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#WeekInPictures: ProWein numbers, Hong Kong ties and cake at The Lanesborough

20 March 2026 By James Bayley

From Düsseldorf’s trade halls to a Mayfair dining room and a London anniversary gathering, the week mixed business, hospitality and a touch of Viennese indulgence.

ProWein sharpens its focus

ProWein Düsseldorf 2026 continued its shift towards a more business-led format, with a streamlined hall layout and a renewed emphasis on trade. Across three days, 3,400 exhibitors from 63 countries presented their wines and spirits, while 31,000 visitors from 105 markets attended with buying firmly in mind.

Buyers from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Scandinavia and the United States were especially present, supported by an expanded hosted buyer programme designed to encourage commercial decisions rather than casual browsing.

Félix Solís introduces a new collaboration

At ProWein, Félix Solís presented Finca Valeria, a new white and rosé created in collaboration with Valeria Mazza. The Argentine model, long associated with the international fashion world, now lends her name to the project, which will be formally introduced in Madrid with a launch event at the Mandarin Oriental.

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Hong Kong marks 60 years

HKTDC marked its 60th anniversary with a gathering at Tattu London, bringing together media and partners including the drinks business. The evening reflected on the role of Hong Kong’s trade fairs, among them the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair, in connecting producers with buyers across Asia’s changing markets.

Cake and cocktails in Mayfair

The Withdrawing Room at The Lanesborough, once part of a hospital where Florence Nightingale practised, now serves as a hospital for the well. In collaboration with Hotel Sacher Vienna, the Original Sacher-Torte (1832) is built in 34 stages, apricot drawn through dark sponge and sealed in chocolate, lifted by unsweetened cream. Alongside ‘Fallen Angel’, Angel Niakas shapes a Negroni Charentaise in a coupe, edged with brandy, bringing France and Italy into alignment.

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