ProWine celebrates record numbers

The fourth edition of ProWine China – the leading international trade fair for wines and spirits in Shanghai was hailed a success, with an increase in visitor and exhibitor numbers from last year.

This year’s exhibition attracted 12,431 trade visitors – an increase of 20% from 2015  – with over a third coming from outside of Shanghai. There was also a larger contingent of international exhibitors from last year hailing from all over the ‘Silk Road’ route, including Ningxia and Xinjiang provinces of China, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Belarus and Latvia.

Other major wine producing regions such as Portugal, Germany, Greece, Austria and the US also participated and Brazil and Chianti Pavilions exhibited for the first time.

ProWine China is jointly organised by Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co. Ltd and China International Exhibitions Ltd. Messe Düsseldorf’s global head of wine and spirits, Marius Berlemann toasted this year’s fair and said:

“We are excited to see the development of ProWine China during the past four years. Not only has the trade show grown in volume, but also in breadth of regions from which exhibitors and trade professionals are coming from.

“We continue to dedicate our resources to providing the industry with a rich and vibrant show program offering new opportunities for all areas within the industry.”

The two global trading hubs of Singapore and Hong Kong helped bring even more of an international flavour to the fair with the addition of the ProWine Asia platform. Many of the exhibitors also headed straight to Hong Kong afterwards for the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair.

With a dedicated fan base across China and worldwide, Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, also put in an appearance at the Yao Family Wines masterclass alongside chief winemaker, Tom Hinde.

Willa Yang, the head of market China for Wine Australia said: “This year is the second time for Wine Australia to participate at ProWine China. Due to the positive feedback from the Australian exhibitors in the previous year, the stand area was enlarged in comparison to the year before.

“This year, exhibitors are very satisfied with the design and layout of the pavilion and services provided by both us and the organizer and most of them have got some potential leads.”

ProWine Asia’s second edition will take place in Hong Kong from 8-11 May 2017.