Romania had a remarkable presence at this year's edition of ProWein, the most important international trade fair dedicated to the wine and spirits industry, held from March 16-18 in Düsseldorf, Germany. A total of 23 Romanian wineries participated in the event, 21 of which were under the YES, Romania initiative, organized by the Romanian Wine Producers and Exporters Association (APEV). The event was supported by ARICE – the Romanian Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade, and the participating wineries included Aurelia Vișinescu, Budureasca, Domeniile Franco-Romane, Familia Darabont, Casa de Vinuri Cotnari, Crama De Matei, Caii de la Letea, Domeniul Strehan, Oprișor, Domeniile Sâmburești, Liliac, Domeniile Averești, Domeniile Dropia, Jidvei, Avincis, Velvet Winery, Vitis Metamorfosis, Davino, Rasova, Ceptura, Le Mat, while Cramele Recaș and Murfatlar were present with individual booths.

Romania, a key player on the international wine scene

ProWein 2025 brought together over 4,200 exhibitors from 65 countries and approximately 42,000 industry professionals, offering a high-level networking environment and facilitating numerous business opportunities. In an economic context marked by challenges, the presence of Romanian wineries reaffirmed the potential and appeal of local wines on the international market.

Growing interest in Romanian wines

The YES, Romania booth attracted a large number of visitors, who had the opportunity to taste a wide range of Romanian wines, from well-established native varieties such as Fetească Neagră, Fetească Albă, and Negru de Drăgășani to innovative wines that cater to new consumption trends.

“Our presence was very well received, the booth was beautifully designed, the organization was excellent, and even though media coverage was slightly lower than last year, we still managed to generate qualified leads. The results so far are in line with our expectations from previous experiences—ProWein remains a trade fair full of opportunities, focused on meetings with European partners,” explained representatives of Domeniile Averești, who attended ProWein.

According to official reports from ProWein, nearly half of the most important buyers in food retail, specialized and online retail, as well as the restaurant and catering industry, came from Germany, one of the most significant import markets. However, ProWein is also a magnet for high-purchasing-power commercial visitors from key European sales markets such as the Benelux countries, the United Kingdom, and Scandinavia. Decision-makers and buyers with substantial purchasing power traveled from the USA, Japan, South Korea, and China.

"While last year there was a lot of talk about how Romania’s booth looked, this year we attracted attention with a modern design that effectively highlighted exhibitors. As for visitors, there were fewer Asians this time, but representatives from Northern European countries and Americans showed great interest in Romanian native grape varieties," added representatives of Domeniile Franco-Romane, who also participated in ProWein.

For this event, Revino contributed with English-language wine maps of Romania and its native grape varieties, providing the international audience with an overview of the country's indigenous grapes and wines.

A benchmark event for the wine industry

ProWein 2025 provided a favorable setting for discussions on sustainability, digitalization, and the future of wine consumption—topics addressed at the ProWein Business Forum. Additionally, the No/Low Alcohol segment was one of the fair’s key attractions, reflecting emerging trends in the wine and spirits industry.

What’s next for Romania

Between March 28-30, the city of Constanța will host the rosé wine session of the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, one of the most prestigious and influential wine competitions in the world, bringing together wine specialists from across the globe. The event marks a historic first for Romania, as it is the first time the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles has chosen the country as a destination for one of its competitions.

In May, Bucharest will host the eighth edition of Revino Bucharest Wine Show, an event that brings together over 40 exhibitors, showcasing more than 250 premium wines, local wineries, and international producers.

“The Revino Wine & Wine Tourism Salon once again brings together, as it does every spring, local producers from all regions of the country. On this occasion, wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs will be able to taste last year’s harvest and more. The event will be complemented by Romanian cheeses and educational activities,” added Alina Iancu, founder of Revino Gourmet and CrameRomania.ro.

Still and sparkling wines, carefully selected vintages, as well as a gourmet area with Romanian cheeses, will be available to the general public, along with a series of educational masterclasses led by industry experts. More details here.