Lifestyle
The ProWein trade fair, known for being the largest wine industry event globally, commenced this Sunday in Düsseldorf, Germany. The exhibition has drawn an impressive attendance, with more than 5,400 exhibitors from 65 countries and regions showcasing their products.
At the trade fair, China's wine industry has captured attention for its impressive performance, at a time when major Western wine markets are grappling with a sluggish economy and high inflation, which has significantly impacted consumption.
Sun Jian, general manager of Yantai Changyu Pioneer Wine Company Limited, expressed confidence in the enormous potential of China's wine industry.
"I believe that the Chinese wine industry has reached a point where a large number of wine producers can confidently expand its presence on the global stage. Chinese enterprises are frequently seen at major international exhibitions and award ceremonies," said Sun.
Lenz Moser, a seasoned expert in international wine sales with decades of experience, witnessed the development of Chinese wine industry over the past 10 years. He believes that the wine sales also help in boosting cultural exchanges.
"The beauty in the wine industry [is that] you just don't sell the wine alone. You sell the country. You sell the region. You sell the people. So we're also selling the wisdom of China and what we can learn from China to Europe," said Moser.
As China's wine industry continues to gain prominence on the global stage, Sun said that Chinese wine producers have become more confident.
"In the process that Chinese brands go global and make overseas acquisitions, we have experienced the confidence in our product quality and brand. As long as it is a good product, it will be recognized by consumers worldwide," said Sun.
The ProWein 2024 trade fair showed numerous master-classes from renowned wineries in traditional wine-producing regions such as France, Spain, and Italy, as well as new vintages from vineyards in the United States, Chile, and Australia.
Apart from the product show and trade, other highlights at the trade fair included seminars covering topics such as grape varietal cultivation, wine production, technology innovation, the relationship between wine and climate change, and human health, as well as competitions and award ceremonies.
The global wine market currently boasts a total worth estimated between 300 billion U.S. dollars to 400 billion U.S. dollars.