and HR responsibility for the entire Messe Düsseldorf portfolio in China with Messe Düsseldorf Shanghai Co.

Julia Klöckner, Germany’s federal minister of nutrition and agriculture, will open the 2019 ProWein fair. She will deliver a welcome speech half an hour before the fair opens at 9am on 17 March, at the Mall of the Nord entrance.

Thomas Geisel, Düsseldorf’s Lord Mayor and chairman of the supervisory board at Messe Düsseldorf, will also deliver a brief welcome address.

On Monday 18 March, The Spirits Business and sister title the drinks business will host a unique educational tasting of Chinese brandy and XO Cognac at Koya’s stand.

For more information on the show and which key spirits exhibitors are not to be missed, click here.