ProWine China reports record visitor numbers

The China edition of ProWine has reported a record number of visitors with a total of 20,640 members of the trade attending the event in Shanghai.

A statement from the trade show noted that the event had also increased the proportion of visitors from other Chinese cities.

Held from 12 to 14 November at the Shanghai New International Expo Center, Bastien Mingers, global head of wine and spirits and director of ProWein, said that overseas participation had reached 80% from 36 countries and regions.

“ProWine China 2019 saw significant growth in the number of local and international wine producers and suppliers, reflecting upon the country’s continued evolution to become one of the largest markets for wines and spirits globally,” he said. “This reinforces the strategic position that the exhibition plays in fulfilling the needs and demands for such a dedicated platform in the Chinese market.”

ProWine China was held alongside the 23rd edition of food and hospitality trade event Food & Hotel China and was organised by Messe Düsseldorf and Informa Markets.

A total of 820 wine producers attended, up from 750 in 2018, from 37 different countries and winemaking regions.

This year the show had 10% extra exhibition space and welcomed a total of 121 companies from France as well as producers from Italy, Spain, Australia, Germany, USA, Austria, Chile, Chianti Classico, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Beaujolais, Catalunya, Toro DO and Rioja DOCa.

A record 20,640 professionals attended the three-day event, a 9% increase on the previous year’s total of 18,936. More visitors were recorded from Beijing, Guangdong, Xinjiang, Hainan, Shandong, Liaoning and Inner Mongolia.

Now in its seventh year, 2019’s ProWine China hosted over 40 masterclasses covering history and trends within the wine and spirits industry. Among those who took part were Fongyee Walker MW, Edward Ragg MW, Debra Meiburg MW, Sarah Heller MW, Cassidy Dart MW, Robert Geddes MW and Lv Yang MS.

Commenting on the show, Li Demei, associate professor of Beijing University of Agriculture, said: “After many years of developments in Chinese wine market, a considerable number of consumers have begun to pay attention to wine quality. This is also an inevitable process of market development. It should be said that the wine market is gradually maturing. I find the visitors here are very professional, and most of them are coming here to buy.”

Mr. Ian Roberts, managing director of hospitality, food and beverage of Informa Markets, added: “In the 3 days of ProWine China, Shanghai has been the centre of an exhibition of unimaginable dimensions. We had visitors came from all over China. Some even came from very distant provinces, such as Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang.”

Fu Zixuan, official lecturer of The Wine & Spirit Education Trust, added: “This year I took the opportunity to attend the Burgundy and German wine masterclasses. What has been beyond my expectations was the high level of the wines and the education. It shows that exhibitors are very confident in the Chinese market. Meanwhile, there is more and more interaction and communication.”