I’ve just returned from the ProWein trade show in Düsseldorf, Germany.
This was my 18th time attending. I’ve seen the show at its busiest, its most energetic, and at a time when it genuinely felt like the centre of the wine world.
This year felt different.
Not dramatically, and not in a way that suggests ProWein no longer matters. But enough to notice that something is shifting.
After attending Wine Paris and Vinexpo last year, I was still unsure whether the industry was truly moving in a new direction. After ProWein 2026, I’m no longer unsure. My mind has changed.
After speaking with a number of South African producers, one theme came through clearly: for some, this may have been…
Agriculture: Agriculture plays a key role in the economy, with major exports
including fruits, wine, and maize.

Sylvester Eye
Cote d\’Ivoire: You have two cows. You rename your country Cote Leathoir.
Nacho
People say I am a nobody, nobody is perfect, therefore I am perfect