The major trade show takes place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from March 24-26.
Julia Trustram Eve, marketing director of English Wine Producers (EWP), told Drinks International: “This is a fantastic new move for us as an industry as you can imagine. The stand will be in the name of English Wine Producers, with the generic name supporting the five producers that will be going there: Bolney Wine Estate; Chapel Down; Gusbourne Estate; Hattingley Valley Wines; Ridgeview Wine Estate.
“All of them with the exception of Hattingley have ventured in to export but are seeking to develop this further. Hattingley will be launching their first wine – a sparkling - for the first time. The intention is that ProWein becomes a regular feature for EWP,” said Trustram Eve.
Acreage under vine in England has nearly doubled in about eight years, and most of this is plantings of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier for sparkling wine production. The EWP says this is the major growth sector and sparkling wines have exceeded still wine in terms of production. There has been a marginal growth in plantings of all three varieties in 2012 over 2011, which indicates that the trend continues.
Trustram Eve said: “As with many other European regions, we took a hit with the harvest last year. Still wine availability is likely to be lower this year – following on from a busy year last year with the Jubilee and Olympic celebrations. However market availability of sparkling wines in 2013 should be pretty buoyant, as 2010 vintage sparkling wines and earlier vintages are now available – these were good production years” said Trustram Eve.
Young winemakers, Sam Linter (Bolney), Emma Rice (Hattingley) and Charlie Holland (Ridgeview), will be joining Ridgeview’s Mike Roberts, Chapel Down’s Frazer Thompson, Hattingley’s Simon Robinson and Gusbourne’s Andrew Weeber and other winery representatives at the ProWein.
“We are thrilled to be exhibiting at Prowein this year,” said Trustram Eve. “To have our own presence at such a well-established and respected international wine fair sends out a strong message to the international wine world.”
