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VDP Weinbörse trade fair


Great Success: VDP’s 2010 Centennial Weinbörse in Mainz

International “Rush” for Germany’s Small, but Great Vintage of 2009


The world’s largest trade fair for top-quality German wines, the Prädikat wine-growers’ 37th annual VDP Weinbörse, took place on 25 and 26 April 2010, in the Rheingoldhalle in Mainz. Some 3,000 trade visitors, including the press, took advantage of the opportunity to sample VDP wine-growers’ new vintage wines in the course of the two-day fair. The majority of visitors were from Germany, but 150 made their way to Mainz from neighboring European countries, as did some 50 guests from the USA and Asia.

In all, more than 1,300 wines were available for sampling, primarily from Germany’s outstanding 2009 vintage. Riesling wines predominated with nearly 60% (734 wines), followed by Weissburgunder/Pinot Blanc (103 wines), and Silvaner (65 wines). Among the red wines on offer, Spätburgunder (Pinot Noir) took the lead (153 wines), but other red varietals, such as Dornfelder, Lemberger, Trollinger, Schwarzriesling (Pinot Meunier), and Merlot, were also on hand, as well as various versions and/or cuvées of Cabernet Sauvignon.

This year’s trade fair showed some positive developments in that the number of wines on offer has increased in a ratio to that of the number of exhibiting estates by nearly ten percent. The leading position of Riesling remains unchanged, but the presence of Grosse Gewächse (Grands Crus) has grown, and accounted for some 135 wines at this year’s Weinbörse.

The omen for the avant-garde of the German wine industry couldn’t be better. Even in the second year of the global economic crisis, the Prädikat wine estates report that their worldwide sales are relatively stable. In fact, VDP president Steffen Christmann notes: “Our estates are economically viable. Several have even reported that 2008/2009 was the best financial year of their history.”

A Bit of Background on the VDP Weinbörse

“Small but Precious – Top German Wines” is the motto of the VDP Weinbörse. It doesn’t attempt to compete with the large international wine trade fairs, such as ProWein or VINEXPO. But it does offer trade visitors certain advantages in that it is quite easy to locate specific wine estates or regions without marching from hall to hall, and the exhibition area of more than 2,000 m2 (ca. 21,500 sq. feet) is on one level. It provides sufficient space for growers’ stands and quiet conversation zones in which to discuss business. Nearly 80% of the complete VDP membership is present at the Weinbörse, an unparalleled number not to be found elsewhere.

Looking ahead: next year’s Weinborse will take place a week later, on 1 and 2 May 2011, at the Rheingoldhalle in Mainz.


The Prädikat Wine Estates (VDP) are well known for the spectrum of their wines, ranging from lively, fresh Gutsweine (house wines for everyday enjoyment) to top-quality wines from Germany’s best vineyards. Wine professionals will be able to take a first look at the wines of vintage 2010 during the ProWein trade fair in Düsseldorf, 27 - 29 March 2011, but the first comprehensive presentation of the new vintage will be 1 - 2 May at the VDP Weinbörse in Mainz.

The Height of Riesling Competence
The world’s largest trade fair for top-quality German wines – the VDP Weinbörse – opens its doors on 1 and 2 May 2011 in the Rheingoldhalle in Mainz. Some 165 VDP estates will be on hand to meet with their most important customers, i.e. the wholesale/retail trade, hospitality industry and exporters. This is the first comprehensive overview of the new vintage, during which the estates personally present their complete collection of 2010 wines, as well as debut a few wines (particularly, red wines) from the previous vintage. In all, more than 1,000 wines will be available for tasting. Compared with large, international trade fairs, such as ProWein or Vinexpo, the VDP Weinbörse offers a more intimate atmosphere and tasting conditions that wine pros appreciate. The distances from “region to region” or “estate to estate” are not great and it is easy for visitors to find their way. Above all, it’s possible to gain an overview of the finest young wines of Germany’s newest vintage in the course of two days.

Open to the trade only.