Prowein 2014, which is fast becoming the leading international wine and spirits trade show in the world, celebrated its 20^th anniversary this year in Dusseldorf, Germany, between March 23 and 25. Back in 1994, when it all started, the fair (known as Pro Vins for its first year) managed to feature 321 exhibitors and attracted 1,517 visitors, of which only 250 were from outside Germany. This year it featured over 4,500 exhibitors from 45 countries on 5 continents and attracted 48,000 visiting trade buyers. So much for growth!

This year it was my pleasure to attend, along with our Director of Wine at ABC Brad Lewis, and experience the excitement of the event. Imagine a space with eight halls taking up about one square mile and jam-packed with exhibitor’s booths offering just about any type or style of wine from just about any wine-producing country you can think of. The sheer size and quantity of offerings is mind-boggling.

It is always wise to approach a trade fair such as this with a preconceived plan. We had appointments set before we arrived and knew what wines we were looking for and which we had no need of at the moment. This saves a lot of time and footwork. All the same we probably scheduled too many appointments because for the three days of the event we never stopped. Old friends and colleagues had to be visited. Appointments were made with producers that we already had an existing relationship with but who were eager for us to taste other wines from their portfolio. And of course there were the appointments with estates and importers who were new to us.

To list all the wines we tasted or even all the producers we visited would be a voluminous task and of not much interest to the casual reader. But off the top of my head a few of the standouts included a red Sancerre–Pinot Noir–from the ever-friendly Pascal Gitton; Luz del Palacio Jumilla from Bernard Magrez; a Syrah/Tempranillo/Grenache blend from Morocco called Le Touareg; the excellent Casas del Bosque wines from Chile; the Syrah from Elephant Hill in New Zealand; some amazing higher-end Cava from Alta Alella; I could go on and on.

And then there were the dinners and the post-Prowein visits to wine estates in the Rheingau, the Pfalz and Alsace. But that is another story.

A working lunch with our friends from Moutard Champagne.

Bill Stobbs, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits wine supervisor

Follow me on Twitter @abcwinebills